This paper presents a brief review of the existing literature and then focus on data andconceptualization that has driven us toward testable hypotheses that we believe hold particularpromise for elucidation of the cohabitation effect. We will conclude this paper with a list ofpropositional statements or hypotheses to guide future study-some closer to existing findingsand some a good deal more speculative, but all following from the nature of the reasoningpresented here. This paper is best viewed as an intentional attempt to push theory andspeculation in the furtherance of understanding the cohabitation effect. Hence, we will take someliberties in the direction of theory development.