Chapter 7 Flashcards
Interpersonal Relationships
interconnections and interdependence between two individuals
Interpersonal Communications
exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between two people who have a relationship and are influenced by the partner’s messages
Relational Network
web of relationships that connect individuals to one another
Family
small social group bound by ties of blood, civil contract and commitment to care for and be responsible for one another
Friendship
close and caring relationship between two people that is perceived as mutually satisfying and beneficial
Love
deep affection for and attachment to another person involving emotional ties
Intimacy
closeness
Social Information Processing Theory
argues that communicators use unique language and stylistic cues in their online messages to develop relationships that are just as close to those that develop face to face
Hyerpersonal Communication
communications that is more personal and intimate than face to face
Inclusion and Companionship
involve others in our lives and to be involved in the lives of others
Proximity
nearness (one of the first criteria for relationships)
Attraction-Similarity Hypothesis
suggests we project ourselves onto another person based on the attraction we feel for that person
Matching Hypothesis
we seek relationships with others who have comparable levels of attractiveness
Genetic-Similarity Hypothesis
two individuals who hail from the same ethnic group are more genetically similar than others and the theoryis that we tend to form relationships more with people from our ethnicity
Social Exchange Theory
the process of balancing the advantages and disadvantages of a relationship
Rewards
elements of a relationship you feel good about
Costs
things that upset or annoy you or cause you stress in a relationship
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
when two people meet their main focus is on reducing the uncertainty about each other
Passive Strategies
observing others in communication situations without actually interacting with them
Active Strategies
obtain information about a person more directly, seeking information through a third party
Interactive Strategies
finding out important information about a person through direct contact rather than observing or asking others
Relational Dialects Theory
holds that dialetical tensions are contradictory feelings that tug at us in every relationship
Social Penetration Theory (SPT)
explains how partners move from superficial levels to greater intimacy
Communication Privacy Management (CPM) Theory
explains how people perceive the information they hold about themselves and whether they will disclose or protect it
Boundary Turbulence
a threat to your privacy boundaries
Strategic Topic Avoidance
maneuver the conversation away from potentially embarrassing, vulnerable, or otherwise undesirable topics
Initiating Stage
you make contact with another person
Exploratory Stage
seeking relatively superficial information from your partner
Intensification Stage
occurs when relational partners become increasingly intimate and move their communication toward more personal self-disclosure
Stable Stage
relationship is no longer volatile or temporary, expectations are realistic, feel comfortable
Integrating
“becoming one” - sharing many activities, interest and habits
Bonding
when two partners share formal symbolic messages with the world that their relationships is important and cherished
Declining Stage
when the relationship begins to come apart
uncertainty events, interference, unmet expectations
Relationship Repair
repair tactics - improve communication, focus on positive, reevaluate alternatives, enlist the support of others, reinterpret behaviors
Termination Stage
end of a relationship
Reconcilliation
repair strategy of rekindling an extinguished relationship
