11 5 12 Social Penetration Theory SPT Goals of SPT To explain how relational closeness develops Altman and Taylor 1973 o Social penetration The development of Interpersonal Relationships Concepts of SPT Social penetration process of relational bonding whereby people move from superficial communication to more intimate communication process of how we get into relationships and how we bond with them Self Disclosure the purposeful reveal information about ourselves to another individual ex Say name expect the other person to say theirs Reciprocity of self disclosure when you disclose something to someone what do they reciprocate usually disclose similar information ex say you name when someone says theirs Intimacy emotional or intellectual closeness Assumptions of SPT Relationships o Progress from non intimate to intimate o Develop systematically and predictably o Include depenetration and dissolution believe that relationships can go backwards intimate to not so intimate acknowledge that relationships breakup o Develop through self disclosure Self Disclosure and Onions Superficial areas of identification Outside layer world view studies tastes Biogeographical data Goals and aspirations Religions political Fears and fantasies Self SHREK Breadth and Depth of Self Disclosure Breadth range of SD talk a lot about ourselves or little number of topics Depth level of intimacy Non intimate information first SD leads to vulnerability o Risk and trust take a risk by saying something more intimate like laughing or telling other people SD is reciprocal in early stages exchange of basic information SD begins fast but then tapers off o SD and liking dump truck effect if you disclose too much it can decrease the other person s liking of you o Stranger on the train syndrome not a risk because you re not going to see him again Stages of the Social Penetration Process Bits of information orientation introduction decide whether or not you ll continue Personality exploratory affective exchange a lot of topics but not that intimate Spontaneous Communication affective exchange really close friends and intimate partners not holding back Efficient Communication stable exchange best of friends partners for life Evaluation of SPT Positives o Parsimonious o Valid o Heuristic Negatives o Too simple limited scope o Relationship development may not be linear some people believe realtionships don t follow these patterns o Too much emphasis on SD Issues in defining communication Social psychologist Purposeful Intentional Language non verbal symbols Meta theoretical assumptions Social scientific Value free theory Epistemologically Quantitative research methods Purposeful indicates a choice What do individuals do within the relationship 11 7 12 Relational Dialectics Theory Origins Baxter and Braithwaite 2008 Leslie Baxter and Barbara Montgomery 1996 Goal To understand dialectical tensions within relationships o Relationships are always in process and relational life is characterized by ongoing tensions between contradictory impulses Approaches to Contradictions Monologic contradictions are either or A B Dualistic contradictions are separate and somewhat unrelated Baxter and Montgomery don t believe this A B Dialectic multiple points of view looks like a web desire to be intimate and also independent management of these tensions contradictions become important Contradictions are fundamental to relational life Communication is central to negotiation relational contradictions Assumptions Concepts Totality o People in relationships are interdependent o Social and cultural influences on relationships o Inter relationship between people o Contradictions o Dialects are results of oppositions Motion Praxis o Relationships are processes and change over time are always in motion always moving and changing o People are choice makers choice limits choices ontological Basic Interactional Dialects Autonomy and Connection o Independence vs intimacy Openness and Protection o Vulnerable vs Guarded Novelty and Predictability o Excitement vs Stability Contextual Dialects Rawlins 1992 Public vs Private Real vs Ideal Methods of Dealing With Dialectical Tensions Cyclic Alternation may choose to be one other the other thing at a different time in the beginning of a relationship you choose novelty but then you choose predictability later on then go back to novelty Segmentation choose to be one or the other in different contexts in private you re very open in public you choose to be more protected Selection you just choose one or the other Integration integrate the tensions or you combine them in a certain way so they re not tensions anymore o Neutralizing o Reframing frame them in a way that makes them not a tension o Disqualifying disqualify some topics from discussion not discussion political ideals if you have different views Positives Heuristic Valid Negatives o Romantic relationships Marriages Long Distance Realtionships Sahlstein 2006 Friendship Rawlins 1992 Workplace Relationships Too parsimonious o Scholars disagree over a number of dialects Friendships Workplace Community theater Television show Dawson s Creek Issues in Defining Communication Intentional Correspondence Assumptions Ontological make choices Epistemological social scientific Axiological value free Lies in the middle of the value scale from social scientific to humanistic leaning a little towards humanistic
View Full Document
Unlocking...