In this paper, we explore the nature of the relationships that people develop with technology. In particular, we examine social exchange theory, the norm of reciprocity, and attachment theory to begin to explain how individuals develop, or do not develop, relationships with computers and technology. The theories are summarized, hypotheses are presented, proposed methods for empirical work are presented, and brief discussion is offered suggesting that the reference theories identified provide a novel way to examine the relationship between people and the technologies they interact with.