At the Crossroads of Intergroup Relations and Interpersonal Relations : Interethnic Marriage in the United States

This issue of JSI focuses on interethnic marriage.  Our objectives are to (1) discuss conceptual and methodological concerns; (2) examine interethnic marital relationship processes especially through the lens of interdependence theory; (3) review attitudes towards interethnic marriage; (4) assess the clinical and policy implications; and (5) synthesize the contemporary scholarship.  We draw upon the subject areas of intergroup and interpersonal relations including contributions from authors across various disciplines.  Given the status of interethnic marriage as a potential bellwether of social change in the United States, we believe that the present edition is as timely as it is important.

Stanley O. Gaines, Jr., PhD is Senior Lecturer in Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Brunel University (United Kingdom).  Dr. Gaines authored the book, Culture, Ethnicity, and Personal Relationship Processes (Routledge, 1997); and he has written or co-written more than 90 additional publications in the fields of close relationships and ethnic studies.  Dr. Gaines is especially interested in areas of overlap between the subject areas of interpersonal relations (as informed by the literature on close relationships) and intergroup relations (as informed by the literature on ethnic studies).

Eddie M. Clark, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at Saint Louis University (SLU). His research examines close relationships (infidelity, relationship maintenance, love) and health (health attitudes and behaviors, culturally appropriate health communication, the relationship between religiosity and health). He has authored or co-authored over 70 articles and book chapters. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Social Psychology, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, and as an associate editor of PsycCRITIQUES-APA Review of Books. 

Stephanie E. Afful, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lindenwood University. Dr. Afful received her bachelor’s degree from Drury University and PhD in Social Psychology from Saint Louis University. Her research interests include racism (e.g., measurement of modern racism, racial identity) and the scholarship of teaching and learning. She also serves as a consulting editor for Teaching of Psychology.