Relational Development Flashcards
All our relationships are a product of __
Communication
- Self-disclosure, nonverbal warmth, empathetic listening, development of trust
- Closeness is a product of congruence, acceptance and understanding
Phenomenological Approach
- AKA the Transactional Approach
- Emphasis of social exchange
- Assessing the rewards and costs of the relationship
- Prevalence of economic metaphors
Rewards vs Costs Approach
- Self-disclosure is reciprocal, especially towards the middle of the relationship when semi-private information is being shared.
- Penetration is rapid at the start but slows down once the inner layers are reached.
- De-penetration is likewise a gradual layer by layer withdrawal
Social Penetration Theory
Why self-disclose
Rewards vs Costs
Maximize the ___ while minimizing ___
Benefits
Costs
- It happens gradually, from superficial to intimate levels of exchange
- A function of immediate and forecasted outcomes
Closeness
Personality structure is like a
Multilayered onion
Closeness is a product of
Self-disclosure
Depth of penetration depends on (2)
- Degree of personal disclosure
2. Degree of intimacy in friendship and romance
Relational Outcome =
Relational Benefits-Costs
Determines if a relationship is meaningful
Minimax Principle
- How happy or sad an interpersonal outcome makes us feel
- Points of reference
- The threshold above which an outcome seems attractive
- Pegged on our relationship history: baseline of past experience
Comparison Level
- Would this relationship be more rewarding if it was with another person
- What is the worst outcome that I’m willing to tolerate of I’m to stay in the relationship
Comparison Level of Alternatives
Proponent of the Uncertainty Reduction theory
Charles Berger
- Used to gain knowledge and create understanding
2. Used to reduce uncertainty and increase predictability
Human communication
8 Axioms to address uncertainty
- Verbal Communication
- Nonverbal Warmth
- Information Seeking
- Self Disclosure
- Reciprocity
- Similarity
- Liking
- Shared Networks
High levels of uncertainty increase verbal communication. As uncertainty decreases, verbal output
Increases
Nonverbal warmth reduces initial uncertainty. As uncertainty decreases, nonverbal warmth
Increases
High levels of uncertainty increase information seeking behavior. As uncertainty decreases, information seeking
Decreases
High uncertainty reduces self disclosure. As uncertainty decreases, self disclosure
Increases
High levels of uncertainty generate high rates of reciprocity. As uncertainty decreases, reciprocity
Decreases
Similarities __ uncertainty
Dissimilarities __ uncertainty
Reduce
Increase
High uncertainty ___ liking
Reducing uncertainty ___ liking
Decreases
Increases