Theories About Interpersonal Relationships

Question 1

Personal relationships defined as….

Answer 1

Quantitative- two, diadic encounters (one on one encounters)

Qualitative: Impersonal Interpersonal

What moves us closer to the interpersonal end?
Attraction, time, experiences ,talk self disclosure , uniqueness, irreplaceable.

“A voluntary commitment between irreplaceable individual who are influenced by rules, relationship dialectics, and surrounding contexts”(wood, 2005)

Question 2

Relational Culture

Answer 2

Dyadic relationships develop a unique set of constitutive and Regulative rules that guide how partners communicate and interpret one another’s messages.

Question 3

Relational Culture

Answer 3

Dyadic relationships develop a unique set of constitutive and Regulative rules that guide how partners communicate and interpret.

Question 4

SocialExchange Theoty: Thibaut & Kelly

Answer 4

Evolved from the heuristic nature of symbolic interactionism.

Economic metaphor for interpersonal relationships.

Exchange resources or currencies

• Rewards
• Costs

Question 5

Relational Currencies

Answer 5

Physical

• Money
• Sex
• Expertise
• Work
• Taking out to dinner
• Protection

Psychological

• Essential interpersonal needs (Schutz)
  
  • Inclusion
  • Affection
  • Control
• Emotional Support
• Compliments
• Self disclosure
• Face
• Access rights

Question 6

Schutz Basic Interpersonal Needs

Answer 6

Bi-directional needs
 Give ---- Receive
-Inclusion
- Affection
- Control

Question 7

Currencies have idiosyncratic value

Answer 7

• Liking
• Supply and demand
• Changeable…
  
  • Person to person
  • Time to time
  • Relationship to relationship
  • Culture to culture

Question 8

Rational for giving currencies

Answer 8

• Dependency
• Return of previous exchange
• Obligating
• Enjoyment

Question 9

Rationale for withholding currencies

Answer 9

• Don’t think other will respond in kind
• Don’t think it’s possible to return the exchange
• Don’t have the time or resources
• Feel relationship will suffer
• feel they don’t need it

Question 10

Cost and Benefit Analysis

Answer 10

Satisfaction = Rewards > Costs

Dissatisfaction = Rewards

Question 11

When is a Cost/Benefit Analysis Done?

Answer 11

We don’t always evaluate everything as a balance sheet

We DO when

• feeling particularly good/bad
• Have strong expectations for a good or bad outcome from and exchange
• When we are contemplating the a change of a particularly high value currency.
• When trying to manipulate others

Question 12

How is a cost/benefit analysis done?

Answer 12

Time Frame - Analysis of current, past, and future encounters

Comparison Level- General, Alternatives Comparison levels

Question 13

Dialectic tensions : 3 most common

Answer 13

They both exist but it becomes a juggling act between the 2

autonomy & connection

Novelty & predictability

Openness & Privacy

Question 14

Managing Dialectical Tensions

Neutralization 
Separation
Segmentation
Alteration
Denial
Reframing & Integration

Answer 14

Neutralization: Compromise both needs met but not completely (most people use this but in the long run it provides very mixed results)

Separation: Favors one need, dismisses the other, Typically the least satisfying tactic.

Segmentation: Meet the need in certain contexts, with certain folks, but not in other contexts, with other folks. Can be. Functional or very dysfunctional ex. Affairs

Alteration: switch back and forth

Denial: Ignoring the situation and pretending the need doesn’t exist (opposite of separation)

Reframing & Integration: Transcend the apparent contradiction to see dialectics as mutually enhancing.