diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b70c2e9a..a5a8a744 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@
   * remove root key option and split JSON adapter [@joaomdmoura]
   * adds FlattenJSON as default adapter [@joaomdmoura]
   * adds support for `pagination links` at top level of JsonApi adapter [@bacarini]
+  * adds extended format for `include` option to JSONAPI adapter [@beauby]
diff --git a/docs/general/adapters.md b/docs/general/adapters.md
index b505a7f5..9a8e83a1 100644
--- a/docs/general/adapters.md
+++ b/docs/general/adapters.md
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ resources in the `"included"` member when the resource names are included in the
   render @posts, include: 'authors,comments'
 ```
 
+The format of the `include` option can be either a String composed of a comma-separated list of [relationship paths](http://jsonapi.org/format/#fetching-includes), an Array of Symbols and Hashes, or a mix of both.
+
 ## Choosing an adapter
 
 If you want to use a specify a default adapter, such as JsonApi, you can change this in an initializer:
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
index 29acbabf..2a3465cb 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module ActiveModel
     autoload :Lint
     autoload :Associations
     autoload :Fieldset
+    autoload :Utils
     include Configuration
     include Associations
 
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api.rb
index f273fc65..c1e5c94f 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/adapter/json_api.rb
@@ -7,11 +7,7 @@ class ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi < ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapt
           super
           @hash = { data: [] }
 
-          @options[:include] ||= []
-          if @options[:include].is_a?(String)
-            @options[:include] = @options[:include].split(',')
-          end
-
+          @included = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(@options[:include])
           fields = options.delete(:fields)
           if fields
             @fieldset = ActiveModel::Serializer::Fieldset.new(fields, serializer.json_key)
@@ -117,48 +113,38 @@ class ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi < ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapt
         end
 
         def included_for(serializer)
-          serializer.associations.flat_map { |assoc| _included_for(assoc.key, assoc.serializer) }.uniq
+          included = @included.flat_map do |inc|
+            association = serializer.associations.find { |assoc| assoc.key == inc.first }
+            _included_for(association.serializer, inc.second) if association
+          end
+
+          included.uniq
         end
 
-        def _included_for(resource_name, serializer, parent = nil)
+        def _included_for(serializer, includes)
           if serializer.respond_to?(:each)
-            serializer.flat_map { |s| _included_for(resource_name, s, parent) }.uniq
+            serializer.flat_map { |s| _included_for(s, includes) }.uniq
           else
             return [] unless serializer && serializer.object
-            result = []
-            resource_path = [parent, resource_name].compact.join('.')
 
-            if include_assoc?(resource_path)
-              primary_data = primary_data_for(serializer, @options)
-              relationships = relationships_for(serializer)
-              primary_data[:relationships] = relationships if relationships.any?
-              result.push(primary_data)
-            end
+            primary_data = primary_data_for(serializer, @options)
+            relationships = relationships_for(serializer)
+            primary_data[:relationships] = relationships if relationships.any?
 
-            if include_nested_assoc?(resource_path)
-              non_empty_associations = serializer.associations.select(&:serializer)
+            included = [primary_data]
 
-              non_empty_associations.each do |association|
-                result.concat(_included_for(association.key, association.serializer, resource_path))
-                result.uniq!
+            includes.each do |inc|
+              association = serializer.associations.find { |assoc| assoc.key == inc.first }
+              if association
+                included.concat(_included_for(association.serializer, inc.second))
+                included.uniq!
               end
             end
-            result
+
+            included
           end
         end
 
-        def include_assoc?(assoc)
-          check_assoc("#{assoc}$")
-        end
-
-        def include_nested_assoc?(assoc)
-          check_assoc("#{assoc}.")
-        end
-
-        def check_assoc(assoc)
-          @options[:include].any? { |s| s.match(/^#{assoc.gsub('.', '\.')}/) }
-        end
-
         def add_links(options)
           links = @hash.fetch(:links) { {} }
           collection = serializer.object
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer/utils.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/utils.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..689f48ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/utils.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+module ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils
+  module_function
+
+  # Translates a comma separated list of dot separated paths (JSONAPI format) into a Hash.
+  # Example: `'posts.author, posts.comments.upvotes, posts.comments.author'` would become `{ posts: { author: {}, comments: { author: {}, upvotes: {} } } }`.
+  #
+  # @param [String] included
+  # @return [Hash] a Hash representing the same tree structure
+  def include_string_to_hash(included)
+    included.delete(' ').split(',').inject({}) do |hash, path|
+      hash.deep_merge!(path.split('.').reverse_each.inject({}) { |a, e| { e.to_sym => a } })
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Translates the arguments passed to the include option into a Hash. The format can be either
+  # a String (see #include_string_to_hash), an Array of Symbols and Hashes, or a mix of both.
+  # Example: `posts: [:author, comments: [:author, :upvotes]]` would become `{ posts: { author: {}, comments: { author: {}, upvotes: {} } } }`.
+  #
+  # @param [Symbol, Hash, Array, String] included
+  # @return [Hash] a Hash representing the same tree structure
+  def include_args_to_hash(included)
+    case included
+    when Symbol
+      { included => {} }
+    when Hash
+      included.each_with_object({}) { |(key, value), hash| hash[key] = include_args_to_hash(value) }
+    when Array
+      included.inject({}) { |a, e| a.merge!(include_args_to_hash(e)) }
+    when String
+      include_string_to_hash(included)
+    else
+      {}
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/action_controller/json_api/linked_test.rb b/test/action_controller/json_api/linked_test.rb
index fc0c8793..ba317e21 100644
--- a/test/action_controller/json_api/linked_test.rb
+++ b/test/action_controller/json_api/linked_test.rb
@@ -43,29 +43,29 @@ module ActionController
 
           def render_resource_with_include
             setup_post
-            render json: @post, include: 'author', adapter: :json_api
+            render json: @post, include: [:author], adapter: :json_api
           end
 
           def render_resource_with_nested_include
             setup_post
-            render json: @post, include: 'comments.author', adapter: :json_api
+            render json: @post, include: [comments: [:author]], adapter: :json_api
           end
 
           def render_resource_with_nested_has_many_include
             setup_post
-            render json: @post, include: ['author', 'author.roles'], adapter: :json_api
+            render json: @post, include: 'author.roles', adapter: :json_api
           end
 
           def render_resource_with_missing_nested_has_many_include
             setup_post
             @post.author = @author2 # author2 has no roles.
-            render json: @post, include: 'author,author.roles', adapter: :json_api
+            render json: @post, include: [author: [:roles]], adapter: :json_api
           end
 
           def render_collection_with_missing_nested_has_many_include
             setup_post
             @post.author = @author2
-            render json: [@post, @post2], include: 'author,author.roles', adapter: :json_api
+            render json: [@post, @post2], include: [author: [:roles]], adapter: :json_api
           end
 
           def render_collection_without_include
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ module ActionController
 
           def render_collection_with_include
             setup_post
-            render json: [@post], include: %w(author comments), adapter: :json_api
+            render json: [@post], include: 'author, comments', adapter: :json_api
           end
         end
 
@@ -141,8 +141,7 @@ module ActionController
           get :render_resource_with_nested_include
           response = JSON.parse(@response.body)
           assert response.key? 'included'
-          assert_equal 1, response['included'].size
-          assert_equal 'Anonymous', response['included'].first['attributes']['name']
+          assert_equal 3, response['included'].size
         end
 
         def test_render_collection_without_include
diff --git a/test/adapter/json_api/belongs_to_test.rb b/test/adapter/json_api/belongs_to_test.rb
index 5cb6cdeb..5bfdc52b 100644
--- a/test/adapter/json_api/belongs_to_test.rb
+++ b/test/adapter/json_api/belongs_to_test.rb
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ module ActiveModel
           end
 
           def test_includes_linked_post
-            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: 'post')
+            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: [:post])
             expected = [{
               id: '42',
               type: 'posts',
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ module ActiveModel
           end
 
           def test_limiting_linked_post_fields
-            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: 'post', fields: { post: [:title] })
+            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: [:post], fields: { post: [:title] })
             expected = [{
               id: '42',
               type: 'posts',
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ module ActiveModel
 
           def test_include_linked_resources_with_type_name
             serializer = BlogSerializer.new(@blog)
-            adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(serializer, include: %w(writer articles))
+            adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(serializer, include: [:writer, :articles])
             linked = adapter.serializable_hash[:included]
             expected = [
               {
diff --git a/test/adapter/json_api/has_many_explicit_serializer_test.rb b/test/adapter/json_api/has_many_explicit_serializer_test.rb
index aedde98c..5c53fa01 100644
--- a/test/adapter/json_api/has_many_explicit_serializer_test.rb
+++ b/test/adapter/json_api/has_many_explicit_serializer_test.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ module ActiveModel
             @serializer = PostPreviewSerializer.new(@post)
             @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(
               @serializer,
-              include: %w(comments author)
+              include: [:comments, :author]
             )
           end
 
diff --git a/test/adapter/json_api/has_many_test.rb b/test/adapter/json_api/has_many_test.rb
index 277380a0..699126c2 100644
--- a/test/adapter/json_api/has_many_test.rb
+++ b/test/adapter/json_api/has_many_test.rb
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ module ActiveModel
           end
 
           def test_includes_linked_comments
-            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: 'comments')
+            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: [:comments])
             expected = [{
               id: '1',
               type: 'comments',
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ module ActiveModel
           end
 
           def test_limit_fields_of_linked_comments
-            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: 'comments', fields: { comment: [:id] })
+            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: [:comments], fields: { comment: [:id] })
             expected = [{
               id: '1',
               type: 'comments',
diff --git a/test/adapter/json_api/has_one_test.rb b/test/adapter/json_api/has_one_test.rb
index 3fb2bf5f..29582ddf 100644
--- a/test/adapter/json_api/has_one_test.rb
+++ b/test/adapter/json_api/has_one_test.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ module ActiveModel
             @virtual_value = VirtualValue.new(id: 1)
 
             @serializer = AuthorSerializer.new(@author)
-            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: 'bio,posts')
+            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: [:bio, :posts])
           end
 
           def test_includes_bio_id
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ module ActiveModel
           end
 
           def test_includes_linked_bio
-            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: 'bio')
+            @adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(@serializer, include: [:bio])
 
             expected = [
               {
diff --git a/test/adapter/json_api/linked_test.rb b/test/adapter/json_api/linked_test.rb
index 261c001a..7b4b43f1 100644
--- a/test/adapter/json_api/linked_test.rb
+++ b/test/adapter/json_api/linked_test.rb
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ module ActiveModel
             serializer = ArraySerializer.new([@first_post, @second_post])
             adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(
               serializer,
-              include: ['author', 'author.bio', 'comments']
+              include: [:comments, author: [:bio]]
             )
             alt_adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(
               serializer,
-              include: 'author,author.bio,comments'
+              include: [:comments, author: [:bio]]
             )
 
             expected = {
@@ -153,11 +153,11 @@ module ActiveModel
             serializer = BioSerializer.new @bio1
             adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(
               serializer,
-              include: ['author', 'author.posts']
+              include: [author: [:posts]]
             )
             alt_adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(
               serializer,
-              include: 'author,author.posts'
+              include: [author: [:posts]]
             )
 
             expected = [
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ module ActiveModel
             serializer = ArraySerializer.new([@first_comment, @second_comment])
             adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(
               serializer,
-              include: ['post']
+              include: [:post]
             )
 
             expected = [
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ module ActiveModel
             serializer = PostPreviewSerializer.new(@first_post)
             adapter = ActiveModel::Serializer::Adapter::JsonApi.new(
               serializer,
-              include: ['author']
+              include: [:author]
             )
 
             expected = {
diff --git a/test/utils/include_args_to_hash_test.rb b/test/utils/include_args_to_hash_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..deb87f1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/utils/include_args_to_hash_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+module ActiveModel
+  class Serializer
+    module Utils
+      class IncludeArgsToHashTest < Minitest::Test
+        def test_nil
+          input = nil
+          expected = {}
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_empty_string
+          input = ''
+          expected = {}
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_single_string
+          input = 'author'
+          expected = { author: {} }
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_multiple_strings
+          input = 'author,comments'
+          expected = { author: {}, comments: {} }
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_multiple_strings_with_space
+          input = 'author, comments'
+          expected = { author: {}, comments: {} }
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_nested_string
+          input = 'posts.author'
+          expected = { posts: { author: {} } }
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_multiple_nested_string
+          input = 'posts.author,posts.comments.author,comments'
+          expected = { posts: { author: {}, comments: { author: {} } }, comments: {} }
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_empty_array
+          input = []
+          expected = {}
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_simple_array
+          input = [:comments, :author]
+          expected = { author: {}, comments: {} }
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+
+        def test_nested_array
+          input = [:comments, posts: [:author, comments: [:author]]]
+          expected = { posts: { author: {}, comments: { author: {} } }, comments: {} }
+          actual = ActiveModel::Serializer::Utils.include_args_to_hash(input)
+          assert_equal(expected, actual)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end