Exam 1

Relationships

defined by behavioral interdependence

Role relationships

Functional and short term

Interchangable

Interpersonal Relationships

Interdependent

Influence each other in meaningful ways

Close relationships

Irreplaceable

Personal need fulfillment

Enduring bonds, emotional attachment

Content dimension

Information or ideas being presented

Relationship dimension

The implied meaning

Common relational messages

Dominance, intimacy, composure, formality, task orientation

Voluntary v Involuntary Relationships

Relationships we chose v ones we didn’t

Romantic v Nonromantic Relationships

Friendships are platonic, romantic relationships are marked by sex, intimacy, etc

Satisfying v dissatisfying

Is the relationship meeting our expectations?

Egalitarian v Unequal Power

Lasts longer if egalitarian

Interpersonal needs

Inclusion, control, affection

Inclusion

Our desire to belong and have significance

Control

The desire to influence others and feel in control

Affection

The need to feel and express love and affection

Goals in relationships

Self presentation

Relational goals

Instrumental goals

Self presentational goals

The image we convey to others

Relational goals

What we want from the relationship and from the relationship

Instrumental goals

Accomplishing a specific task

Principles of interpersonal communication

Verbal and nonverbal messages

Communication is inevitable

Interpersonal communication goals

Effectiveness and shared meaning

Content v relational information

Symmetry in communication

Principles of relational communication

Relationships emerge across ongoing interactions

Relationships contextualize messages

Relational communication is dynamic

Relation communication follows both linear and nonlinear patterns

Identity

Who we think we really are and how we communicate that to others

Self esteem

A subset of identity, positive or negative evaluations of our identities (skills, traits, etc.)

Hechts frame of identity

How identity is built and developed

Identity is: enactment, relational, communal

Impressions

A collection of perceptions that we maintain to help interpret behavior

Crude law of relationship impressions

Positive impressions are hard to acquire and easy to lose, negative impressions are easy to acquire and hard to lose

Ducks Personal Constructs of Initial Interactions

Physical, role, interaction, psychological

Physical constructs

Physical appearance (tattoos, clothing, age, etc.)

Role constructs

The role a person takes on in the given context

ex. student, faculty, staff, etc.

Interaction constructs

The way one communicates (engagement, eye contact, etc.)

Psychological constructs

We assume personality/psychological characteristics

Primacy effect

We pay more attention to the first bit of information we get

Recency effect

We give more weight to the most recent piece of information

Halo effect

When we learn positive characteristics about someone, we assume they have other positive characteristics

Horn effect

When we learn negative characteristics about someone, we assume they have other negative characteristics we haven’t confirmed

Impression management

We make guesses on how people interpret our behavior and we act in such a way that they inform the impression we want

Self Expansion Theory

Connects our identity with relationship development

Key ideas of Self Expansion Theory

People seek to expand the self

People enter into relationships to expand their identity

A relationships success depends on the ability of the relationship to expand the sense of self

Issues in Self Presentation

Can be seen as manipulative, hypocritical, or deceptive

Can present yourself as a ‘competent communicator’ when you are not

Self presentation can end up being planned

Goffman’s Dramaturgical Perspective

We are concerned about appearances and and work to ensure that others view us favorably

Politeness theory

We all have the need to be appreciated and protected (face needs)

Positive face needs

The desire to be appreciated and approved of (the desire to be seen in a positive light)

Negative face needs

The desire to be free from imposition and intrusion (our need for autonomy)

5 politeness strategies

Bald on record

Positive politeness

Negative politeness

Going off the record

Not making the request at all

Bald on the record

Making the request

Positive politeness

Compliment then ask (appeals to face needs)

Negative politeness

“You don’t have to do this but…” (appeals to negative face needs)

Going off the record

Being indirect when asking

Preventative facework

Avoiding or minimizing potential face threats before they happen

Corrective facework

An effort to repair/correct our identity (face) after it’s been damaged

Politeness

Taking into account the feelings of the other person

Attraction

A relational force that draws people together

Primary types of attraction

Task attraction

Physical attraction

Social attraction

Task attraction

Attraction to others because they can help achieve a task because they have the skills to complete it

Physical attraction

Attraction to looks (face, body, cloths, appearance)

Social attraction

Attraction to those we like being around, we like their interactions and behavior

Sexual attraction

Attraction for sexual satisfaction

This attraction does not always mean they want a relationship

Fatal attraction

The thing that attracts you to someone is usually what ends the relationship

Elements of interpersonal attraction

Similarity

Personality

Proximity

Reward value

Physical appearance

Complementary characteristics

Reciprocity

Similarity

We like people who like us

The #1 thing that attracts us to others

Reinforcement model

When we meet others who are similar to us, it reinforces who we are

Attitude similarity

We are attracted to those with a similar attitude

Demographic similarity

We have the same or similar demographics

Personality and Communication Style

We don’t like narcissists or low self-monitors

We like warm and kind personalities, sociable people, and competency

Proximity

We like people who are close to us physically (provides frequent interactions)

Reward value

What uniquely attracts you to others and what that does to reward you

Physical appearance

We want to date the most attractive person we can find

We like symmetry and proportion

Complementary characteristics

It’s positive to be different in skills, abilities, and resources

We do not want differences in attitudes and values

Reciprocity

We like people who like us

Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT)

We want to reduce uncertainty about the other person

Uncertainty

The inability to predict and explain both the attitudes and behaviors of another person

Predictive uncertainty

We are unable to predict attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors

Explanatory uncertainty

We are unable to explain why someone is doing something

Principles of URT

People seek to reduce uncertainty in initial interactions

People can reduce uncertainty by using 3 strategies

As uncertainty decreases, attraction usually increases

High levels of uncertainty causes a decrease in the intimacy level of communication

As similarity increases, uncertainty decreases

Passive strategies

What we notice before initial interaction

Active strategies

Finding information about that person indirectly

Interactive strategies

Communicating with the person directly

3 strategies to reduce uncertainty

Passive

Active

Interactive

Conditions of URT

Anticipation of future interactions

Deviance from expected behavior

Incentive value

Anticipation of future interactions

If you’re not going to see them again, you don’t care as much to reduce uncertainty

Deviance from expected behavior

When people act in unexpected ways, it increases our need to reduce uncertainty

Incentive value

If the person has a high reward value, we want to reduce uncertainty

Predicted Outcome Theory (POV)

We reduce uncertainty to predict future interactions

GOAL: predicting future outcomes of future interactions

Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT)

How we react and respond to expected and unexpected behavior

Expectancy

An expectation that their behaviors and attitudes are done normally

Predictive expectancy

What we expect based on what normally occurs in that context and relationship

Prescriptive expectancy

General rules of appropriateness and social norms

Factors that influence expectancies

Communicator characteristics

Relational characteristics

Context characteristics

Communicator characteristics

Age, demographics, etc.

Relational characteristics

We expect things in close relationships that we don’t in other relationships

Context characteristics

Social context affects our behavior

Interpretation of the behavior

Positive violations

Negative violations

Neutral violations

Positive violations

Better than expected

Negative violations

Worse than expected

Neutral violations

Most are neutral

Not better or worse than expected

Reward value of the communicator

If someone has a high reward value, it’s more positive

Reciprocity

You respond the same

Compensation

You respond in the opposite way

Social anxiety

When a high level of self confidence and tension makes it difficult to approach certain situations

Withdrawal response

People who have social anxiety may avoid social situations