Chapter 6 Communication, conflict, and power in our relationships- Communication- An interactive process that uses symbols like words andgestures to both send and receive messages o 1. Communication is a transactiono 2. Processo 3. Uses symbols Race ethnicity and CommunicationSocial class and communication- Sapir-Whorf hypothesis: The concept that language shapes our culture, andat the same time, our culture shapes our language Cultural differences- Individualist versus Collectivist cultures- individualist values personal achievement and independence vs. needs of the group- High-versus Low-context cultures- more emphasis based on non verbal communication also collectivist cultures vs. communication is more direct and everything must be explained explicitly- Masculine versus feminine cultures- emphasize stereotypical values like assertiveness, material success, achievement (Mexican culture) vs see compromise and negotiation as useful ```- Centralized versus decentralized power- Few people have power (India) vs. power is evenly distributed - High versus low ambiguity- high is comfortable with unknown situations, minimize the strict rules governing communication vs. experience anxiety about the future, clear cut rules of behavior - Short-term versus long-term time orientation- value spending rather then saving, and social status, quick results vs. long term emphasizes working hard to achieve your goals and have a future Types of communication- Listening: the process of giving thoughtful attention to what we hear - Verbal communication- the spoken exchange of thoughts, feelings, or other messages 5-stage model of the Listening process - Good listening is a collection of skills and occurs in a circular function- Receiving, understanding, remembering, evaluating, responding- Nonverbal communication – communication without words, by using gestures, expressions and body language Written electronic communication- Informality is the new norm- writing more informally - Our writing influences our speech- We have volume control over our messages- We have more relationships with less depth- We can live in the moment Conflict, communication, and problem solving- Conflict: Disagreements over decision making problem solving, or achieving goals, which can result from differences between group members in personality, perception, information, tolerance for risk, and power or influence - Types of conflict:o Pseudo conflict- Falsely perceiving that your partner is interfering with your goals or has incompatible goals (roommate wants to go outand you have to study)o Content conflict- a type of conflict where individuals disagree about information (fight about pronunciation of Bieber)o Value conflict- a type of conflict that results from differing opinions on subjects that relate to personal values and issues of right or wrongo Ego conflict- a type of conflict where individuals believe they must win at all costs to save face Personal conflict styles (book)- Avoiding- “just leave me alone”- Accommodating- “whatever you say”- Competing- “its my way or the highway”- Compromising- “ill do some of this is you do some of that”- Collaborating- “lets work on finding the best solution for both of us”Intimacy, communication and conflict - Regulating couples: couples who use communication to promote closeness and intimacy- Nonrelated couples: couples who have negative communication 4 horseman of the apocalypse- John Gottman - Criticism- negative evaluations - Contempt- attitude of feeling superior to your spouse - Defensiveness- effort to defend yourself and your position when you feel attacked - Stonewalling- ignoring and not talking to one another- Flooded- you get so angry you say something you regret, or physically harm them you take a “time out” Power and control- Power- the ability to exercise your will - Personal power- The degree of autonomy a person has to exercise his or her will- Social power- the ability to exercise your will over another person- Intimate partner power- a type of power that involves decision making among intimate partners, their division of labor, and their sense of entitlement Theories of power- Resource theory- a theory of power that suggests that the spouse with the higher paying job can use that advantage to generate more power in the relationship and thereby influence decision making.- Principle of least interest- Doing gender- a theory of power that suggests that we take power differentials among men and women for granted & continue to reproduce them (how are women displayed in the media)Chapter 7 Marriage - Marriage- a legally and socially recognized relationship that includes sexual, economic, and social rights and responsibilities for partners Marriage in U.S history- Colonial America- Marriage and the formation of a nation - Redefining Marriage in the 19th century - Marriage after the Industrial revolution What is happening to marriage today?- Marital decline perspective- the view that the institution of marriage is increasingly being threatened by hedonistic pursuits of personal happiness at the expense of long-term commitment - Marital Resilience perspective- the view that overall marriage is no weakerthan in the past, but that all families need an increase in structural supports over time - Marriage rates- only about 4% never get marriedo Most people who get married stay married and say that they are happy o If you get married later you are more likely to stay together longer - Delayed marriage- Homogamous versus Heterogamouso Starter marriage, under 5 years, no children, usually get remarried within3 years or so o Homogamous marriage- share characteristics like race, ethnicity, religion, education, age and social class o Less divorce rate o Heteragamous marriage- type of marriage that do not share certain characteristics - Interracial and interethnic marriages- o Interracial marriage- a type of marriage in which spouses come from different racial groupso Antimiscegenation laws- laws forbidding interracial marriage, which existed at the state level until 1967- Marriage across social class boundaries o You are more likely to date people like you - Interfaith marriages o Less problems in the US than other countrieso As society there is more acceptance Same sex marriage - Massachusetts first state to accept ssm- Civil union- a public policy designed to extend some benefits to partners who are not legally marriedChapter 7 Marriage continued-
View Full Document
Unlocking...