Slide 1Understanding Dialectics…RD’s Roots in Mikhail Bakhtin (among others)The Road to Our Classroom Discussion…Internal and External DialecticsThe Competing DialecticsSOME of the strategies for managing the dialecticsSOME of the strategies for managing the dialecticsRelational Dialecticshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxxcgLOSqS0Understanding Dialectics…•Contradiction is the central concept of relational dialectics•“The dynamic interplay between unified oppositions”•Formed whenever two tendencies or forces are interdependent yet mutually negate one another (Open vs. Closed)–Must have an “open” to understand “closed” and vice versa–If one is being open, then one is NOT being closedRD’s Roots in Mikhail Bakhtin (among others)•Dialectical structure (push and pull) is the “deep structure” of all human experience•Both a centripetal and centrifugal force–Think pinwheel on ice skates•Relationships are always in flux–The only certainty is certain change•Bonding occurs in both interdependence with the other and independence from the other.The Road to Our Classroom Discussion…•Marx•Bakhtin•Certainly others•The idea of “dialectic” is old. Baxter and Montgomery brought the idea of “dialectics” to the field of interpersonal communication•In response to stage approaches (ex. Knapps)Internal and External Dialectics•Internal = Between the people in the relationship•External = Between the couple and society (family/larger community)The Competing Dialectics#1Open-ClosedRevelation-Concealment#2Autonomous-ConnectedSeclusion-Inclusion#3Predictable-NovelConventional-UniqueINTERNAL DIALECTICEXTERNAL DIALECTIChttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnPZMozo5cQSOME of the strategies for managing the dialectics•_______________________–Negotiating between the two extremes of the dialectic•EX. Mom and Dad. Tell them some, but not all•______________________–Honoring one pole of the dialectic while neglecting the other•EX. “We are completely going to tell each other everything!”SOME of the strategies for managing the dialectics•_________________–Giving priority to a specific dialectic need in certain circumstances or topics and placing emphasis on the opposing dialectic need in other circumstances or topics•Cyclic Alternation•Topical Segmentation•__________________–Engaging in perspective taking to redefine opposing dialectics as no longer threatening a relationship•EX. Considine Study on Hospice workers (Leading vs. Following)•“You’re gone all week long. I love it when you come for the
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