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Oe Unit 4 Notes
Oe Unit 4 Notes
In close relationships, social exchange theory emphasizes the notion of costs and
rewards as fundamental elements shaping communication dynamics. Partners engage
in communication behaviors with the expectation of maximizing rewards (e.g., emotional
support, companionship) while minimizing costs (e.g., conflicts, sacrifices). The
perceived equity or fairness of this exchange influences relationship satisfaction and
stability.
● Attachment Theory:
Attachment theory explores how early attachment experiences with primary caregivers
influence individuals' communication patterns and relationship dynamics in adulthood. It
suggests that individuals develop internal working models of relationships based on
their early attachment experiences, which shape their expectations, emotional
responses, and communication styles in close relationships.
Example: A person who had a secure attachment style growing up may feel comfortable
expressing vulnerability and seeking emotional support from their romantic partner. In
contrast, someone with an insecure attachment style characterized by anxiety or
avoidance may struggle with intimacy and have difficulty trusting their partner's
responsiveness.
● Dialectical Perspectives:
Example: In a close friendship, two friends may experience tension between the desire
for independence and the need for companionship. They navigate this tension by
balancing time spent together with opportunities for individual pursuits, maintaining a
sense of autonomy while fostering closeness in their relationship.
● Goal Setting:
At the core of the strategic approach is the identification of specific goals or objectives that
individuals aim to achieve through communication. These goals may vary depending on the
context and the nature of the relationship, ranging from persuading others to influencing
attitudes or behaviors.
Example: In a professional setting, a manager may have the goal of motivating their team to
increase productivity. To achieve this goal, the manager strategically selects communication
strategies such as offering incentives, providing clear instructions, and offering praise for good
performance.
● Message Design:
Strategic communicators carefully craft messages to effectively convey their intended meaning
and achieve their desired goals. This involves considering factors such as message content,
tone, delivery method, and timing to maximize the impact on the recipient.
Example: In a romantic relationship, if one partner wants to express their need for more quality
time together, they may strategically design their message to be clear, non-confrontational, and
sensitive to their partner's feelings. They might choose to have this conversation during a
relaxed and private moment when both partners are receptive to communication.
● Audience Analysis:
Understanding the characteristics, preferences, and needs of the audience is crucial in the
strategic approach. By analyzing the audience, communicators can tailor their messages to
resonate with their audience's values, beliefs, and communication styles.
Example: During a job interview, a candidate may initially adopt a confident and assertive
communication style. However, if they sense that the interviewer prefers a more collaborative
approach, they may adapt their communication style to be more cooperative and attentive to the
interviewer's cues.
● Ethical Considerations:
Example: A public relations practitioner representing a company facing a public relations crisis
must communicate honestly and transparently with stakeholders while also protecting the
company's reputation. They must balance the need to provide accurate information with the
ethical imperative to avoid misleading or deceptive communication.
● Relationship Management:
● Outcome-Oriented Perspective:
The consequential approach shifts the focus from the process of communication to its
outcomes, emphasizing the effects or results that communication produces. It recognizes that
communication can influence attitudes, emotions, behaviors, and relationships, and encourages
individuals to evaluate the consequences of their communication choices.
Example: A couple engaged in a heated argument may focus on winning the argument without
considering the emotional impact of their words on each other. However, adopting a
consequential approach would prompt them to pause and reflect on the potential long-term
consequences of their communication, such as increased resentment or damage to trust.
● Ethical Considerations:
Ethical principles are central to the consequential approach, as it emphasizes the responsibility
of communicators to consider the ethical implications of their communication behaviors. Ethical
communication involves respecting others' rights, promoting justice and fairness, and minimizing
harm to individuals and communities.
● Power Dynamics:
● Context Sensitivity:
Example: When giving a public speech, a speaker considers the cultural background and values
of the audience to ensure that their message resonates with them and avoids inadvertently
causing offense. By adapting their communication style and content to the context, the speaker
maximizes the likelihood of achieving their intended outcomes.
● Relationship Maintenance:
Effective communication is essential for maintaining positive and healthy relationships, and the
consequential approach emphasizes the role of communication outcomes in shaping relational
dynamics. Communicators strive to achieve outcomes that strengthen trust, foster
understanding, and promote relational satisfaction.
Example: In a friendship, a person who values honesty and openness may communicate openly
with their friend about their feelings and concerns. By prioritizing transparent communication,
they strengthen their bond and build a foundation of trust and mutual respect in the relationship.
● Functional Perspectives:
● Strategic Elements:
Example: In a parent-child relationship, a parent may strategically use active listening and
empathy to validate their child's feelings during a disagreement. By acknowledging their child's
perspective and expressing understanding, the parent fosters open communication, builds trust,
and promotes a supportive parent-child bond.
● Goal Orientation:
Example: In a friendship, two friends may have the goal of maintaining open and honest
communication. To achieve this goal, they engage in regular conversations, share personal
experiences, and express their thoughts and feelings openly. By prioritizing communication and
transparency, they strengthen their friendship and deepen their connection.
● Adaptive Communication:
Example: In a sibling relationship, siblings may adapt their communication approaches when
discussing sensitive topics such as family conflicts or personal differences. They may choose to
approach these conversations with empathy, patience, and a willingness to listen, allowing them
to navigate conflicts constructively and maintain a positive sibling bond.
● Relational Maintenance:
Communication within close relationships plays a vital role in maintaining and enhancing
relational quality over time. The strategic-functional approach emphasizes the importance of
ongoing communication efforts in nurturing intimacy, fostering understanding, resolving conflicts,
and promoting relational satisfaction.
Example: In a marriage, partners may engage in regular check-ins to discuss their relationship
dynamics, express appreciation for each other, and address any concerns or conflicts that arise.
By prioritizing communication and relational maintenance, they strengthen their marital bond
and build a foundation of trust and mutual support.
● Instrumental Function:
● Expressive Function:
● Social Function:
The social function of communication involves establishing and maintaining social connections,
relationships, and networks with others. Communication serves as a means for individuals to
form social bonds, build rapport, and engage in social interactions that fulfill their relational
needs.
● Regulatory Function:
● Transactional Function:
The transactional function of communication emphasizes the interactive and dynamic nature of
communication exchanges, where individuals engage in mutual exchange of messages, ideas,
and feedback. Communication serves as a process of negotiation, collaboration, and
co-creation of meaning between communicators.
● Heuristic Function:
Communication serves as a primary means for expressing affection, love, and appreciation
within personal relationships. Verbal expressions of love, affectionate gestures, and words of
affirmation strengthen emotional bonds and reinforce feelings of closeness and connection.
Example: A partner in a romantic relationship expresses love and affection through verbal
affirmations such as "I love you" and "You mean the world to me," as well as through nonverbal
gestures such as hugs, kisses, and acts of kindness. These expressions of affection reaffirm the
emotional bond between partners and contribute to relationship satisfaction.
Communication plays a crucial role in providing emotional support and comfort during times of
stress, sadness, or uncertainty within personal relationships. Active listening, empathy, and
validation help individuals feel understood, valued, and supported by their loved ones.
Example: A friend listens attentively and offers empathetic responses when another friend
shares feelings of sadness and disappointment after experiencing a setback at work. By
providing a supportive presence and validating their friend's emotions, they help alleviate
distress and strengthen their friendship bond.
● Resolving Conflicts and Disagreements:
Communication skills are essential for effectively resolving conflicts and disagreements that
arise within personal relationships. Constructive communication strategies such as active
listening, assertiveness, and compromise help address differences, find common ground, and
reach mutually satisfactory resolutions.
Effective communication skills are crucial for building and maintaining trust and intimacy within
personal relationships. Transparency, honesty, and vulnerability foster emotional intimacy and
deepen the level of trust between individuals.
Example: A parent communicates openly and honestly with their child about important life
decisions, family values, and personal experiences. By sharing their thoughts and feelings
authentically, the parent builds trust and strengthens the parent-child bond, creating a
supportive and nurturing family environment.
Example: A friend actively listens to their friend's concerns about a recent argument with their
partner. They maintain eye contact, nod in understanding, and provide verbal validation by
saying, "I hear you. That sounds really frustrating. You're not alone, and I'm here for you."
Assertive communication involves expressing one's thoughts, feelings, and needs honestly and
respectfully while also respecting the rights and boundaries of others. Setting and respecting
personal boundaries is essential for maintaining autonomy, self-respect, and healthy
relationships.
Example: A family member assertively communicates their need for alone time to recharge after
a long day at work. They kindly but firmly express their boundary by saying, "I appreciate your
company, but I need some time to myself right now. Let's catch up later when I'm feeling more
refreshed."
Conflict resolution skills are vital for addressing disagreements, misunderstandings, and
tensions that arise within personal relationships. Effective conflict resolution involves active
listening, empathy, perspective-taking, and collaboration to find mutually satisfactory solutions
and preserve relational harmony.
Example: Siblings engage in constructive conflict resolution by discussing their differing opinions
on how to divide household chores. They listen to each other's perspectives, identify common
goals, and negotiate a compromise that reflects both their needs and preferences.
Example: A parent comforts their child through a warm hug and gentle tone of voice after the
child expresses sadness about not making the sports team. The parent's nonverbal gestures
convey empathy, reassurance, and unconditional love, providing comfort and support to the
child.
Providing positive feedback and reinforcement is essential for nurturing and strengthening
personal relationships. Acknowledging and appreciating others' efforts, strengths, and qualities
through verbal praise, compliments, and affirmations fosters a positive and supportive relational
climate.
Example: A partner expresses gratitude and admiration for their significant other's
thoughtfulness in planning a surprise dinner date. They convey their appreciation by saying,
"Thank you for organizing such a wonderful evening. I'm so grateful for your thoughtfulness and
the effort you put into making me happy."
● Formation Stage:
Example: Two colleagues who recently met at a networking event engage in casual
conversation during a lunch break. They ask each other about their backgrounds, interests, and
career goals, sharing personal anecdotes and finding common ground to establish a foundation
for friendship or collaboration.
● Exploration Stage:
Example: Two individuals who recently started dating engage in deeper conversations about
their values, goals, and long-term aspirations. They ask probing questions, share personal
experiences, and discuss their expectations for the relationship, seeking to understand each
other's perspectives and assess their compatibility.
● Intensification Stage:
In the intensification stage, relationships progress to deeper levels of emotional intimacy and
commitment, marked by increased self-disclosure, emotional expression, and relational
bonding. Communication serves functions such as emotional support, validation, and
relationship maintenance, as individuals nurture their connection and build trust and closeness
with each other.
Example: A couple in a committed relationship engage in heartfelt conversations about their
fears, dreams, and vulnerabilities. They express love and appreciation for each other, offer
emotional support during challenging times, and prioritize quality time together to deepen their
emotional bond and strengthen their relationship.
● Stabilization Stage:
During the stabilization stage, relationships become more stable and secure, characterized by
established routines, shared goals, and mutual commitment. Communication serves functions
such as conflict resolution, negotiation, and boundary management, as individuals navigate
challenges and conflicts while maintaining relational harmony and stability.
● Maintenance Stage:
In the maintenance stage, relationships focus on sustaining and enhancing relational quality
through ongoing communication efforts. Communication serves functions such as relational
maintenance, affirmation, and appreciation, as individuals prioritize communication, affection,
and shared activities to nurture their connection and sustain relational satisfaction.
Example: A group of long-time friends engages in regular communication through phone calls,
video chats, and in-person gatherings to stay connected and strengthen their friendship bond.
They express appreciation for each other's friendship, reminisce about shared experiences, and
offer support and encouragement during challenging times, maintaining their close-knit
friendship over the years.
In the renewal or dissolution stage, relationships may undergo significant changes as individuals
reassess their priorities, needs, and satisfaction with the relationship. Communication serves
functions such as reflection, negotiation, and closure, as individuals evaluate the relationship's
future and make decisions about its continuation or termination.
Example: A couple who have been experiencing relationship difficulties engage in honest and
reflective communication to assess the health of their relationship. They discuss their concerns,
express their needs and desires, and explore potential solutions to address underlying issues.
Ultimately, they decide to seek couples therapy to work on their relationship and rebuild trust
and intimacy, renewing their commitment to each other.