looking out/looking in fourteenth edition 8 communication and relational dynamics chapter topics why...

Looking Out/Looking InLooking Out/Looking InFourteenth EditionFourteenth Edition

88Communication andCommunication andRelational DynamicsRelational Dynamics

CHAPTER TOPICSCHAPTER TOPICS

• Why We Form Relationships• Models of Relational Dynamics• Characteristics of Relationships• Communicating about Relationships

22COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONAL DYNAMICSCOMMUNICATION AND RELATIONAL DYNAMICS

Why We Form RelationshipsWhy We Form Relationships

• Appearance• Is especially important in the early stages• Partners create “positive illusions,” viewing

another as more attractive over time

• Similarity• We like people who are similar to us• Similarity is more important to relational

happiness than communication ability



• Complementarily• Differences strengthen relationships when

they are complementary• Each partner’s characteristics satisfy the other’s

needs

• Reciprocal Attraction• We like people who like us – usually• People who approve of us, bolster our self-

esteem



• Competence• We like to be around talented people• If a person is too talented it can be difficult to

be around them because they make us look bad

• Disclosure• Revealing information about yourself can help

to build liking• Not all disclosure leads to liking



• Proximity• We are likely to develop relationships with

people we interact with frequently• Allows us to get more information about other

people and benefit from relationship

• Rewards• Social Exchange Theory

• Relationships that give us rewards greater than or equal to the costs of the relationship


Models of Relational DynamicsModels of Relational Dynamics

• A Developmental Perspective• Mark Knapp

• Rise and fall of relationships • Ten stages

• Other researchers• Coming together• Coming apart• Relational maintenance



• Stages of Relational Development

Figure 8.1 Page 276



• Knapp’s Ten Stages of the Relationship• Initiating

• Communication during this stage is usually brief• Usually follows a conventional formula

• Experimenting• After initial contact we decide if we wish to pursue

the relationship further• Uncertainty reduction

• The search for common ground



• Knapp’s Ten Stages of the Relationship• Intensifying

• The interpersonal relationship begins to develop• The expression of feeling becomes more common

• Integrating• Parties begin to take on identity as a social unit• Partners begin to take on each other’s

commitments



• Knapp’s Ten Stages of the Relationship• Bonding

• Parties make symbolic public gestures• Commitment is increased during this stage

• Differentiating• The “We” orientation shifts back to “I”• The stage is likely to occur when the relationship

experiences its first feelings of stress



• Knapp’s Ten Stages of the Relationship• Circumscribing

• Communication decreases in quantity and quality• Restrictions and restraints

• Stagnating• No growth occurs• The relationship is a hollow shell of its former self



• Knapp’s Ten Stages of the Relationship• Avoiding

• Parties begin to create physical distance between each other

• Indirectly• Directly

• Terminating• Includes summary dialogue• Relationships don’t always move toward

termination in a straight line



• A Dialectical Perspective• Dialectical tensions

• Conflicts that arise when two opposing or incompatible forces exist simultaneously

• Several dialectical forces that make successful communication challenging



• A Dialectical Perspective• Dialectical tensions

• Connection versus autonomy• Openness versus privacy• Predictability versus novelty


Models of Relational DynamicsModels of Relational Dynamics• A Dialectical Perspective

• Managing dialectical tensions• Denial• Disorientation• Alternation• Segmentation• Balance• Integration• Recalibration• Reaffirmation


Characteristics of RelationshipsCharacteristics of Relationships

• Relationships Are Constantly Changing• Rarely stable for long periods• A cycle in which partners move through a series of

stages

• Relationships are affected by culture• A variety of differences can make relationships

between people from different cultures challenging


Characteristics of RelationshipsCharacteristics of Relationships

• Relationships Are Affected by Culture• A variety of differences can make relationships

between people from different cultures challenging


Communicating about Communicating about RelationshipsRelationships

• Content and Relational Messages• Content Messages

• The subject being discussed

• Relational Messages• How the parties feel toward one another

• Types of Relational Messages• Affinity• Immediacy• Respect• Control


Communicating about Communicating about RelationshipsRelationships

• Metacommunication• Messages that people exchange, verbally or

nonverbally, about their relationship• Communication about communication• Important method for resolving conflicts in a

constructive manner• Can be used as a way to reinforce the

satisfying aspects of a relationship


Chapter ReviewChapter Review

• Why We Form Relationships

• Models of Relational Dynamics

• Characteristics of Relationships

• Communicating about Relationships

looking out/looking in fourteenth edition 8 communication and relational dynamics chapter topics why...

Documents

relational happiness

relational maintenance

communication ability

communication decreases

liking slide

relationships appearance

relationships proximity

relationships competence