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
