This book explores the interaction between people as they develop relationships with each other, and examines what lies behind the behaviour we can observe from these interactions. The contributors cover the main themes that arise from the study of social and personal relationships with emphasis on: power; change and development; function; levels of analysis; the construction of meaning; and autonomy and choice. These themes are illustrated in the opening chapter with accounts of relationships, such as parent and children, disabled person and carer, and therapist and client. The book concludes with specially commissioned readings from scholars in the field. This text is published for the Open University course D317 Social Psychology.