COMM101 Exam 3

Voluntary / Obligatory Relationships

Voluntary = relationships you choose. Obligatory = relationships you're expected to have.

Intimacy

How close, connected, and emotionally bonded people feel.

Interpersonal Attraction

The feeling of wanting to be around someone.

Physical Attractiveness

Liking someone because of how they look.

Social Attractiveness

Liking someone because of their personality or how they interact with others.

Impression Management

Trying to control how others see you.

Task Attractiveness

Liking someone because they help you get things done well.

Similarity / Homophily

We like people who are similar to us.

False Homophily

Pretending to be similar to someone to fit in.

Self-Disclosure

Sharing personal information about yourself.

Social Penetration Theory

Relationships get closer as people share deeper and more personal information.

Uncertainty Reduction Theory

We try to reduce uncertainty by learning more about people when we first meet them.

Predicted Outcome Value Theory

We decide to continue a relationship based on whether we think it will be good or beneficial in the future.

Affinity-Seeking Strategies

Things people do to get others to like them.

Social Exchange Theory

We weigh the rewards and costs of a relationship.

Early Idealization

Seeing someone as "perfect" early in a relationship.

Stages of Relational Development

Relationships grow, peak, and sometimes decline through stages: Initiating,Experimenting, Intensifying, Integrating, Bonding, Differentiating, Circumscribing, Stagnating, Avoiding, Terminating

Control Mutuality

Both people feel they have a fair and balanced amount of influence in the relationship.

Equity Theory

People feel satisfied when the relationship feels fair and balanced.

Skill Similarity Model

People get along better when they communicate in similar ways.

Ego Support

Helping someone feel confident or valued.

Self-Disclosure

Sharing personal information to build closeness.

Relationship Maintenance Strategies

Things people do to keep a relationship healthy.

Mediated Communication

Talking through technology instead of face-to-face.

Conflict

A disagreement where both people recognize the issue.

Expressed Struggle

When both people openly acknowledge the conflict.

Interdependent

Each person affects the other's outcomes.

Incompatible Goals

When two people want things that can't both happen at the same time.

Perceived Scarce Resources

Thinking there isn't enough of something important.

Interference

When someone gets in the way of your goals or desires.

(De-)Escalatory Conflict Spirals

Escalatory = reactions make the conflict worse. De-escalatory = reactions calm the conflict down.

Conflict Management Styles

The different ways people handle conflict.

Verbal Aggression

Attacking someone personally instead of addressing the issue.

Bonding Capital

The closeness, trust, and support built in strong relationships.

Social Exchange Theory

We evaluate relationships by comparing the rewards and costs.

Indirect/Direct Methods

Ways people end or change relationships—either clearly or subtly.

Self-Determination Theory

People feel happiest in relationships when they have autonomy, competence, and connection.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Blaming others' behavior on their personality instead of the situation.

Intrapsychic Phase

Privately questioning a relationship and thinking about its problems.

Dyadic Phase

Talking to the other person about the relationship problems.

Social Phase

Bringing others into the situation.

Grave Dressing

Creating your story of what happened after the breakup.

5 Stages of Relationship Dissolution:

Intrapsychic, Dyadic, Social, Grave Dressing, Resurrection

Positive Tone Messages

Ending or changing a relationship gently to protect feelings.

De-escalation Messages

Trying to reduce closeness without fully ending things.

Withdrawal/Avoidance

Ending a relationship by pulling away or reducing communication.

Justification Tactic

Giving clear reasons for ending a relationship.

Negative Identity Management Tactic

Ending things by making the other person think breaking up is better for them.

Involuntary/Voluntary Family

Involuntary = family you're born or legally tied to. Voluntary = family you choose.

"Launching" Stage

When kids start becoming independent and leaving home.

Deidentification

A child deliberately differentiating themselves from a sibling or parent.

Family Systems Theory

Families are connected systems—what one person does affects everyone.

Family Communication Patterns Theory

Families communicate based on conversation and conformity levels.

Pluralistic Families

High conversation, low conformity.

Consensual Families

High conversation, high conformity.

Laissez-Faire Families

Low conversation, low conformity.

Protective Families

Low conversation, high conformity.

Symbolic Interactionism

Family members create meaning through shared symbols and behaviors.

ABCX Model

A = stressor B = resources C = interpretation X = outcome

Gender vs. Sex

Sex = biological traits. Gender = social and cultural roles/identity.

Characteristics of Gender

Gender is learned, culturally constructed, and changeable.

Transgender

Gender identity does not match sex assigned at birth.

Essentializing

Reducing someone to one characteristic or stereotype.

Cultural Impact on Gender

Cultures shape gender roles and expectations.

Communication and Gender

Gender influences how people are taught to communicate.

Intercultural Communication

Communication between people from different cultures.

Enculturation

Learning your own culture.

Acculturation

Adapting to a new culture while keeping your original one.

Culture Shock

Stress or confusion when experiencing an unfamiliar culture.

Ethnocentric

Believing your culture is superior.

Cultural Hegemony

One culture's values dominating others.

Identification/Division

Feeling connected to or separated from groups.

Diffusion of Information Theory

How ideas spread through a society.

Norms

Rules or expectations for behavior.

Ways to Organize Cultures

Cultures grouped by communication style, power, time, gender roles, etc.

High/Low-Context Cultures

High = indirect Low = direct

High/Low-Power Distance

High = big hierarchy Low = equality

Monochronic/Polychronic

Monochronic = strict time Polychronic = flexible time

Feminine/Masculine Cultures

Feminine = cooperation Masculine = achievement

Individualistic/Collectivistic

Individualistic = personal goals Collectivistic = group goals

Uncertainty Avoidant/Accepting

Avoidant = prefer rules Accepting = comfortable with change

Homophilous/Heterophilous Systems

Homophilous = similar people interact Heterophilous = diverse interaction

Mindfully Aware

Being conscious of cultural differences.

Communication Codes

Verbal and nonverbal ways cultures communicate.

Digital Divide

Gap in access to technology.

Ethnicity

Group identity based on shared culture, language, or heritage.

Social Skills Deficit

Lacking communication skills needed for healthy relationships.

Violence and Suicide

Poor social skills can increase isolation and risk.

Cardiovascular Difficulties

Stress from poor communication harms the heart.

Immune System Malfunctions

Loneliness and stress weaken the immune system.

Risky Health Practices

Weak relationships may lead to harmful behaviors.

Social Skills Deficits & Health

Poor social skills → fewer relationships → more stress → worse health.

The Nature of Conflict

Conflict is an expressed struggle between interdependent people with incompatible goals.

Destructive Marital Conflicts & Effects

Hostile or unresolved conflicts harm relationships and health.

Advantages of Studying Organizational Communication and Conflict

Improves teamwork, reduces misunderstandings, and supports effective problem-solving.

Communication and Conflict

How people communicate shapes whether conflict escalates or resolves.

Linear Model

One-way communication.

Interactive Model

Two-way communication with delayed feedback.

Transactional Model

Simultaneous sending and receiving of messages.

I-It

Treating someone like an object.