Whilst it is possible to have relationships with a range of different people, it is also possible to have different types of relationships in terms of how they are organised.

Psychology has attempted to classify relationship types in different way.

Clark & Mills (1979) identified exchange and communal relationships:

• Exchange Relationships
  We'll look at exchange theory in more detail in later chapters but for now it's suffice to say that exchange relationships work on a cost to benefit ratio. People form and keep relationships so long as they get some reward from them. It could be an exchange of money for a service or an exchange of friendship. These are usually not as loving or deep as communal relationships.
  
  
• Communal Relationships
  These are less focused on personal rewards. Communal relationships are those where people tend to be more concerned with giving than receiving. For instance, they may do something for someone else without expecting to receive something back. A friend may choose to spend the evening with a sick friend in hospital because they care deeply about them.
  
  

Hind (1979) described reciprocal and complementary relationships:

• Reciprocal Relationships
  Also known as horizontal relationships, these are bonds formed between people which involve exchanges both ways. For example, in a typical friendship there is a sharing of care, support and disclosure. In reciprocal relationships both parties do the same thing either together or alternately. There has to be some similarity of the attributes of each person in the relationship.  
  
  
• Complementary Relationships
  Also known as vertical relationships, these are not equal relationships. They operate in a hierarchical fashion. Dominant-subordinate interactions, for instance between a doctor and patient are an example. Nurture-succour between a mother and infant and tutor-learner between a teacher and child are others. In each of these cases the former is the provider of care or knowledge and the latter the receiver.  In complementary relationships, both parties do different things but in a complementary way

Learn more about relationships in our course "Relationships and Communication Counselling" -click here for an outline