Communication

Discussion Question #5 – Ch. 8: Communication Climate: The Foundation of Personal Relationships
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For this weeks discussion, I want us to focus on relational dialectics (p. 223). Consider the 3 different relational dialectics discussed in the chapter: autonomy/connection, novelty/predictability, and openness/closedness. For this week’s response, I want you to choose one of these relational dialectics and discuss how you have experienced it in your relationships. You will also explain how you negotiated this dialectical tension (p. 224). Essentially, your response should be in two parts:

1. Identify which dialectic you will write about and how you experienced this dialectical tension in a specific relationship.

2. Explain how you negotiated this tension and consider ways that you could have negotiated it more effectively.

Please use specific details and specific vocabulary from the chapter. For example, when you consider how you negotiated the dialectical tension, think specifically about how you might have used neutralization, selection, separation, and/or reframing.

It is important to remember that everyone experiences each of these dialectical tensions in all relationships. They work differently within the different types of relationships that we have, but nevertheless, we experience them all. Think about your intimate relationships, work relationships, friendships, family relationships etc. and how these dialectical tensions have impacted your interpersonal communication with the people in your lives.