Communications Ch. 7

media multiplexity

using more than one medium to maintain relationships

dialectic

a tension between conflicting forces

Johari Window

a tool for examining the relationship between disclosure and feedback in the relationship

Interpersonal communications

all the interactions that occur between two people to help start, build, maintain, and sometimes end or redefine the relationship.

platonic relationship

an intimate relationship in which not partners are not sexually attracted to each other or do not act on an attraction they feel

romantic relationship

an intimate relationship in which the partners act on their sexual attraction

social penetration theory

describes the different kinds of self-disclosure we use in our relationships

impersonal communication

interchangeable polite chit-chat involving no or very little personal disclosure

circumscribing stage

relationship stage during which communication decreases in both quantity and quality

avoiding stage

relationship stage during which partners create physical distance by making excuses not to do things with the other person in the relationship

stagnating stage

relationship stage during which partners just go through the motions of interacting with each other routinely without enthusiasm or emotion

terminating stage

relationship stage in which partners no longer interact with each other

sacrifice

putting one's needs or desires on hold to attend to the needs of one's partner or the relationship

healthy relationships

a relationship in which the interactions are satisfying and beneficial to all those involved

interpersonal relationships

a relationship that is defined by sets of expectations two people have for each other based on their previous interactions.

grave-dressing

attempts to explain why a relationship failed

relational maintenance

communication strategies used to keep a relationship operating smoothly and satisfactorily

predictability

consistency, reliability, and dependability in a relationship

relationship life cycle

moving back and forth among the relationship phases

hyperpersonal communication

online interaction in which senders have a greater capacity to strategically manage their self-presentation because nonverbal and relevant contextual cues are more limited

novelty

originality, freshness, and uniqueness in a relationship

acquaintances

people we know by name and talk with when the opportunity arises, but with whom our interactions are largely impersonal

friends

people with whom we have voluntarily negotiated more personal relationships

intimates

people with whom we share a high degree of interdependence, commitment, disclosure, understanding, affection, and trust

trust

placing confidence in another in a way that almost always involves some risk

relational dialectics

the competing psychological tensions in a relationship

other-disclosure

the confidential information shared about someone by a third party

self-disclosure

the confidential information we deliberately choose to share about ourselves

connection

the desire to do things and make decisions with one's partner

autonomy

the desire to do things independent of one's partner

closedness

the desire to maintain one's privacy in a relationship

openness

the desire to share intimate ideas and feelings with one's partner

saving face

the process of attempting to maintain a positive self-image in a relational situation

relationship information

the process of changing a relationship from one level of intimacy to another

disclosure

the process of revealing confidential information

reframing

the strategy of changing one's perception about the level of tension.

topical segmentation

the strategy of choosing certain topics with which to satisfy one dialectical tension and other topics for its opposite

temporal selection

the strategy of choosing one desire and ignoring its opposite for a while

neutralization

the strategy of compromising between the desires of the two partners