Download Interpersonal Relationships Paper PSYCH 555 Interpersonal

Interpersonal Relationships Paper
PSYCH 555
Interpersonal Relationships
By building communication linkages among individuals, interpersonal relations
improve social psychology. Interpersonal relationships seek to bring people together
without any intent or choice but only based on the feeling being attached to the other
individual. Being familiar with others, having alike attributes and having mutual
understanding are factors that bring about attraction but it is interdependence, attachment,
and belonging that aim to create stronger ties and closeness. Cognitive theories offer
reasons why individuals though not drawn toward another may feel bad or may display
antisocial behavior towards the same. Interpersonal relationships affect individual
attitudes while creating linkages of intimacy or aggression.
Interpersonal Relationships Defined
An interpersonal relationship refers to associations made by encounters or
communication made by talking with others. Interpersonal relationships are a system and
a process that is established through communication (Dwyer, 2000). As a system, an
interpersonal relationship involves interconnecting linkages influenced by constant
change. As a procedure, on the other hand, an interpersonal relationship is continues to
change, constantly altering itself, delimitating itself and re-inventing itself throughout
history. Finally, as a branch of social psychology, interpersonal relationships aim to
determine the causes why these relationships are present.
There are two types of interpersonal relationships; circumstantial and chosen ones
(Dwyer, 2000). In the circumstance type, these relationships people developed
unintentionally (e.g. being classmates) while relationship by choices are built when people
knowingly find ways to build relationships with others (e.g. by befriending others). In both
types, though, it is required that participants give others the opportunity to get to know
you and build trust with them. Trust creates an open atmosphere where individuals can
share anything about themselves to one another making the relationship grow. Selfdisclosure involves the intentional act of providing information about oneself that others
would not have known unless divulged. Hence, interpersonal attraction is a prerequisite in
order to develop interpersonal relationships between partners.
Interpersonal relationships are built by going through certain stages. The first stage
is called pre-interaction. This is realized by utilizing passive strategy to attain information
from a third party. The next stage is referred to as initiation. This is the stage where a
person works actively to disclose himself so that the other person gets to know him. After
such presentation or disclosure, the person makes up his mind whether or not to continue
with the relationship. The next stage is called the exploration stage. In this stage, the ones
involve trade off knowledge about each other making them more close to one another.
After the exploration stage, comes the intensification stage. In this stage, more interaction
occurs between two people. This involves frequent physical contact and intimate
conversation that produce about interdependence and self-confirmation. The last stage is
intimacy. This is characterized the closeness partners have with one another thru nonverbal communication and frequent physical contact. Such intimacy leads to acceptance
and interdependence where partners are assured their ideas are not disregarded and they
can rely on one another when they need someone to support them (Dwyer, 2000).
Interpersonal relationships, however, may end if partners take actions that confute against
norms. These actions include separation, loss of fervor, personality difference, or conflicts.
The Concept of Familiarity, Similarity, and Reciprocity Related to Attraction
Being familiar with others, having alike attributes and having mutual understanding
each possesses different outcomes on the basics of being near to another individual. These
terms are used to refer to the companionship an individual possesses on another, weighing
similarities and differences to build certain levels of confidence and dependence. Each of
these terms influences individuals in building feelings of solace, welfare and reliability.
Familiarity
Familiarity is the concept particularly improved by closeness. The more individuals
keep in touch with one another the more they understand and get to know one another
(Fiske, 2010). This concept recognizes what partners share in common, which includes
their predictable conduct. Shared attributes lead to feeling safe in the presence of the other
(Fiske, 2010). As encounters that take place between individuals become more frequent,
the more they become familiar with one another (Fiske, 2010). This in turn intensifies the
likelihood of attachment.
Similarity
Having alike attributes is another concept that brings vivid influence on attachment.
It refers to knowing similar attitudes, ideals and character which partners possess (Luo &
Zhang, 2009). Familiarity and similarity differ in ways such that familiarity involves
frequency of encounters while similarity involves likeness. Similarity promotes feelings of
uniformity and welfare between individuals since the idea is to bring about unity or
harmony (Luo & Zhang, 2009). Similarity leads to balance among individuals as well as
among groups (Fiske, 2010). Individuals are inclined to keep company with certain
individuals who share the same behaviors and thoughts as them, establishing healthier
relationship with one another (Luo & Zhang, 2009).
Reciprocity
Also referred as mutuality, reciprocity influences attraction such that it shows the
desire of individuals to become favorable individuals (Luo & Zhang, 2009). Attraction
through reciprocity is influenced primarily by the supposition that if an individual is
recognized and favored it makes the other to give back the recognition they want. Similar
practice is profitable for each other because it would provide favorable feedback to one
another. Such compliment enables individuals to form stronger ties and fulfill the
individual’s need to be favorable (Fiske, 2010). Reciprocity also acknowledges certain
reward theories, or the concept that individuals feel rewarded by being liked, or a certain
level of recognition. Individuals who practice reciprocity has the chance to experience
mutuality with those they are associated with (Fiske, 2010). The same attachment is
developed through friendship and inseparable ties.
The Concepts of Interdependence, Attachment, and Belonging Related to Intimacy
Interdependence, attachment, and belonging together are all associated with
intimacy. Interdependence enables individuals to create an environment that aim to
promote true trust and create the atmosphere for true trust to start and make a
relationship thrive. Individuals also have a need to be accepted in a group, to feel that they
are affiliated and they belong.
Interdependence
To develop interdependence, individuals need to show control and trust, both of
which are significant in relation to core social motives. In turn, this interdependence, trust
and interaction develop closeness in a relationship. Each individual’s attitudes or actions
influence partners in a relationship. It is the interdependence theory that provides an
elaboration regarding the emotional encounter and the patterns of reliability offered by an
intimate relationship. The attraction stage and the beginning stage permit relationships
with its interdependence to thrive.
Attachment
The relationship between two individuals or between an individual and a group is
produced by an attachment or bond. Just as childhood create inseparable ties between a
child and his or her caregivers and the same encounter helps a growing child to experience
separation from their caregivers. These encounters enable children to gain insights about
themselves and their relationships (Fiske, 2010, p. 329). Thus the attachment theory claims
that the stability which has been formed during the internal working models of
relationships will influence their relationships and remain fixed as they enter the adult
stage (Fiske, 2010).
Belonging
The need to belong is met when a person enters a relationship, which may refer not
only to romantic relationships but also to friendships and interpersonal relationships.
Belonging, as well as interdependence and attachment, are important in building closer
relationships. Once intimacy is achieved, the feeling of attachment and belonging set in.
This is essential for individuals to live happy social lives.
Cognitive Theories Related to Aggression and Antisocial Behavior
Hostility or aggression is an attitude that decreases the attachment for an individual,
thus creating unfriendly perceptions. The same behavior can either be physical or verbal
where a person intentionally inflicts harm to another individual (Fiske, 2010). The persons
who practice aggression are often quick to be offended or frustrated so as to keep one’s
self-esteem or self-presentation up. Cognitive theories give individuals insights why they
display hostility towards others.
Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory teaches a person the ways and conditions where aggression
can be practiced and evaded. This is accomplished by forming self –punishments. In the
social learning theory it is also known that aggression is a product of emulating and
observing another individual’s character (Fiske, 2010). This manifests when individuals
practice the same behavior they have seen or observed in others, in real life, movies, or TV
shows or cartoon. Individuals’ minds are likely to create pictures of such behavior that
leads to repetition of the same behavior in their future encounters (Fiske, 2010). However,
the same observed behavior may not be appropriately practiced unless truly
comprehended. Hence “No knowledge can be gained from observing others unless
individuals listen carefully and comprehend the important qualities for the modeled
behavior” (Kretchmar, 2008, p.3). The observer must understand accurately what kind of
behavior he is seeing and must be able to recall the observed conduct appropriately. This
aggression is then emulated when reward is a direct result or when the same responses
happen at will (Fiske, 2010). Self-rewards or sanctions work with volitional responses to
dwindle incidence of aggression and to keep an individual’s moral up.
Script Theory
The script theory, on the other hand, shows lessons how aggressive behavior comes
from programs or resources. The script theory directs the practice of aggression and
upholds solid patterns of hostility in individuals and family members (Fiske, 2010). By
sight or observation, the individual forms his or her own model of aggression. The
aggressive behavior is then exercised real-time or mentally until it is imprinted and
becomes easily accessed in the future where it is perceived to be normal or appropriate
conduct (Fiske, 2010). Seeing violent presentations in print or picture provide most of the
hostility that gets imprinted mentally at a young age. Display or performance of aggressive
behavior at a young age means the individual will show hostile acts throughout his or her
lives (Fiske, 2010). While media is the primary source where such hostility is known, it can
also be derived or known from the social class, family, or inherited family traits.
Cognitive Neo-Aggression Theory
Cognitive neo-aggression theory explains the reasons why individuals behave
aggressively. The cognitive neo-aggression theory explains how individuals are affiliated to
aggressive cues, including primitive feelings associated to conflicts or flights with more
complicated cognitive and emotional responses (Fiske, 2010). It is learned that individuals
can access and display behaviors and insights from the past and utilize the same whenever
necessary. A common or unfavorable circumstance could either create feelings of fear or
impulses of hostility or escape (Fiske, 2010). Each individual varies on the degree of his
aggressiveness. While others perform more aggression after viewing violence on media or
seeing weapons, others tend to emulate hostile behavior that make them more angry or
thrilled to be aggressive afterwards (Fiske, 2010). As individuals’ learning varies in extent
and intensity, the same applies to learning about aggression: learning about the latter
evokes insights that may cause individuals to inflict harm to others.
Conclusion
Interpersonal relationships help people to create linkages based on attraction or
anger. Interpersonal relationships are systems and processes that bring individuals
together by situation or by choice. People are brought together or attracted to each other
by being more exposed with another person, sharing common qualities with another, or
through a natural yearning to be found favorable by others. Inter-reliability, attachment,
and the need to belong in a social group influences closeness and the process of building
close relationships. Cognitive theories discuss the process, the conditions and the reasons
why individuals show aggression and what they learn thru observation. Finally,
interpersonal relationships do not cease to exist to establish rapport with other people
based on influences from within an individual or from the society that surrounds him.
References
Dwyer, D. (2000). Interpersonal Relationships. (Routledge Modular Psychology)
Fiske, S.T. (2010). Social beings: Core Motives in Social Psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ:
Wiley.
Kretchmar, J. (2008). Social Learning Theory. In, Social Learning Theory—Research Starters
Education. 1(1), 12. Great Neck Publishing. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Luo, S., & Zhang, G. (2009). What leads to romantic attraction: similarity, reciprocity,
security, or beauty? Evidence from a speed-dating study. Journal of Personality,
77(4), 933-964. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.