Real Reference: A Study Tool

• Interpersonal relationships, the interconnections between two individuals, are influenced by interpersonal communication, the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between people who share meanings and accomplish social goals (p. 182).
• We all have a complex relational network or web of relationships. We have family relationships, friendship, social relationships romantic partners, and relationships we establish and maintain online (pp. 182–185).
• Love is a deep affection for another person with varying degrees of passion, commitment, and intimacy, or closeness and understanding (p. 186)—and is important to romantic relationships.
• Social information processing theory explains that virtual relationships develop much like face-to-face contact but the process often takes longer to become more intimate. Online relationships have the potential to develop even more personal and intimate relationships than face-to-face ones, a phenomenon known as hyperpersonal communication (pp. 187–188).

• Relationship formation requires either physical or virtual proximity, or nearness (pp. 189–190).
• Physical, intellectual, and social attraction motivates relationship formation (p. 190).
• Similarity often increases attraction (pp. 190–191).
• Humans have a natural need for companionship and inclusion—a need to share our lives with others (p. 191).
• We form relationships for intellectual, emotional, and physical stimulation (p. 192).
• Relationships help us accomplish goals (p. 192).

• Social exchange theory (p. 193) explains how we balance the advantages and disadvantages in our relationships.
• Rewards are what make you feel good about the relationship and may be extrinsic, instrumental, or intrinsic. Costs are aspects of the relationship that upset you (p. 193).
• According to uncertainty reduction theory, a relationship priority is to decrease the uncertainty between partners through the use of passive strategies, which involve observing others without actually interacting (p. 195), active strategies, which involve seeking information from a third party (p. 196), and interactive strategies, which involve communicating directly with the person (p. 196).
• Relational dialectics theory holds that dialectical tensions arise when opposing or conflicting goals exist in a relationship (p. 196).
• Individuals may struggle to find a balance between independence and dependence, openness and closedness, and predictability and novelty (pp. 196–198).

• Social penetration theory explains how relational partners move toward intimacy, (p. 199).
• Communication privacy management theory helps explain how people perceive the information they hold about themselves and how they disclose it (pp. 199–200). Boundary turbulence arises when violations make it necessary to readjust the need for disclosure versus privacy (p. 201).
• Strategic topic avoidance is used to maneuver the conversation away from topics that make people feel vulnerable (p. 201).

• Turning points are events or changes important to relationship definition (p. 202).
• The initiating stage is the first contact (p. 203).
• In the exploratory stage, there is superficial communication (p. 203).
• More self-disclosure occurs in the intensification stage (p. 203).
• In the stable stage, expectations are accurate and realistic. We see partners integrating, or becoming one, and bonding, sharing messages about their relationship with the world (pp. 203–204).
• In the declining stage, uncertainty events, interference from outside the relationship, and unmet expectations take a toll, though repair tactics may reverse the decline (pp. 204–207).
• In the termination stage, the relationship fades away or is unexpectedly terminated by one partner (p. 207).
• Reconciliation is a repair strategy for rekindling relationships (pp. 207–208).