Final Flashcards
interpersonal communication
the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between two people who have a relationship and are influenced by the partner’s messages
impersonal communication
messages that are role-based, with little relational development or expressed emotion
hyperpersonal communication
a phenomenon surrounding online communication in which a lack of proximity, visual contact, or nonverbal cues results in enhanced intimacy
relational network
a web of relationships that connects individuals to one another
family
a small social group bound by ties of blood, civil contract, and a commitment to care for and be responsible for one another, usually in a shared household
social relationships
relationships that are functional within a specific context but are less intimate than friendships
love
a deep affection for and attachment to another person involving emotional ties, with varying degrees of passion, commitment, and intimacy
intimacy
closeness and understanding of a relational partner
social information processing theory
the theory that communicators use unique language and stylistic cues in their online messages to develop relationships that are as close as those that grow from face-to-face contact; because using text takes time, the process may take longer to become intimate
proximity
a state of physical nearness
inclusion
to involve others in our lives and to be involved in the lives of others
social exchange theory
theory that explains the process of balancing the advantages and disadvantages of a relationship
rewards
beneficial elements of a relationship
costs
negative elements of a relationship
uncertainty reduction theory
theory that when two people meet, their main focus is on decreasing the uncertainty about each other
passive strategies
observing others in communication situations without actually interacting with them
active strategies
in relationship management, strategies that allow one to obtain information about a person more directly, by seeking information from a third party
interactive strategies
strategies that allow one to obtain information by speaking directly with a person rather than observing or asking others for information
relational dialectics theory
theory that dialectical tensions are contradictory feelings that tug at us in every relationship
dialectical tensions
tensions that arise when opposing or conflicting goals exist in a relationship; can be external or internal
social penetration theory
the theory that partners move from superficial levels to greater intimacy through self-disclosure
communication privacy management theory
explanation of how people perceive the information they hold about themselves and whether they will disclose or protect it
boundary turbulence
readjusting the need for privacy against the need for self-disclosure and connection when there is a threat to one’s privacy boundaries
strategic topic avoidance
when one or both relational partners maneuver the conversation away from undesirable topics because of the potential for embarrassment, vulnerability, or relational decline