1. Compare and contrast your small talk in two different relationships. Choose one that is fairly new (e.g., a current classmate) and another that is established but non-intimate (e.g., a work colleague or neighbor). How is the small talk similar in both relationships? Different? What conclusions do you draw about the role of small talk in interpersonal relationships?

2. When we are involved in intimate relationships, we often experience relational dialectics, which can manifest in several forms: 1) openness versus protection, 2) autonomy versus connection, and 3) novelty versus predictability. When you encounter these tensions, how do you deal with them?