The field of family communication is a largely understudied field of communication sciences. Family members use relational maintenance behaviors in order to maintain their relationship with various members of their family. These relational maintenance behaviors have mostly been studied in the context of romantic relationships. Relational maintenance behaviors vary in context, but these behaviors help people maintain positive, healthy relationships. This paper’s focus will be on the relational maintenance behaviors families take part in and the effects these behaviors have on family communication patterns (FCP).
Relational Maintenance Relational Maintenance strategies are used by people to help maintain their relationship with friends,
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These strategies include inductively derived, positivity, openness, assurances, sharking tasks, social networks, joint activities, cards/letters/calls, avoidance, antisocial, humor and miscellaneous. These behaviors will vary based on the type of relationship involved. Every relationship is following a different path therefore there will be different strategies used for different relationships. Differences in paths will lead to different strategies used. Dindia (1989) in a different study described another set of three strategies. These strategies were romantic which involved being affectionate, fun, and spontaneous; prosocial involving cooperatively discussing the relationship; and antisocial, using coercion. Canary and Colleagues (1993) resulted in the five most used strategies which included openness, assurances, joint activities, positivity, and cards/letters/calls. The least popular strategies were avoidance, sharing tasks, anti-social behaviors, social networks, and humor. These strategies are a mix of direct and indirection communication. Direct communication includes openness, assurances, and positivity while indirect includes joint activities, sharing tasks, and humor. On paper these strategies seem to be either direct or indirect, but this can be subjective to ones opinion. One may feel that joint activities are more of a direct communication strategy since …show more content…
Family is with a human before one can even remember. The dynamic of a family greatly influences one as they grow up. These influences can effect ones social life, love life, as well as their relationship with other family members. Communication between family members influences relationships between family members which develops feelings of satisfaction or dissatisfaction towards these relationships. Family Communication Patterns (FCP) is the way in which “family members process media messages by co-orientating them and communication about them with one another” (Koerner,2014). The FCP “are based on how families create and share social reality and represent an observable manifestation of these cognitive processes” (Koerner,2014). One concept that is used when it comes to FCP is co-orientation. “Co-orientation is a basic concept in psychology that refers to a situation where two or more individuals focus their cognitive attention on the same object in their social or physical environment and form beliefs about the object”(Koerner,2014). There is co-ordinating between family members because we as humans like to agree and be balanced as described the Balance Theory (Koerner, 2014). Balance theory as described by Fritz Heider is a theory of attitude change. This theory is explained using a triangle formation. The goal of the triangle is for
It is not all about communication” . It says that not surprisingly those couples who reported communicating more effectively showed the highest satisfaction with their relationships. But the next two reasons which were also the only other ones with strong links to couple happiness, were knowledge of partner which included everything from knowing their pizza-topping preferences to their hopes and dreams and life skills like being able to hold a job, manage money, etc . But in order to have a healthy relationship I do believe that the communication is key but they also do need to know how to communicate in a healthy way that will not cause
For this paper, we will be talking about relational communications and Goffman’s terms. The definition of relational communication is “communication processes in personal relationships such as romantic, family, and friendships. We assess the role of communication in developing, maintaining, and dissolving relationships, how communication impacts partners and their relationships, and how to improve relational quality or individual well-being through communication. Recent topics examined include conflict mediation, relational standards, relational uncertainty in dating relationships, and communication environments in families” (n.d.). As it has said, it is about the relationships in our life. Goffman also stated that there was a front and
The Smiths are a family of five. The parents are Mary and David and their children; Amanda, Jen, and John. The family personality has changed over time. The family as a unit is somewhat chaotic. No one in the family seems to get along with one another with the exception of Mary and her daughter, Amanda. When they initially arrived at the office, they did not seem to interact with one another and were not necessarily friendly. I would definitely consider this family to be dysfunctional. They seem to lack respect and accountability for the misdoings. Their physical appearance is normal or average, they seem like a well-off family. David, the father, has a good job that can provide for his family, especially since his wife is ill and does not work. The parents lack thw ability to parent their children as one unit, due to their dysfunctional relationship. They do not have the ability to communicate as husband and wife. David is almost estranged from his family because he takes on enormous workloads that has a significant negative impact on the family. Their lack of a connection causes some of the family members to act out, or not
Family members’ ability to effectively express their emotions, insights, and ideas to each other reflects how well members relate to each other, and how well the family functions as a whole. According to Kirst-Ashman & Hull (2012) assessing communication patterns within a family is crucial to the planned change process that must occur in order to assist families reconcile their problems in the best possible way (p.331). There are various facets of communication in addition to verbal and nonverbal communication. There are at least five different paths of communication, referred to as avenues of communication, which include: consonance, condemnation, submission, intellectualization, and indifference (p. 331-332). An assessment of the various facets of communication used by a family is useful in indicating where change is
Murray Bowen that suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit. Bowen family systems theory is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit. It is the nature of a family that its members are intensely connected emotionally. Often people feel distant or disconnected from their families, but this is more feeling than fact. Families so profoundly affect their member’s thoughts, feelings, and actions that it often seems as if people are living under the same “emotional skin.” People solicit each other’s attention, approval, and support and react to each other’s needs, expectations, and upsets. The connectedness and reactivity make the functioning of family members interdependent. A change in one person’s functioning is predictably followed by reciprocal changes in the functioning of others. Families differ somewhat in the degree of interdependence, but it is always present to some
In conclusion, I have discussed family dynamic and structure in the brief articles listed above. The brief articles that I have included involves the dynamics of stay at home dads, the dynamics of sibling rivalry, and the dynamics of blended family, and the dynamics family domestic violence, and dynamics of nuclear families as well as how today’s family structuring has changed.
Within this particular counseling setting, the focus is on the interaction of the family members, and involves interventions that affect the entire family system (Henderson, 2016). The goal of this theory is to change the dysfunctional family patterns through a variety of arrangements, from individuals to group interaction. The Systems theory is organized in units made up of different parts, which is a circular, pattern which A causes B and B causes A (Henderson, 2016). Systems Family Theory viewed human nature in a positive perspective, which people are rational and have the ability to make choices (Henderson, 2016). Furthermore, the Family Systems Theory perceives behavior as directly relating to the individual position within the family. There are eight concepts that Bowen believed centered around the Family Systems Theory, many which reflect family boundaries and interactions. These concepts include, relationships between spouses, differentiation of self, triangles, nuclear family emotional system, family projection process, multigenerational transmission process, sibling position, emotional cutoffs, and emotional process in society (Henderson, 2016). Other core concept, determined by other theorist, revolves around centripetal and centrifugal which further describe the relationship styles within the families by looking inward, centripetal, as source of satisfaction; along with, centrifugal, looking outside for satisfaction (Henderson, 2016). In addition, another core concept is family projection process that refers to the transmission that causes symptoms in the child (Henderson, 2016). Many of the concepts described in the Family Systems Theory, are based on the connection, the togetherness, and the conflict that leads to a person holding responsibility within their role within the family.
Almost everyone is born into a family. In “Of Mice and Men”, the characters George Milton and Lennie Small have a relationship that could be described as a family relationship. In “The Gilded Six-Bits”, Joe Banks and Missie May are a husband and wife. These people interact with others but there is a different type of interaction between the people who they consider to be family. When people interact with family members, they are usually more free with their actions and words than they are with strangers or mere acquaintances. Sometimes these carefree words and actions lead to disruptions within their relationships. Regardless of the trials and tribulations, everyone desires to have someone that they can care for and call their family.
As an illustration, tension in relationship can result from having money problems, seems to be the biggest problem for couples. As a result, there seems to be a lot of fighting going on in the relationship. Another, problem may be in the relationship, there is one or both partners re interested in someone else (coldness or openness) or one may be seeing someone, which cause confusion and arguing among themselves (DeVito 2016). Therefore, the theory posits that relationships can succumb to pressures that are often associated with maintaining connections and relationships, and the communication patterns can be affected by these forms of instability. (DeVito 2016) Equally important, patterns in communication that create a constant state of imbalance acts in such a way that it is adverse to cultivating and sustaining developed relationships. There are four principle concepts that are associated with this theory: opposing needs and desire, connection with others, autonomy and independence. (DeVito 2016 Pg. 236). One of the most prominent strengths of this theory is the practicality that is associated with rebalance of your life. It provides a sense of stability in relationships when someone utilizes the theory correctly. Communication strategies are taught in this theory which is great. For example, the principle issues is that it assumes that
Plans are also made for future undertakings-purchases, trips, inviting company over, parties, gifts. Every member of the family thus learns to work actively in the family and becomes aware that the family group is not just formal arrangement or the source of problems, but that he can exert influence on the family's decisions. Within the family, which to a certain extent functions without conscious control, there is usually an unconscious division of roles, strongly held disinclinations, and particular preferences. Since a family group functions simultaneously, i.e., with all members present at the same time and actively participating in the group, there is a move toward many-sided and -leveled transfers and emotional involvements. These can help to better control the ties and
The author’s purpose is to inform families that in order to sustain a strong relationship with one another they must remain relatively close by. The author describes a critical
A supportive communication climate is one that is encouraging and increases understanding (Czech, Forward, Lee, 2011). In this climate, members of the relationship accept the other’s opinions, encourage them to achieve any goals they have, and give accurate information freely (Czech et al., 2011). These climates are “accepting, nonjudgmental, and empathetic” (Czech et al., 2011, p. 3). Supportive communication climates allow the relationship to grow and improve. In our relationship, we understand each other’s emotions and react accordingly.
Communication Patterns: How does it Contribute to Marital Adjustment?" Journal of marital and family therapy 25.2 (1999): 211-23. ProQuest Central. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.
Family dynamics and their structure have gone through many changes in the last 100 years. The development of diverse and unique family styles was very interesting and I was surprised by the many changes over the spectrum of time. In addition, I discovered that I have been a little sheltered by my own environment. I had failed to learn about other cultures, but what I learned from this course and the way we define family was eye opening. Considering the definition of a family unit, it is easy to see how much that definition has changed. People living in the same home and celebrating the same belief system, although not related by blood, are still considered family. From single parents, to grandparents raising the grandchildren, and homosexual
Relationships are intricately complex. Made up of several interactions that are full of verbal and non-verbal communication, a relationship between any two people is completely and utterly unique. There are so many dynamics that are at play in relationships and several opportunities for both good and bad communication. In my life, I have experienced all kinds of people and relationships: friends, acquaintances, brothers, parents, teammates, lab-partners, peers, teachers, mentors. The list goes on and on. Three examples of my personal relationships are my relationship with my brother Caleb, my friend Kennedy, and my high school teacher Mrs. Antwine. In all three relationships, we communicate verbally and non-verbally. However, because of different circumstances, atmospheres, and backgrounds, each relationship differs from the others.