Chapter 6: Relational Dialectics and Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Vocabulary flashcards defining key terms, dialectical tensions, theorists, and concepts from Relational Dialectics Theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory.

Relational Dialectics

Theoretical perspective that argues communication creates, maintains, and changes our relationships and the social world.

Monologue

A form of communication that elevates one discourse over the others.

Dialogue

Communication involving multiple perspectives where talk shapes the participants and the relationship by building off and challenging one another.

Baxter and Montgomery (1988)

Researchers who established background on relational dialectics through interviews studying family communication.

Bakhtin

The theorist associated with dialogism who viewed communication as an ongoing set of tensions.

Discourses

The different ways we talk about things.

Self-Disclosure

Defined as "mutual revelation" involving finding similarities and shared interests.

Utterance Chain

Ongoing communication.

Internal Dialectics

Dialectical tensions that occur within a relationship.

External Dialectics

Dialectical tensions that occur between a relationship and the outside world.

Connection vs. Autonomy

An internal integration vs. separation dialectic balancing being part of the family or relationship unit with independence and a sense of one's own identity.

Inclusion vs. Seclusion

An external integration vs. separation dialectic balancing the relationship's participation in the greater community with alone time together.

Certainty vs. Uncertainty

An internal stability vs. change dialectic balancing routine, predictability, and comfort with spontaneity, novelty, and excitement.

Conventionality vs. Uniqueness

An external stability vs. change dialectic balancing the relationship's similarity with other relationships in the community with being special.

Openness vs. Closedness

An internal expression vs. nonexpression dialectic balancing transparency and self-disclosure with privacy and avoidance of topics.

Revelation vs. Concealment

An external expression vs. nonexpression dialectic balancing sharing details of the relationship with the community with keeping details private within the relationship.

Spiraling Inversion

A method of managing dialectical tensions by switching back and forth between opposing needs.

Segmentation

A method of managing dialectical tensions by compartmentalizing communication topics or contexts.

Leon Festinger (1957)

Social psychology researcher who introduced Cognitive Dissonance Theory based on work in conditioning, decision making, and inconsistency.

Cognitions

Thoughts or bits of knowledge.

Dissonance

Internal conflict characterized by being psychologically inconsistent.

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychologically uncomfortable state that occurs when holding two incongruent thoughts or choosing a behavior over another, less dissonant behavior.