Chapter 11: Relational Dialectics Theory

Relational Dialectics

Refers to this dynamic and unceasing struggle between discourses about interpersonal relationships

Discourse

Streams of talk that “cohere around a given object of meaning

• Ex: #MondayMotivation

Constitutive approach

The belief that communication creates, sustains, and alters relationships and the social world; social construction

Monologue

Mode of talking that emphasizes one official discourse and silences all others

Dialogue

Process in which unity and difference are at play both with and against one another in some form

Utterance chain

Our talk reverberates with words spoken before, words yet to come, and words we may never dare to voice.

Discursive struggles

Two or more discourses compete for dominance over meaning

Internal dialectics

Discursive struggles played out within a relationship

External dialectics

Discursive struggles played out between a couple and their community

Dominant discourse

Talk that’s central and prominent with power to define meaning

Marginalized discourse

Peripheral talk, lacking power to define meaning

Integration-Separation

A set of discursive struggles regarding independence vs. interdependence; freedom vs. intimacy

Stability-Change

A set of discursive struggles regarding routine vs. spontaneity; traditional vs. novel

Expression-Nonexpression

A set of discursive struggles regarding transparency vs. secrecy; privacy vs. disclosure.

Separation

Competing discourses ebb and flow but never appear together

• Ex: Radio station

Interplay

Voices multiple discourses in the same time and places

Ex: Lindsey Stirling

Spiraling inversion

Switches back and forth across time between two co treating discourses, voicing one then the other

Segmentation

Compartmentalizes different aspects of the relationship

Negating

Mentions a discourse in order to dismiss it as unimportant

Countering

Replacing an expected discourse with an alternative discourse

Entertaining

Recognizes every discourse has alternatives

Transforming

Combines two or more discourses, changing them into something new

Aesthetic moment

A momentary sense of unity through a profound respect for the disparate voices in dialogue