What is commitment? Women’s accounts of intimate attachment

Commitment is a widely acknowledged concern among the general public as well as among academics and scholars. What commitment actually constitutes, however, is not easily defined. This article explores existing theories of commitment and how these fit in with the responses I found among young heterosexual women when asked what commitment meant to them. During the summer of 2008 I interviewed 23 women between the ages of 19 and 30 to discover their views regarding relationships, marriage and intimate commitment. Throughout discussions, certain defining features emerged as the most significant components to commitment in a romantic relationship. These include fidelity, love, longevity, social expectations and investments that are made within a relationship. In developing an account of commitment, it became apparent that certain of these factors pulled individuals into a relationship, while other factors pushed individuals together.