Questions and Answers
What are the characteristics of role relationships?
Which of the following defines an interpersonal relationship?
What are the six components of intimacy?
Knowledge, caring, interdependence, mutuality, trust, commitment
Which attachment style feels more comfortable being alone than in a relationship?
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What constitutes direct verbal behavior in communicating affection?
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The social penetration theory includes stages of relationship development.
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The ______ approach focuses on understanding relational dynamics and the presence of tensions.
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What does equity theory pertain to in relationships?
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Which love style is characterized by possessive or obsessive love?
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Which maintenance behavior is associated with positivity and openness?
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How many love languages are identified in the 5 love languages theory?
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What are the three main types of attachment styles in childhood?
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Underbeneficial inequity in relationships is related to feelings of satisfaction.
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Study Notes
Role Relationships
- Task-oriented, lacking personal connections
- Interchangeable and temporary with limited interdependence
Interpersonal Relationships
- Characterized by mutual influence and repeated interactions
- Unique communication that is not interchangeable with others
Close/Intimate Relationships
- Involves emotional attachment and need fulfillment (affection, social inclusion, behavioral control)
- Considered the most important and irreplaceable relationships
Six Components of Intimacy
- Knowledge, caring, interdependence, mutuality, trust, commitment
Characteristics Distinguishing Relationship Types
- Includes factors like voluntary vs. involuntary, genetically related vs. nonrelated, and sexual vs. platonic nature
Interpersonal Communication (IPC)
- Encompasses communication between any two individuals
Relational Communication
- Specifically about communication between two close individuals
Principles of IPC
- Communication is inevitable, fulfilling self-presentational, relational, and instrumental goals
Principles of Relational Communication
- Subset of IPC; relationships develop through ongoing interactions
- Contextualizes messages, often reducing verbal communication needs
- Reflects varying levels of intimacy and is dynamic with both linear and nonlinear patterns
Computer-Mediated Communication
- Utilizes platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat
Types of Attraction
- Includes physical, social, task-related, sexual, and fatal attraction
Fatal Attraction
- Qualities that attract may also lead to relationship breakdowns due to personal, partner, or pair qualities
Perceptions of Reward
- Influences what individuals seek in others
Expectancies
- Forms perceptions on what others should be like; positive vs. negative violations of expectations
Attachment Styles
- Secure, dismissive, fearful avoidant, and preoccupied attachment styles affect relationship dynamics
Secure Individual
- Feels safe and comfortable both alone and in relationships
Dismissive Individual
- Prefers solitude over being in relationships
Fearful Avoidant Individual
- Lacks confidence, feels comfortable both in and out of relationships
Preoccupied Individual
- Fears being alone and constantly seeks to be in relationships
Demographic Differences
- Factors like sex, gender, age, and sexual orientation can influence relationships
Other People's Qualities
- Attractiveness based on physical appearance, communication skills, and the "hard to get" phenomenon
Qualities of the Pair
- Synergy in interactions leads to attraction; similarity vs. complementarity plays a role
Similarity vs. Complementarity
- Similarity refers to shared core values and attitudes; complementarity involves differing behaviors and resources
Environmental Influences on Attraction
- Physical proximity and the approval of a social environment enhance attraction
Perspectives on Relationship Trajectories
- Include relational stage approach, turning point approach, and dialectical approach
Relationship Stages
- Relationships develop through gradual, linear stages, explained by theories like social penetration and the staircase model
Social Penetration Theory
- Consists of stages: orientation, exploratory, affective, stable, and social depenetration
Turning Points
- Significant events that redirect the trajectory of a relationship
Types of Turning Points
- Events include communication changes, activities, romantic events, commitment moments, family changes, proximity shifts, crises, and perceptual changes
Dialectical Perspective
- Relationships are dynamic with inherent tensions between competing needs, defined by Baxter's Relational Dialectics Theory
Baxter's Relational Dialectics Theory
- Includes internal (connection-autonomy, certainty-novelty, openness-closedness) and external tensions (inclusion-seclusion, conventionality-uniqueness, revelation-concealment)
Types of Closeness in Relationships
- Physical, emotional, and relational closeness are vital for connection
Communicating Closeness
- Involves affectionate gestures, immediacy to increase closeness, and providing social support
Affection Exchange Theory
- Suggests affection meets survival and reproductive needs and correlates with health
Communicating Affection
- Achieved through direct-verbal, direct nonverbal, and indirect nonverbal behaviors
5 Love Languages
- Words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, receiving gifts, and quality time express love
Immediacy in Communication
- Verbal immediacy includes active word choice; nonverbal immediacy involves eye contact, physical touch, and body language
Cognitive Valence Theory
- Different individual responses to increases in closeness and immediacy
Types of Support
- Emotional, esteem, informational, tangible aid, network support, and social support can be provided in various situations
Effective Supportive Communication
- Balances visible and invisible support based on the needs of the recipient
High and Moderate Person-Centered Messages
- High-centered messages are elaborate and validating, while moderate-centered messages acknowledge feelings without depth
Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love
- Love comprises passion (infatuation), intimacy (emotional closeness), and commitment (loyalty)
Types of Love in Sternberg's Model
- Nonlove is the absence of intimacy, passion, and commitment, among others
Lee's Love Styles
- Includes romantic (eros), companionate (storage), game-playing (ludus), possessive (mania), altruistic (agape), and practical (pragma) love
Attachment Theory
- Emphasizes the essential bond and intense emotional ties established in childhood through consistent caregiving
Childhood Attachment Styles
- Identified as secure, anxious-ambivalent, and avoidant, influenced by parenting practices
Factors Accounting for Attachment Styles
- Inborn differences and varying parenting styles shape attachment outcomes in children
Importance of Maintaining Relationships
- Relationships provide happiness and satisfaction in life
Divorce Rates
- Significant percentages of marriages end in divorce: 50% for first marriages, 60% for second, and 75% for third marriages
Strategies for Relationship Maintenance
- Can include prosocial behaviors (positivity, support) or antisocial behaviors (avoidance, jealousy)
The "5 Magic Hours"
- Daily routines that strengthen relationships include curiosity about each other’s day, regular admiration, and affection
Maintenance Behavior Modalities
- Interaction types include face-to-face, texting, and social media communication to uphold connections
Effectiveness of Maintenance Behaviors
- Strategic maintenance tends to be more effective than routine, as it prevents feelings of being "lost in routine"
Romantic Relationship Maintenance
- Married couples generally report higher levels of task sharing and assurances compared to daters
Maintenance in Same-Sex Friendships
- Boys tend to value shared activities, while girls prioritize communication, with more similarities than differences observed
Challenges in Cross-Sex Friendships
- Includes managing emotional bonds, sexual attraction, social perceptions, and jealousy issues
Long-Distance Relationship Maintenance
- LDRs can provide happiness and allow partners to control communication frequency, though idealization may fade when proximity increases
Equity Theory
- Relationships are measured by a ratio of costs and benefits; equitable relationships lead to satisfaction, while inequities result in negative feelings
Consequences of Equity
- Equitable relationships correlate with happiness, while underbeneficial inequity leads to dissatisfaction, and overbeneficial equity can result in guilt
Addressing Inequitable Relationships
- Solutions include restoring equity, adjusting perceptions, or leaving the relationship if needed
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Description
Explore the key concepts of relational communication through flashcards covering role relationships, interpersonal relationships, and close/intimate relationships. Each card provides a clear definition to help you understand the differences and nuances of each type of relationship.
