Relationship Development
IPC
Enhancing Relationships Preview
 The Importance of Friendship
 The Importance of Family
 The Importance of Colleagues
 Stages of Relationship Development
 Managing Interpersonal Conflict
The Importance of Friendship
 Friendship over the
Years
 Childhood
 Adolescent
 peer relationships are
the most important
social influence on our
behavior
 Adult
 Elderly and
friendships
Enhancing Friendships
 Awareness of yourself
 We Use Communication To Initiate, Develop, Deepen
And Maintain Friendships
 Listening And Responding Are Critical
 Learn to Adapt
The Importance of Family
 Changing Nature of
Family
 Enhancing Family
Relationships
 Discover who we are in
families
 Earliest lessons about
verbal and nonverbal
communication
 Family relationships are
built upon trust
 Family relationships
involve adaptation
The importance of Colleagues
 On the job communication
 Communication skills are highly
valued
 Enhancing Workplace
Relationships
 Uncertainty reduction
 Verbal and nonverbal
communication skills
 Listening and responding
 Adaptation is critical to successful
coworker relationships
Stages of Interpersonal Relationships
 Relational Development Proceeds in Discernable
Stages
 IPC is Affected by the Stage of the Relationship
 IPC is Affected by the Stage of the Relationship
 IPC Facilitates Movement between the Various
Stages
Relational Development and Maintenance (RDM)
A: Development Model
B: Dialectical Perspective
 there are certain goals each person wants to reach, but
often goals differ
 dialectical tension: conflicts that arise when 2
opposing forces exist simultaneously
 Goals:
connection vs. autonomy
predictability vs. novelty
openness vs. privacy
Elevator Model
Relational Escalation
 Pre-Interaction
Awareness
 Initiation
 Exploration
 Intensification
 Intimacy/
Integrating
 Bonding
Relational De-Escalation
 Differentiation/ Individualization
 De-Intensification
 Stagnation
 Avoidance
 Termination
How Conflict Functions in Relationships
 Conflict is normal
 Constructive Conflict
 Construct something new
 Suggest areas of change
 Revitalize the relationship
 Destructive Conflict
 Dismantles relationships
 Lack of flexibility is the hallmark
Characteristics of RDM
A. Relationships are constantly changing
B. Movement is always to a new place
4Resynthesis
1Security
(make up)
(safety)
3Alienation
2Disintegration
(alone)
(falls apart)