This document discusses interpersonal relationships and communication. It describes how relationships form between two interconnected individuals and develop over time through various stages from initiation to potential termination. Relationships aim to fulfill basic human needs for companionship, stimulation, and goal achievement. Factors like proximity, attractiveness, and similarity can influence attraction and relationship formation. Dynamics like social exchange, uncertainty reduction, and dialectical tensions also impact relational development and maintenance over time.

1. DEVELOPING AND
MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS
REAL COMMUNICATIONS
by Dan O’Hair AND Mary Wiemann

2. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Two individuals
interconnect and are
interdependent
through relationships.

3. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Interpersonal
communication is the
exchange of verbal and
nonverbal messages
between people who
have a relationship and
are influenced by a
partner’s message.

4. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Your relational network
is a web of
relationships that
connect individuals.
family
friendship
love
online friendship

5. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Friendship is a close
and caring relationship
between two people
that is mutually
beneficial and
satisfying.
available
caring
honest
confidential
loyal
empathic

6. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Love is a relationship
which you have deep
affection, passion, and
commitment.
eros
ludus
storge
pragma
mania
agape

7. RELATIONSHIPS...WHY??
To satisfy basic human
needs...
We have a need for
companionship, to
involve others in our
lives, and to be
involved in other’s
lives, or inclusion.

8. RELATIONSHIPS...WHY??
To satisfy basic human
needs...
We have an innate
need for intellectual,
emotional, and
physical stimulation.

9. RELATIONSHIPS...WHY??
To satisfy basic human
needs...
We might enter into
relationships in order
to fulfill a goal,
whether emotional or
practical.

10. RELATIONSHIPS...WHY??
Proximity
Physical attractiveness
Similarity

11. RELATIONSHIPS...WHY??
Attraction-similarity
hypothesis
The extent to
which we project
ourselves to others
is a direct result of
the attraction we
feel toward them.

12. RELATIONSHIPS...WHY??
Matching hypothesis
We seek
relationships with
those that have
comparable levels
of attractiveness.

13. RELATIONSHIPS...WHY??
Genetic-similarity
hypothesis
We tend to form
relationships with
those of the same
ethnic group due to
greater genetic
similarity.

14. RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS
Social exchange of costs
and benefits means that
you accept the good
with the bad.
Rewards are the things
that benefit you.
Costs are the things
that upset you.

15. RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS
Uncertainty reduction
theory says that when two
people meet, they try to
decrease the uncertainty
between them.
monitoring
proactive strategies
indirect strategies

16. RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS
Relational dialectics
theory is experiencing
contradicting or
opposing feelings
about your partner
and about the
relationship.
Dialectical tensions

17. RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS
Dialectical tensions
when you have
conflicting goals.
autonomy vs.
connection
openness vs.
closedness
predictability vs.
novelty

18. WITHHOLDING INFORMATION
Social penetration theory
When people move
from a superficial
level in a
relationship to a
more intimate level.

19. WITHHOLDING INFORMATION
Communication privacy
management theory
Describes how you
perceive
information about
yourself and how
you disclose or
protect it.

20. WITHHOLDING INFORMATION
Strategic topic avoidance
is used to maneuver the
conversation away from
undesirable topics.

21. RELATIONSHIP STAGES
Initiating stage
Exploratory stage
Intensification stage
Stable stage
partners are
integrating and
bonding

22. RELATIONSHIP STAGES
Declining stage when
things fall apart.
uncertainty events
interference
unmet
expectations

23. RELATIONSHIP STAGES
Repair tactics
improving
communication
focus on the
positive
reinterpreting
behaviors with a
more balanced
view

24. RELATIONSHIP STAGES
Termination stage
fading of the
relationship
death

25. RELATIONSHIP STAGES
Reconciliation
spend more time
together
mediation
civil resolution
don’t give up
mutual interaction
miss each other