Communication in Relationships - COMM 1000

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering human attraction, attachment theory, relational development stages, love styles, maintenance behaviors, and termination strategies from COMM 1000.

Forces of Attraction

The five core factors influencing interpersonal attraction: appearance, proximity, similarity, complementarity, and reciprocity.

Close Relationships

Interpersonal relationships characterized by four key elements: commitment, interdependence, continuous investment, and tensions.

Secure Attachment (Childhood)

An attachment pattern where a child is free to explore the environment, exhibits a little anxiety around strangers, becomes upset then calm during separation from a parent, and reacts happily upon reunion.

Avoidant Attachment (Childhood)

An attachment pattern where a child does not explore the environment, exhibits no anxiety around strangers, and displays little reaction to both parental separation and reunion.

Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment (Childhood)

An attachment pattern where a child exhibits inconsistent exploration, a lot of anxiety around strangers, extreme anxiety during parental separation, and ambivalent feelings (relief and anger) upon reunion.

Knapp & Vangelisti’s Stages of Relational Development

A ten-stage model divided into 5 steps leading to commitment (Initiating, Experimenting, Intensifying, Integrating, Bonding) and 5 steps leading to termination (Differentiating, Circumscribing, Stagnating, Avoiding, Terminating).

Eros

A style of love characterized as passionate love.

Ludus

A style of love characterized as game-playing love.

Storge

A style of love characterized as friendship-based love.

Pragma

A style of love characterized as practical love.

Mania

A style of love characterized as possessive, dependent love.

Agape

A style of love characterized as selfless, all-giving love.

Relational Maintenance Behaviors

Five actions used to sustain relationships: positivity, openness, assurances, social networks, and sharing tasks.

5:1 Ratio

The relational balance standard requiring five positive interactions for every one negative interaction to sustain a healthy relationship.

Negative Identity Management

A relationship termination strategy involving intentional sabotage.

De-escalation (Relationship Termination)

A relationship termination strategy marked by reframing the relationship, typified by statements like "Let’s just be friends."

Justification

A relationship termination strategy that focuses on rationalizing the end of the partnership.

Positive-Tone Strategies

Relationship termination strategies that attempt to end things kindly, such as saying "You deserve better."

Behavioral De-escalation

A relationship termination strategy executed by actively avoiding one's partner.

Withdrawal/Avoidance (Casual Termination)

A friendship or casual relationship termination tactic characterized by ghosting.

Machiavellian Tactics

A friendship or casual relationship termination strategy that relies on using others to end the relationship.

Openness (Casual Termination)

A friendship or casual relationship termination strategy centered on coming right out with the truth to end the relationship.