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Com 472
© M. Parks
DESCRIBING CHANGES IN RELATIONSHIPS
Setup: Parks Relationship Survey
I. Many ways to describe what changes as relationships develop and deteriorate, but we’ll emphasize two in this class…
A. Knapp & Vangelisti’s 10-step stage model of relationships
B. Parks’ (2007) Seven dimensions of personal relationships
II. SEVEN DIMENSIONS OF PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.
A. Each personal relationship is unique. But we can describe how relationships develop and deteriorate by looking at changes a small number of common dimensions.
B. This survey was based on I first developed about 15 years ago. I described the concepts behind it in my 2007 book,Personal Relationships & Personal Networks.
1. Part of a broader theory of relationships called Social Contextual Theory
2.
3.
C. SevenDimensions of relationship change:
1. Interdependence
a.
.
b. Examples:
c.
d.
e. Example items from your survey:
4. I generally do not adjust my schedule in order to make time for this person. (Reverse)
7. The two of us depend on each other.
8. Sometimes I wait to hear what this person thinks before making up my own mind about some issue or decision.
18. This person and I have a great deal of effect on each other.
19. We would go out of our way to help each other if it were needed.
2. Depth or Intimacy of Interaction
a. Exchange of subjectively important, valued information and behavior.
b.
c.
.
c. Example items:
12. I have told this person what I like about her/him.
14. I would never tell this person anything intimate or personal about myself. (Reverse)
23. I try to keep my personal judgments to myself when this person says or does something with which I disagree.
24. I have told this person things about myself that he/she could not get from any other source.
32. I feel I could confide in this person about almost anything.
3. Variety or Breadth of Interaction
a. Three aspects:
b. Example items:
5. Our communication ranges over a wide variety of topics.
6. We contact each other in a variety of ways (telephone, Internet, face-to-face, etc.)
13. Our communication is limited to just a few specific topics.(Reverse)
21. Once we get started we move easily from one topic to another.
22. We seem to talk about the same few topics over and over. (Reverse)
4. Commitment
a. Three aspects of commitment:
b. Example items:
3. I do not expect this relationship to last very long.(Reverse)v
9. It would be hard on me to get out of this relationship.
17. I would make a great effort to maintain my relationship with this person.
20. I am very committed to maintaining this relationship.
5. Predictability and Understanding
a. Communication is driven by a desire to manage uncertainty and to achieve some optimal level of understanding.
b.
c.
d. Leads to increases in efficiency and ease of communication
- Difficult vs. efficient
- Awkward vs. smooth
- Hesitant vs. spontaneous
e. Example items:
1. I do not know this person very well. (Reverse)
10. I can accurately predict this person's attitudes on most topics.
11. I often have trouble understanding why this person behaves the way he or she does. (Reverse)
15. This person often does or says things which surprise me. (Reverse)
16. I can usually tell what this person is feeling inside.
6. Communicative Code Change
a. As relationships develop, people don’t just talk about new things, they talk about the same things differently.
b.
c. Three ways communication changes as relationships develop:
d. Example items:
26. The two of us use private signals (special gestures, looks, phrases) that communicate in ways outsiders would not understand.
27. We have developed the ability to "read between the lines" of each other's words to figure out what is really on each other's mind.
29. I can get an idea across to this person with a much shorter message than I would have to use with most people.
30. The two of us share a special language or jargon that sets our relationship apart.
7. Amount of Communication
a.
b. The sheer amount of communication is important because:
c. Example items:
25. The two of us spend a lot of time together.
33. I talk to this person often.