Communication: KEY TERMS Ch 7 Flashcards
need to belong theory
a psychological theory proposing a fundamental human inclination to bond with others
attraction theory
a theory that explains why individuals are drawn to others
interpersonal attraction
the force that draws people together
physical attraction
attraction to someone’s appearance
social attraction
attraction to someone’s personality
task attraction
attraction to someone’s abilities or dependability
proximity
closeness, as in how closely together people live or work
complementarity
the beneficial provision by another person of quality that one lacks
uncertainty reduction theory
theory suggesting that people find uncertainty to be unpleasant, so they are motivated to reduce their uncertainty by getting to know others
social exchange theory
theory suggesting that people seek to maintain relationships in which their benefits outweigh their costs
comparison level
a realistic expectation of what one wants and thinks one deserves from a relationship
comparison level for alternatives
an assessment of how much better or worse one’s current relationship is that one’s other options
over-benefited
a state in which one’s relational benefits outweigh one’s costs
under-benefited
a state in which one’s relational costs outweigh one’s benefits
equity theory
theory that a good relationship is one in which a person’s ratio of costs and benefits is equal to his/her partner’s
