role of communication

social penetration theory argues that as relationships develop, exchanges between individuals progress from a more shallow level to a more intimate level

• there’s more discussion of feelings, thoughts, self-doubt, or concerns associated with identity

attribution style states that we understand ourselves & others by attributing behaviors to causes

• dispositional attributions are when we decide that someone’s personality is responsible for the behaviour

• situational attributions are when we decide the behaviour was caused by external factors

• healthy relationships are characterized by a positive attributional style where the partners assume the other person had best intentions & dont blame them for everything that has a positive bias towards one partner

• in positive attributional style - positive behaviours are attributed to personal disposition & negative behaviours are attributed to situational factors

• negative attributional style focuses on highlighting the “flaws” in a partner