Self-Monitoring and Close Relationships Christopher Leone and LouAnne B. Hawkins University of North Florida ABSTRACT Three types of close relationships have received attention from theorists and researchers interested in self-monitoring: friendships, romantic relationships, and marriage. Our review of this literature was organized around three phases of relationships: initiation, maintenance, and dissolution. Across the three types of relationships, consistent dif- ferences between high self-monitors and low self-monitors emerged con- cerning the structure of their social relationships (segmented vs. integrated), the basis for choosing friends and romantic partners (activ- ity-based vs. person-based), and the orientation taken to romantic and marital partners (uncommitted vs. committed). Across all three types of relationships, however, little is known about the processes and conse- quences involved in the dissolution of close relationships for high self- monitors and low self-monitors. Relatively little is also known about the processes used by high self-monitors and low self-monitors to maintain their friendships and marriages. In addition to addressing these deficien- cies in the literature, theorists and researchers interested in self-monitor- ing and close relationships need to develop sophisticated, causal models that can account for (a) interaction exchanges in the relationships, (b) dyadic as well as individual levels of analysis, and (c) temporal and sit- uational changes in the course of close relationships. Close relationships are the sine qua non of human existence. The de- sire to establish and maintain intimate ties with others is considered by some to be a basic human motive (e.g., Baumeister & Leary, 1995; We would like to thank David Day and Dan Richard for their comments on an earlier draft of this article. All correspondence concerning this manuscript should be ad- dressed to either Christopher Leone, Department of Psychology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville FL., 32224 (cleone@unf.edu) or LouAnne B. Hawkins, Honors Program, University of North Florida, Jacksonville FL., 32224 (lhawkins@unf.edu). Journal of Personality 74:3, June 2006 r 2006, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation r 2006, Blackwell Publishing, Inc. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00391.x