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Expressing Affiliation

Affiliation is the feelings you have for others. You show how much you want to be connected to or associated with someone by expressing liking, love, or respect—or alternatively, dislike, hatred, or disrespect (Wiemann, 2009). This love-hate continuum works to establish and maintain relationships happily (or unhappily).

Obviously, it feels good to be loved, liked, and respected. But affiliation may also meet practical needs, as when you marry someone you believe can offer you stability and security. Other times affiliation fulfills emotional needs, offering companionship or intellectual stimulation (or both).

Affiliation can be expressed in many different ways—verbally (by saying “I love you”) and nonverbally (with a big hug) and through face-to-face or

mediated (like when sending text messages or using social-networking sites) channels. In fact, we are increasingly using media technologies to develop and maintain a positive affiliation with each other (Walther & Ramirez, 2009), especially with people who are physically far away. A “U can do it!” text message from Mom can help you go into your midterm exam with confidence. A simple click of the “Like” thumbs-up icon on Facebook can show that you enjoy something a friend posted.

All communication relationships, whether fleeting or enduring, involve interdependence.