1. Chapter 5: Connecting and Communicating in the Modern World
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2. Learning Outcomes
Discuss the purpose and common forms of intimate relationships.
Describe the types of social support available and the impact of social networks on health status.
Discuss ways to improve communication skills and interpersonal interactions, particularly in the digital environment.
Identify the characteristics of successful relationships, including how to overcome common conflicts, and discuss how to cope when relationships end.
Compare and contrast the types of committed relationships and lifestyle choices.
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3. Intimate Connections
Intimate relationships are those with family members, close friends, and romantic partners, characterized by
Behavioral interdependence
Need fulfillment
Emotional attachment
Emotional availability
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4. Intimate Connections (cont.)
Through relationships, we fulfill our needs for
Intimacy
Social integration
Nurturance
Assistance
Affirmation
People with positive, fulfilling relationships are 50 percent more likely to survive over time than are people in poor relationships.
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5. Relating to Yourself
Two concepts are important to any good relationship.
Accountability: Both partners are responsible for their own decisions, choices, and actions.
Self-nurturance: The development of individual potential through a balanced and realistic appreciation of self-worth and ability
Self-esteem and self-concept are important factors that affect your ability to nurture yourself and to maintain healthy relationships with others, and include the way you define yourself (self-concept).
Your perception and acceptance of yourself influences your relationship choices.
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6. Family Relationships
Family is a group of people with roles, tasks, boundaries, and personalities whose central focus is to protect, care for, love, and socialize with one another.
Family of origin
The people present in our household our first years of life—usually parents and siblings
From these people, we initially learn about feelings, problem solving, love, intimacy, and gender roles.
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7. Romantic Relationships
Romantic relationships typically include all the characteristics of a friendship, as well as
Fascination
Exclusivity
Sexual desire
Giving the utmost
Being a champion or advocate
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8. ABC News Video: One Woman's Journey Through 100 Dates
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9. Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love
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10. Theories of Love
Anthropologist H. Fisher and others theorize love and attraction are based on brain circuitry and chemistry.
Imprinting
Attraction
Attachment
Production of a "cuddle chemical" called oxytocin
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11. Choosing a Romantic Partner
Proximity—being in the same place at the same time
Similarities—"opposites attract" usually isn't true
Reciprocity—react with mutual regard
Physical attraction —People seem to seek out "similarly attractive" partners, but as relationships evolve, status and personality become more important
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12. Building Communication Skills
Learning appropriate self-disclosure
Get to know yourself.
Become more accepting of yourself.
Be willing to discuss your sexual history.
Choose a safe context for self disclosure.
Be thoughtful about self-disclosure via social media.
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13. Building Communication Skills (cont.)
Becoming a better listener
We listen best when
We believe that the message is somehow important and relevant to us.
The speaker holds our attention through humor, dramatic effect, use of media, or other techniques.
We are in the mood to listen (free of distractions and worries).
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14. Building Communication Skills (cont.)
Using nonverbal communication
Touch
Gestures
Interpersonal space
Facial expression
Body language
Tone of voice
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15. He Says/She Says
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16. Managing Conflict through Communication
Identify the problem or issues.
Generate several possible solutions.
Evaluate the alternative solutions.
Decide on the best solution.
Implement the solution.
Follow up.
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17. Relationships: For Better And Worse
Characteristics of healthy relationships:
Predictability
Dependability
Faith
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18. Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
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19. Confronting Couples Issues
Jealousy in relationships
An aversive reaction evoked by a real or imagined relationship involving one's partner and a third person
Changing gender roles
Our modern society has very few gender-specific roles.
Sharing power
Power dynamics between women and men have shifted.
Compared to their husbands, 22 percent of women have higher incomes and 81 percent have a higher or equal education level.
Unmet expectations
Partners in healthy relationships can communicate wants and needs and have healthy discussions when things aren't going as planned.
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20. Behaviors That Signal Relationship Trouble
Criticism: complaints in terms of a partner's defect
Defensiveness: righteous indignation as a form of self protection
Stonewalling: withdrawing emotionally from a given interaction
Contempt: talking down to a person
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21. When and Why Relationships End
Why do relationships end? Reasons include
Illness
Financial concerns
Career problems
Personal conflicts
Unmet expectations
Difference in sexual needs
Conflict, negative interactions, and lack of respect
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22. Coping with Failed Relationships
Acknowledge that you've gone through a rough spot.
Let go of negative thought patterns.
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23. Marriage, Partnering, and Singlehood
Monogamy: exclusive sexual involvement with one partner
Serial monogamy: a monogamous sexual relationship with one partner before moving on to the next monogamous relationship
Open relationships: partners agree that there may be sexual involvement for each person outside of the marriage
Cohabitation
A relationship in which two unmarried people live with an intimate connection together in the same household
Common-law marriage
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24. Marital Status of the U.S. Population by Sex
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25. Same Sex Relationships and Staying Single
Gay and lesbian partnerships
The American Community Survey identified 726,600 same-sex couples. Thirty-five percent of these couples are married.
Staying single
Of women aged 20 to 34, 57 percent have never been married according to data from the most recent census.
Of men aged 20 to 34, 67 percent remain unmarried.
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