GetExBack.org

Research Sources

Every recommendation on GetExBack.org is grounded in peer-reviewed research. Below is a complete bibliography of the studies cited across our guides and articles.

Transparency in sourcing is central to our commitment to evidence-based content. The following studies are cited throughout our guides, including our main reconciliation guide, no contact rule guide, and supporting articles. For information about our editorial standards and expert reviewers, see our about page.

Relationship Reconciliation & On-Again/Off-Again Relationships

  • Dailey, R. M., Pfiester, A., Jin, B., Beck, G., & Clark, G. (2009). On-again/off-again dating relationships: How are they different from other dating relationships? Personal Relationships, 16(1), 23-47. — Found that approximately 65% of adults have experienced at least one on-again/off-again relationship.
  • Dailey, R. M., Rossetto, K. R., Pfiester, A., & Surra, C. A. (2009). A qualitative analysis of on-again/off-again romantic relationships: "It's up and down, all around." Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 26(4), 443-466. — Examined communication patterns and reconciliation dynamics in cyclical relationships.
  • Dailey, R. M., Middleton, A. V., & Green, E. W. (2012). Perceived relational stability in on-again/off-again relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29(1), 52-76. — Found that cyclical relationships without structural change tend to become progressively less satisfying.
  • Bevan, J. L., Cameron, K. A., & Dillow, M. R. (2003). One more try: Compliance-gaining strategies associated with romantic reconciliation attempts. Southern Communication Journal, 68(2), 121-135. — Examined strategies used in reconciliation attempts and their effectiveness.

Attachment Theory & Breakup Responses

  • Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511-524. — Seminal paper extending attachment theory to adult romantic relationships.
  • Spielmann, S. S., MacDonald, G., & Wilson, A. E. (2012). On the rebound: Focusing on someone new helps anxiously attached individuals let go of ex-partners. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(10), 1382-1394. — Examined how attachment style affects post-breakup behavior and reconciliation patterns.
  • Davis, D., Shaver, P. R., & Vernon, M. L. (2003). Physical, emotional, and behavioral reactions to breaking up: The roles of gender, age, emotional involvement, and attachment style. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29(7), 871-884. — Demonstrated how attachment style predicts post-breakup behavior including monitoring, pursuit, and avoidance.
  • Sbarra, D. A., & Hazan, C. (2008). Coregulation, dysregulation, self-regulation: An integrative analysis and empirical agenda for understanding adult attachment, separation, loss, and recovery. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 12(2), 141-167. — Found that ongoing contact with an ex delays emotional recovery.
  • Davila, J., Burge, D., & Hammen, C. (1997). Why does attachment style change? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(4), 826-838. — Demonstrated that attachment styles can shift over time through self-awareness and therapeutic work.
  • Johnson, S. M. (2008). Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love. New York: Little, Brown. — Foundational work on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples.

Neuroscience of Love & Heartbreak

  • Fisher, H. E., Brown, L. L., Aron, A., Strong, G., & Mashek, D. (2010). Reward, addiction, and emotion regulation systems associated with rejection in love. Journal of Neurophysiology, 104(1), 51-60. — fMRI study showing romantic rejection activates the same brain regions as cocaine addiction.
  • Kross, E., Berman, M. G., Mischel, W., Smith, E. E., & Wager, T. D. (2011). Social rejection shares somatosensory representations with physical pain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(15), 6270-6275. — Demonstrated that romantic rejection activates brain regions associated with physical pain.
  • Slavich, G. M., Thornton, T., Torres, L. D., Monroe, S. M., & Gotlib, I. H. (2009). Targeted rejection predicts hastened onset of major depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28(2), 223-243. — Found that interpersonal rejection is among the most potent triggers of the biological stress response.

Post-Breakup Recovery & Coping

  • Marshall, T. C. (2012). Facebook surveillance of former romantic partners: Associations with post-breakup recovery and personal growth. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(10), 521-526. — Found that social media surveillance of an ex delays emotional recovery.
  • Sbarra, D. A., & Emery, R. E. (2005). The emotional sequelae of nonmarital relationship dissolution: Analysis of change and intraindividual variability over time. Personal Relationships, 12(2), 213-232. — Examined recovery timelines after relationship dissolution.
  • Sbarra, D. A. (2006). Predicting the onset of emotional recovery following nonmarital relationship dissolution: Survival analyses of sadness and anger. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32(3), 298-312. — Found delayed grief patterns in avoidant individuals.
  • Slotter, E. B., Gardner, W. L., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Who am I without you? The influence of romantic breakup on the self-concept. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36(2), 147-160. — Examined self-concept confusion after breakups.
  • Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process. Psychological Science, 8(3), 162-166. — Demonstrated that expressive writing accelerates emotional recovery.
  • Brumbaugh, C. C., & Fraley, R. C. (2014). Too fast, too soon? An empirical investigation into rebound relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32(1), 99-118. — Examined the nature and duration of rebound relationships.

Gender Differences in Breakup Responses

  • Morris, C. E., Reiber, C., & Roman, E. (2015). Quantitative sex differences in response to the dissolution of a romantic relationship. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 9(4), 270-282. — Found that women experience more intense initial distress but recover more fully than men.
  • Levant, R. F. (1998). Desperately seeking language: Understanding, assessing, and treating normative male alexithymia. In W. S. Pollack & R. F. Levant (Eds.), New Psychotherapy for Men. — Research on the difficulty many men have identifying and expressing emotions.

Relationship Science & Communication

  • Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. New York: Crown. — Identified communication patterns (the Four Horsemen) that predict relationship failure, and the 5:1 positive-to-negative interaction ratio.
  • Amato, P. R., & Previti, D. (2003). People's reasons for divorcing: Gender, social class, the life course, and adjustment. Journal of Family Issues, 24(5), 602-626. — Identified the most commonly cited reasons for relationship dissolution.
  • Brehm, J. W. (1966). A Theory of Psychological Reactance. New York: Academic Press. — Foundational work on psychological reactance theory, relevant to the No Contact Rule.
  • Sedikides, C., Wildschut, T., Arndt, J., & Routledge, C. (2008). Nostalgia: Past, present, and future. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17(5), 304-307. — Research on the social-bonding functions of nostalgia.
  • Aron, A., Norman, C. C., Aron, E. N., McKenna, C., & Heyman, R. E. (2000). Couples' shared participation in novel and arousing activities and experienced relationship quality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 273-284. — Found that shared novel experiences drive relationship satisfaction.

Health & Well-Being

  • Blumenthal, J. A., et al. (2007). Exercise and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69(7), 587-596. — Found regular exercise to be as effective as medication for moderate depression.
  • Stroebe, M., & Schut, H. (1999). The dual process model of coping with bereavement: Rationale and description. Death Studies, 23(3), 197-224. — Framework for understanding healthy grieving processes.
  • Steele, C. M., & Josephs, R. A. (1990). Alcohol myopia: Its prized and dangerous effects. American Psychologist, 45(8), 921-933. — Theory explaining how alcohol amplifies salient concerns.
  • Marlatt, G. A., & Gordon, J. R. (1985). Relapse Prevention: Maintenance Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors. New York: Guilford Press. — Research on the abstinence violation effect and behavior change setbacks.

Additional References

  • Buss, D. M., & Schmitt, D. P. (1993). Sexual strategies theory: An evolutionary perspective on human mating. Psychological Review, 100(2), 204-232.
  • Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2008). Sex differences in mate preferences revisited: Do people know what they initially desire in a romantic partner? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94(2), 245-264.
  • Sprecher, S., Felmlee, D., Metts, S., Fehr, B., & Vanni, D. (1998). Factors associated with distress following the breakup of a close relationship. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15(6), 791-809.
  • Fleischmann, A. A., et al. (2005). Attempting to induce jealousy and the relationship between jealousy and perceived relationship quality. Paper presented at the International Association for Relationship Research Conference.
  • Brackett, M. A., Rivers, S. E., & Salovey, P. (2011). Emotional intelligence: Implications for personal, social, academic, and workplace success. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5(1), 88-103.
  • Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. New York: Gotham Books.
  • Winch, G. (2018). How to Fix a Broken Heart.New York: TED Books/Simon & Schuster. — Practical guidance on emotional recovery from heartbreak.
  • Buchanan, C. M., Maccoby, E. E., & Dornbusch, S. M. (1991). Caught between parents: Adolescents' experience in divorced homes. Child Development, 62(5), 1008-1029.
  • Ahrons, C. R. (2004). We're Still Family: What Grown Children Have to Say About Their Parents' Divorce. New York: HarperCollins.

This bibliography is updated periodically as new research is published. For information about our research methodology and editorial standards, see our about page. For our legal disclaimer, see the disclaimer page.