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Interpersonal Communication

Communication between at least two interdependent parties.

Emotional Rewards

Relationships that enhance feelings of well-being.

Material Rewards

Connections that provide tangible benefits like shelter.

Health Rewards

Social ties that improve overall health outcomes.

Expected Roles

Societal norms dictating things like family role behaviors.

Enacted Roles

Actual performance of expected societal roles.

Interrole Conflict

Conflicting demands from simultaneous roles.

Intrarole Conflict

Conflicting expectations within a single role.

Disclosure

Revealing private information individuals control.

Social Penetration Theory

Communication depth increases as relationships develop.

The onion theory

A model that illustrates the layers of intimacy in interpersonal relationships.

Breadth (Social Penetration Theory)

Variety of topics discussed in a relationship.

Depth (Social Penetration Theory)

Intimacy level of topics in communication.

Frequency

How often communication occurs in relationships.

Uncertainty Reduction Theory

The need for information to predict others' behaviors.

Attachment Theory

Study of emotional bonds and relationship dynamics.

Secure Attachment

Healthy bond fostering confidence in relationships.

Avoidant Attachment

Emotional needs unmet, leading to relationship avoidance.

Anxious Ambivalent Attachment

Insecurity causing dependency and fear of abandonment.

Forces of Attraction

Factors that draw individuals together in relationships.

Proximity

Physical closeness increases attraction likelihood.

Similarity

Attraction to individuals with shared traits.

Complementarity

Attraction to partners with differing yet fitting traits.

Reciprocity

Mutual attraction enhances relationship potential.

Commitment

Being 'all in' with the person in the relationship.

Balance of 'tensions'

Managing conflicting needs within relationships.

Dialectical Tensions

Opposing forces creating conflict in relationships.

Autonomy vs. Connection

Desire for independence versus need for closeness.

Expressiveness vs. Privacy (Openness vs. Closedness)

Tension between sharing and withholding information.

Continuous Investment

Ongoing effort required to maintain relationships.

Change vs. Predictability

Desire for the relationship to be predictable versus new.

Denial

Ignoring one side of a tension.

Disorientation

Ending the relationship.

Alternation

Going back and forth between two tensions.

Segmentation

Managing each tension in separate parts.

Balance

Striking a balance between conflicting needs.

Integration

Finding behaviors that satisfy both opposing needs.

Reaffirmation

Embracing the tension.

Knapp & Vangelisti's Stages of Relational Development

Stage models outlining the progression of romantic relationships.

Initiation

The very short stage focused on making an impression.

Experimentation

The stage of exploring to know each other well.

Intensifying

The stage where the relationship intensifies and becomes less formal.

Bonding

The stage where a person announces their relationship to the world.

Differentiating

When partners start thinking individually rather than as a couple.

Circumscribing

Partners limit their conversations and set boundaries.

Stagnation

The stage where communication declines significantly.

Avoidance

Partners intentionally avoid contact and communication.

Terminating

The final stage where the relationship completely ends.

Content & Relational Message Dimensions

Differentiating between explicit information and feelings about the other person.

Confirming vs. Disconfirming Messages

Confirmation communicates value, disconfirmation communicates lack of value.

Supportive vs. Defensive Communication

Defensive behaviors arise from feeling threatened.

Handling Issues of Privacy

Communication privacy management theory involving disclosure.

Emotional Communication

Using messages to exchange information about emotional states.

Instrumental Communication

Helps 'get things done' in relationships.

Social Exchange Theory

Concept that relationships are created through cost-benefit analysis.

Styles of Love

Different types of love experienced in relationships.

Eros

Typically experienced as a romantic, fairytale-type love.

Ludus

A love style where individuals view love as a game.

Storge

Friendship-based love style characterized by stability and trust.

Pragma

A practical love style where logic is used to determine compatibility.

Mania

A possessive love style characterized by emotional dependency.

Agape

A selfless, all-giving love style centered on the partner's needs.

Relational Maintenance Behaviors

Behaviors to maintain relationships including positivity, openness.

5:1 ratio

For every one negative interaction, there must be five positive interactions.

Negative identity management

A termination strategy involving intentional sabotage.

De-escalation

A termination strategy suggesting 'Let's just be friends.'

Justification

A termination strategy rationalizing the end of a relationship.

Positive-tone strategies

A termination strategy communicating 'You deserve better.'

Behavioral de-escalation

A termination strategy involving avoidance of the partner.

Withdrawal/avoidance

A termination strategy characterized by not responding.

Machiavellian tactics

A termination strategy involving manipulation of others.

Openness

A termination strategy involving blunt communication.

Conflict

An expressed struggle between two interdependent parties.

Intrapersonal conflict

The struggle within an individual regarding their own goals.

Interpersonal conflict

Any type of conflict involving two or more people.

Intragroup conflict

Disagreement between group members.

Intergroup conflict

Disagreement between two or more groups.

Persuasion

A conflict purpose where one party tries to convince others.

Catharsis

Engaging in conflict to release tension.

Stages of Conflict

Progression of conflict through various phases.

Kilmann-Thomas Conflict Model

A model suggesting collaboration is ideal in conflict situations.

Emotional Flooding

Overwhelming emotions causing loss of logical thinking.

Validating Couples

Couples characterized by support and understanding of each other.

Volatile Couples

Intensely emotional couples who engage in lively debates.

Conflict-Avoiding Couples

Couples who minimize persuasion attempts and emphasize common ground.

Hostile Couples

Couples with high levels of defensiveness in conflict.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Critically negative behaviors leading to relationship breakdown.

Contempt

Disrespectful communication marked by sarcasm and ridicule.

Defensiveness

Behavior stemming from feeling unjustly accused.

Stonewalling

The silent treatment; withdrawal from interaction.

Ethical Conflict Management

Principles for managing conflict ethically.

Phubbing

Ignoring someone while using a phone.

Social Information Processing Theory

Lack of nonverbal cues changes online interaction.

Hyperpersonalization

Disclosing more in online interactions to offset distance.

Attitude

Learned predisposition to respond favorably or unfavorably.

Psychological Consistency

The desire to appear consistent in beliefs and behaviors.

Balance Theory

Concept of balancing three cognitive elements.

Cognitive Dissonance

The state of having inconsistent thoughts or beliefs.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

A theory describing two paths to persuasion.

Compliance-Gaining Tactics

Strategies used to persuade others.