10 - Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Summary

The book’s final chapter offers both a critical look back at the last two decades of theory, measurement, and empirical work on affectionate communication and a look forward at newly developing research questions. The chapter articulates several qualified conclusions about affectionate communication, including about the current state of theory and the ways in which existing theory is both profitable and limited. Next, some important questions for new and future research are addressed, including how the potential genetic bases of affectionate behavior should be further explored, how emerging technologies can help people meet their affection needs, and how affection can be used in clinical interventions. The chapter concludes with some final thoughts about the importance of affectionate communication in the human social experience.