Chapter 6 Communication in the Life Cycle of Relationships
Romantic relationships (Definition)
Relationships in which partners act on their mutual sexual attraction to each other.
Define relational dialectics
The conflicting pulls that exist in relationships as well as within each individual in a relationship.
Define closedness
The desire to maintain privacy.
Define openness
The desire to share intimate ideas and feelings with your relationship partner.
What is the interpersonal needs theory?
The premise that all of us have inclusion, affection, and control needs that we try to meet through our relationships, although our need for each of these varies in degree from person to person.
Define the predicted outcome value theory.
The premise that in our early conversations with potential relationship partners, we gather information to predict whether the benefits of future interactions will outweigh the costs.
Social penetration theory
The premise that self-disclosure is integral to all stages of relationships, but the nature and type of self-disclosure change over time as people move from being strangers to being intimates.
What is the social exchange theory?
The premise that we continue to develop a relationship as long as we feel that its rewards outweigh tits costs and we perceive that what we get from a particular relationship is more than we would be able to get if we invested elsewhere.
What is reframing?
The strategy of dealing with dialectical tensions by changing perceptions about the level of tension.
Define topical segmentation.
The strategy of dealing with dialectical tensions by choosing certain areas in which to satisfy one side of a dialectical tension while choosing other areas to satisfy the opposite side.
What is temporal selection?
The strategy of dealing with dialectical tensions by choosing one side of a dialectical opposition while ignoring the other for a period of time.
Define neutralization.
The strategy of dealing with dialectical tensions by compromising between the desires of those in the relationship.
Intimates or close friends (Definition)
Those few people with whom we share a high degree of interdependence, commitment, disclosure, affection, understanding, and trust.
Self-disclosure
Verbally sharing personal, private information and feelings
What are the dimensions of relationships?
1. Interdependence 2. Breadth 3. Depth 4. Commitment 5. Understanding and predictability 6. Communication code change 7. Shared social network 8. Interpersonal trust
What are the guidelines for self-disclosure?
1. Self-disclose the kind of information that you want others to disclose to you. 2. Self-disclose information appropriate for the type of relationship you have. 3. Self-disclose more intimate information only when you believe the disclosure represents an acceptable risk. 4. Be sensitive to your partner's ability to absorb your disclosure. 5. Reserve intimate or very personal self-disclosures for ongoing relationships. 6. Continue intimate self-disclosure only when it is reciprocated.
What are the strategies of dealing with and understanding dialectical tensions?
1. Temporal selection 2. Topical segmentation 3. Neutralization 4. Reframing
Define commitment.
A dimension of relationships that gauges how dedicated or loyal partners are to each other.
Define depth.
A dimension of relationships that gauges how intimate the partners have become through disclosing personal and private information.
Define communication code change.
A dimension of relationships that gauges how much partners' developed scripts that are exclusive to their relationship.
Define shared social network.
A dimension of relationships that gauges how much the partners' interactions and relationships with other people overlap.
Define understanding and predictability.
A dimension of relationships that gauges how well partners understand and can predict each other's behaviors.
Interpersonal trust
A dimension of relationships that gauges the extent to which partners believe that they know what to expect from the relationship, know how they are supposed to act, and know that they want to act according to expectations.
Define interdependence.
A dimension of relationships that gauges the extent to which partners rely on each other to meet their needs.
Define breadth.
A dimension of relationships that gauges the variety of conversational topics and activities that partners share, as well as the number of contexts in which they interact.
Impersonal relationship Definition)
A relationship in which one person relates to another merely because the other fills a role that satisfies an immediate need.
Platonic relationships (Definition)
A relationship in which partners are not sexually attracted to each other or choose not to act on their sexual attraction.
Personal relationship (Definition)
A relationship in which people care about each other, share at least some personal information with each other, and meet at least some of each other's interpersonal needs.
Abusive relationship (Definition)
A relationship in which the interactions are physically, mentally, or emotionally, harmful to one or both partners.
Good relationship (Definition)
A relationship in which the interactions are satisfying and healthy for those involved.
Voluntary relationships (Definition)
A relationship in which we freely choose the people with whom we interact.
Involuntary relationships (Definition)
A relationship in which we have no choice about the other people with whom we interact.
Relationship (Definition)
A set of expectations two people have for each other based on their pattern of interaction.
Johari window
A visual framework for understanding how self-discipline and feedback work together in a relationship.
What is a turning point?
Any event or occurrence that marks a relationship's transition from one stage to another.
How does autonomy differ from connection?
Autonomy is the desire to at and make decisions independent of your relationship partner while connection is the desire to link actions and decisions with those of your relationship partner.
What is relationship transformation?
Continuing to interact and influence a partner through a different type of relationship after one type of relationship has ended.
Indexical function (Definition)
Embedded in the communication messages that are exchanged in a relationship are measures of who is in control, how much partners trust each other, and the level of intimacy in the relationship.
What are relationship costs?
Negative outcomes to a relationship, including the time and energy we spend developing a relationship and the negative experiences that may arise like hurt feelings, conflict episodes, jealousy, etc.
How does novelty differ from predictability?
Novelty is the desire for originality, freshness, and uniqueness in your partner's behavior or in your relationship while predictability is the desire for consistency, reliability, and dependability in your partner's behavior on in your relationship
Define inclusion need.
Our desire to be in the company of other people
Define control need,
Our desire to influence the events and people around us and to be influenced by others.
Define affection need.
Our desire to love and be loved
Acquaintances (Definition)
People we know by name and talk to when the opportunity arises but with whom our interactions are limited.
Friends (Definition)
People with whom we have voluntary personal relationships characterized by equality, mutual involvement, reciprocal liking, self-disclosure, and reciprocal social support
Define relationship rewards.
Positive outcomes to a relationship, including having basic relationship needs for affection, control, and inclusion met.
Feedback
Providing verbal and physical responses to relationship partners and/or their messages.
Instrumental function (Definition)
The communication messages exchanged in a relationship are the means through which we accomplish our personal and our relationship goals.
Constitutive function (Definition)
The communication messages exchanged in a relationship form the relationship.
What is a social network?
the structure of your relationships
