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Communication Works by Gamble and Gamble
Communication Works, 7/e
Teri Kwal Gamble
Michael Gamble

Understanding Relationships

Glossary


interpersonal relationship  a meaningful connection such as friendship
autistic society  a society at home with computers but disadvantaged when it comes to establishing human intimacy
high-tech-high-touch society  a technologically advanced society that values interpersonal relationships
inclusion  the need for social contact
loneliness  the perceived discrepancy between desired and achieved social relationships
control  the need to feel we are capable and responsible and able to exert power and influence over our relationships
affection  the need to experience emotionally close relationships
phatic communication  communication designed to open the channels of communication
breadth  the number of topics you discuss with another person
depth  a measure of how central the topics you discuss with another person are to your self-concept
social penetration theory  the theory that states that our relationships begin with relatively narrow breadth and shallow depth and develop over time
initiating  the relationship stage during which contact is first made
experimenting  the relationship stage during which we begin to probe the unknown
intensifying  the relationship stage during which two people become good friends
integrating  the relationship stage in which two people are identified as a couple
bonding  the relationship stage in which two people make a formal commitment to each other
differentiating  the relationship stage in which two people identified as a couple seek to regain a unique identity
circumscribing  the relationship stage in which both the quality and the quantity of communication between two people decreases
stagnating  the relationship stage during which communication is at a standstill
avoiding  the relationship stage during which persons intentionally avoid contact
termination  the relationship stage during which the relationship ends
cost-benefit/social exchange theory  the theory that we work to maintain a relationship as long as the benefits we receive outweigh the costs
comparison level  an expectation of the kinds of rewards & profits we believe we ought to derive from a relationship
comparison level for alternatives  the comparing of rewards derived from a current relationship with ones we expect to get from an alternative relationship
dialectical tensions  that which occurs when opposing goals meet
tolerance of vulnerability  the degree of trust you place in another person to accept information you disclose without hurting you or the relationship
distance relating  relating with persons via e-mail, chat rooms, and instant messages
friendships  relationships characterized by enjoyment, acceptance, trust, respect, mutual assistance, confidences, understanding & spontaneity