Chapter 6 SG

Chapter 6*Communication- Relationships: Talk emotion knowledge ways of understanding the worldways of connecting symbols (language- meaning)ways of symbolically connecting to others

Does communication define relationships or do relationships influence communication? (147-149)*



Relationship Provisions:

Belonging and a sense of reliable alliance

Emotional integration and stability

Opportunity for communication about ourselves

Provision for assistance and physical support

Provision for reassurance of our worth and value

What is meant by “provision for assistance and physical support/ worth and value”? (151)



Talk- Relationships:*

Types of talk (distinctions)

Social relationships (replaceable individuals)

Personal relationship (irreplaceable individuals)*

Maintaining relationships – Talk (153-155)

Relational Continuity Constructional units: relationships continue in the absence of the partner

Prospective unit: future sense recognition of absense to happen (goodbye, next time..)Introspective unit: present sense recognition of absense

Retrospective unit: signals an end of absence (kiss, hug, handshake, hello...)

Hypertext: referencing information, relationship building (155)

Crossing boundaries: changing relationship types (friend- sig. Other) (155-156)

Relating: talking on cell phones (156)

We change relationships by talk and subtle communication... (157)

direct talk: explicit discussion about relationship

indirect talk: ambiguous forms of relationship communication (flirting)

Do you agree that we sustain relationships through talk and subtle communication?

What does this mean to you?? (157)

Relationship Stages of Development: (158-159)Theory: based on individual feelings or attitudes, as emotion deepens- relationship progresses.

Intensified feelings (emotions) are translated into behavior and relationship moves on effortlessly.

Measured as an increase in intimacy.

They vary in depth, shyness, strength etc...Everyone is different and respond differently to relationships based on several factors: background, personality, culture..

What does the author and Jesse Delia find problematic about this theory? (158-159)



*Relationship Filtering Model: (RFM) (159-161)We filter people by evaluating their attributes (1.physical appearance, 2.NVC, behavior 3.roles 4. psychological similarity)Duck mentions that “the relationship grows not from the information that you learn about the other person, but from how you “go beyond it” .

The RFM suggests that our goal is ultimately to understand one another.

Do you agree with the RFM and recognize this pattern in your own interactions? How?