Communication Research

The Nature of Conflict What is Conflict? Interpersonal conflict  occurs whenever one person�s motives, goals, beliefs, opinions, or behavior interfere with, or are incompatible with, those of another. Conflict is inescapable in close relationships, for two reasons. � First, any two people will occasionally differ in their moods and preferences. � Second, there are certain tensions that are woven into the fabric of close relationships that will, sooner or later, always cause some strain.   These are opposing motivations, or  dialectics , that can never be completely satisfied because they contradict each other. � Dialectical Tensions [natural] tensions that occur in a relationship   (a)  personal  autonomy  and close  connection  to others.   Do you pursue intimacy or freedom?  Independence or   belonging?   - Most common dialectical tension in marriages   (b)   openness  versus  closedness . ...

� Types of Love The Triangular Theory of Love   Three different building blocks are presumed to combine to form different types of love: � Intimacy � feelings of warmth, understanding,   communication, support, and sharing � Passion � emotional arousal and sexual desire � Commitment � the decision to stay in a   relationship and to work to maintain it   Different mixtures of these components create different experiences: � Nonlove � intimacy, passion, and commitment are all   absent. � Liking � high intimacy, but little passion or commitment. � Infatuation � just passion. � Empty love � commitment without intimacy or passion.   Things get more interesting when two or more components are combined: � Romantic love � a combination of intimacy and passion. � Companionate love � high intimacy and commitment, but little passion. � Fatuous love --  passion and commitment in the absence of intimacy. � Consummate love � intimacy, pa...

Journal #3 How did it feel having your secret displayed? What is your reaction to the secrets you read? How can secrets like these, including your own, affect an interpersonal relationship? Expand on your answers and you MUST INCLUDE terms from self disclosure lecture Due: Oct 18th

� Knapp�s Model � Escalating Stages (coming together) � Initiating : � Relatively short stage � I ntroduce yourself � �Hello. Nice to meet you?� � I nteractants are concerned with making favorable impressions on each other � As we scan the person, we consider our own stereotypes, any prior knowledge of the other�s reputation, what we expect, etc. � We�re asking ourselves if this person is attractive or unattractive � Experimenting : � Asking of Q�s � Finding out about the other person � �What do you do?� �You like to dance? So do I .� �How do you know_____?� (small talk) � This is where similarities are found � Norm that says, �If you tell me your hometown, I�ll tell you mine.� � Like an audition � Pleasant and uncritical � Many relationships don�t go beyond � Intensifying : � Strengthening interpersonal development � Increased self disclosure � Breadth and depth increase significantly � Spend more time together (shared activities ) � Start sharing a language � D...