THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

This Learning Outcome is mainly about how men and women communicate with each other in heterosexual relationships.

THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS What we’ll be talking about: Attribution styles in relationships

THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS What we’ll be talking about: Attribution styles in relationships Altman and Taylor’s Social Penetration Theory

THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS What we’ll be talking about: Attribution styles in relationships Altman and Taylor’s Social Penetration Theory The importance of self-disclosure in relationships

THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS What we’ll be talking about: Attribution styles in relationships Altman and Taylor’s Social Penetration Theory The importance of self-disclosure in relationships The different communication styles of men and women

ATTRIBUTION STYLES Remind the person next to you what attribution is. What are situational and dispositional attributions?

ATTRIBUTION STYLES “My partner just bought me a book I’ve always wanted. She/He is always so thoughtful.” “My partner just bought me a book I’ve always wanted. She/He must be feeling guilty about something.”

ATTRIBUTION STYLES In happy relationships, partners tend to make positive attributions about each other. For example, positive behaviour is attributed to dispositional factors, while negative behaviour is attributed to situational factors. Think of two examples to illustrate the above.

ATTRIBUTION STYLES In happy relationships, partners tend to make positive attributions about each other. For example, positive behaviour is attributed to dispositional factors, while negative behaviour is attributed to situational factors. Think of two examples to illustrate the above. Predict what attribution styles may be like in unsuccessful relationships.

ATTRIBUTION STYLES Now read page of the course companion and make notes about the types of attributions people make in relationships.

ATTRIBUTION STYLES

BRADBURY AND FINCHAM Wives who made dispositional attributions about their husbands in negative situations were more likely to behave negatively towards their husbands. What does this mean? Can you think of an example of such an attribution? What research methods would have been best to use in this kind of research?

BRADBURY AND FINCHAM (1992) What kind of marriage did they find where wives made dispositional attributions about their husbands in negative situations? Can you think of an example of such an attribution?

BRADBURY AND FINCHAM (1992) After further longitudinal studies, the researchers predict that it is the kind of attributions that influence the behaviour of couples of couples – rather than the behaviour of the couples influencing their attributions.

Does giving your secrets away make other people like you?

SOCIAL PENETRATION THEORY According to Taylor, relationships are formed by a gradual process of self-disclosure.

‘Disclosing something about yourself makes both strangers and friends like you more’ Collins & Miller (1994)

SELF DISCLOSURE – GENDER DIFFERENCES Reis (1986) found that: women self-disclose more than men women also disclose more to other women than men do to other men (but you probably knew that already)

Watch the following clip from Friends. How do the men and the women communicate the same event differently?

DEBORAH TANNEN Women are more likely to respond to someone’s negative feelings with understanding and acceptance.

DEBORAH TANNEN Have a look at and and make some notes about what Deborah Tannen says about male and female communication style.

Now read pages of the course companion and make yourself a detailed mind map on the topic The role of communication in maintaining relationships