Chapter Seven - Communicating Closeness

Question 1

Affection Exchange Theory

Answer 1

The idea that affectionate communication is a biologically adaptive behavior that evolved because it helps people provide and obtain valuable resources necessary for survival; people who adapt best to their environment have the best chance to survive, procreate, and pass their genes on to the next generation

Question 2

Liking

Answer 2

A feeling or connection characterized by affection and respect; occurs when people experience high levels of intimacy and low levels of commitment and passion.

Question 3

Passion

Answer 3

Interpersonal excitation that is often, but not always, sexual. The hot component, involving motivation and arousal.

Question 4

Emotional Closeness

Answer 4

A sense of shared experiences, trust, enjoyment, concern, and caring in a relationship.

Question 5

What are the 3 types of communication that express closeness?

Answer 5

affectionate communication, immediacy behavior, and social support.

Question 6

Cognitive Valence Theory

Answer 6

A theory that helps predict how and why people respond to increased immediacy.

Question 7

Cognitive Valencers/Schemata

Answer 7

The templates or knowledge structures that people use to help them evaluate if a behavior is appropriate or inappropriate and welcome or unwelcome

Question 8

Agentic Friendships

Answer 8

Focus on companionship and shared activities such as adventures, telling stories, doing physical labor, working on a joint project, taking a fishing trip, and serving in the army (men go for more).

Question 9

Expressive Friendships

Answer 9

Involve using emotionally charged nonverbal and verbal communication during conversations, showing nonverbal affection, talking about fears, and shopping (women go for more)

Question 10

What are the 6 valencers of Cognitive Valence Theory?

Answer 10

Culture, Personality, Rewardingness, Relationship, Situation, and Temporary States.

Question 11

Low Person-centered Messages

Answer 11

A message that implicitly or explicitly deny the legitimacy of the distressed person’s feelings, sometimes by blaming the person for the situation, changing the topic, distracting them, or minimizing the problem (ex: Let’s get our mind of of this)

Question 12

Moderate Person-centered Messages

Answer 12

Messages that acknowledge the distressed person’s feelings but do not help the distressed person contextualize or elaborate on the situation (ex: Don’t worry, she’ll be okay)

Question 13

High Person-centered Messages

Answer 13

Messages that help distressed people gain a perspective on their feelings and legitimize their feelings (ex: I am so sorry to hear that, it must be so hard for you).

Question 14

Responsiveness

Answer 14

Refers to the degree to which a message communicates understanding, caring, and validation of one’s partner, related to both emotional and esteem support.

Question 15

Emotional Support

Answer 15

Helping someone feel better without necessarily trying to solve the problem.

Question 16

Esteem Support

Answer 16

Used to bolster someone’s self-worth by the person feel valued, admired, and capable.

Question 17

Informational Support

Answer 17

Giving specific advice, including facts and information that might help someone solve a problem.

Question 18

Tangible Aid

Answer 18

People provide physical assistance, goods, or services (like babysitting or helping with a task).

Question 19

Network Support

Answer 19

Directing someone to a person or group who can help them, often because they have similar experiences.

Question 20

Invisible Support Phenomenon

Answer 20

The idea that attempts at support that go unnoticed by recipients are the most effective in reducing stress and promoting good health, because people want to think of themselves as capable/autonomous.

Question 21

What is a person centered message?

Answer 21

Communication that acknowledges, elaborates on, and validates the feelings and concerns of a distressed person.

Question 22

Dual Process Model of Supportive Communication

Answer 22

Outlines the process that occurs when people receive and respond to supportive messages (the “helper” and the “recipient”); two paths include 1. Recipient is unmotivated or unable to process the message. 2. Recipient is motivated and able to process the message.

Question 23

Physical Closeness

Answer 23

amount of spatial proximity and physical contact people have

Touching, sitting next to each other, putting head on one’s shoulder

Question 24

Emotional Closeness

Answer 24

sense of shared experiences, trust, enjoyment, concern, and caring in a relationship

Sharing and caring are fundamental to both the experience & expression of emotional closeness.

Question 25

Relational closeness

Answer 25

interdependence people share. Exchange resources, influence one another’s thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, and meet each other’s needs Caregiving and social support