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 !ithout any intent or
choice but only based on the "eeling being attached to the other individual Being "amiliar !ith
others, having alike attributes and having mutual understanding are "actors that bring about
attraction but it is interdependence, attachment, and belonging that aim to create stronger ties and
closeness Cognitive theories o""er reasons !hy individuals though not dra!n to!ard another
may "eel bad or may display antisocial behavior to!ards the same Interpersonal relationships
a""ect individual attitudes !hile creating linkages o" intimacy or aggression
Interpersonal Relationships Defined
#n interpersonal relationship re"ers to associations made by encounters or
communication made by talking !ith others Interpersonal relationships are a system and a
process that is established through communication $%!yer, &'''( #s a system, an interpersonal
relationship involves interconnecting linkages in"luenced by constant change #s a procedure, on
the other hand, an interpersonal relationship is continues to change, constantly altering itsel",
delimitating itsel" and re)inventing itsel" throughout history *inally, as a branch o" social
psychology, interpersonal relationships aim to determine the causes !hy these relationships are
present
+here are t!o types o" interpersonal relationships, circumstantial and chosen ones
$%!yer, &'''( In the circumstance type, these relationships people developed unintentionally
$eg being classmates( !hile relationship by choices are built !hen people kno!ingly "ind !ays
to build relationships !ith others $eg by be"riending others( In both types, though, it is re-uired
that participants give others the opportunity to get to kno! you and build trust !ith them +rust
creates an open atmosphere !here individuals can share anything about themselves to one
another making the relationship gro! Sel")disclosure involves the intentional act o" providing
in"ormation about onesel" that others !ould not have kno!n unless divulged Hence,
interpersonal attraction is a prere-uisite in order to develop interpersonal relationships bet!een
partners
Interpersonal relationships are built by going through certain stages +he "irst stage is
called pre)interaction +his is reali.ed by utili.ing passive strategy to attain in"ormation "rom a
third party +he ne/t stage is re"erred to as initiation +his is the stage !here a person !orks
actively to disclose himsel" so that the other person gets to kno! him #"ter such presentation or
disclosure, the person makes up his mind !hether or not to continue !ith the relationship +he
ne/t stage is called the e/ploration stage In this stage, the ones involve trade o"" kno!ledge
about each other making them more close to one another #"ter the e/ploration stage, comes the
intensi"ication stage In this stage, more interaction occurs bet!een t!o people +his involves
"re-uent physical contact and intimate conversation that produce about interdependence and sel")
con"irmation +he last stage is intimacy +his is characteri.ed the closeness partners have !ith
one another thru non)verbal communication and "re-uent physical contact Such intimacy leads
to acceptance and interdependence !here partners are assured their ideas are not disregarded and
they can rely on one another !hen they need someone to support them $%!yer, &'''(
Interpersonal relationships, ho!ever, may end i" partners take actions that con"ute against norms
+hese actions include separation, loss o" "ervor, personality di""erence, or con"licts
The Concept of Familiarity, Similarity, and Reciprocity Related to Attraction
Being "amiliar !ith others, having alike attributes and having mutual understanding each
possesses di""erent outcomes on the basics o" being near to another individual +hese terms are
used to re"er to the companionship an individual possesses on another, !eighing similarities and
di""erences to build certain levels o" con"idence and dependence 0ach o" these terms in"luences
individuals in building "eelings o" solace, !el"are and reliability
Familiarity
*amiliarity is the concept particularly improved by closeness +he more individuals keep
in touch !ith one another the more they understand and get to kno! one another $*iske, &'1'(
+his concept recogni.es !hat partners share in common, !hich includes their predictable
conduct Shared attributes lead to "eeling sa"e in the presence o" the other $*iske, &'1'( #s
encounters that take place bet!een individuals become more "re-uent, the more they become
"amiliar !ith one another $*iske, &'1'( +his in turn intensi"ies the likelihood o" attachment
Similarity
Having alike attributes is another concept that brings vivid in"luence on attachment It
re"ers to kno!ing similar attitudes, ideals and character !hich partners possess $2uo 3 4hang,
&''5( *amiliarity and similarity di""er in !ays such that "amiliarity involves "re-uency o"
encounters !hile similarity involves likeness Similarity promotes "eelings o" uni"ormity and
!el"are bet!een individuals since the idea is to bring about unity or harmony $2uo 3 4hang,
&''5( Similarity leads to balance among individuals as !ell as among groups $*iske, &'1'(
Individuals are inclined to keep company !ith certain individuals !ho share the same behaviors
and thoughts as them, establishing healthier relationship !ith one another $2uo 3 4hang, &''5(
Reciprocity
#lso re"erred as mutuality, reciprocity in"luences attraction such that it sho!s the desire
o" individuals to become "avorable individuals $2uo 3 4hang, &''5( #ttraction through
reciprocity is in"luenced primarily by the supposition that i" an individual is recogni.ed and
"avored it makes the other to give back the recognition they !ant Similar practice is pro"itable
"or each other because it !ould provide "avorable "eedback to one another Such compliment
enables individuals to "orm stronger ties and "ul"ill the individual6s need to be "avorable $*iske,
&'1'( Reciprocity also ackno!ledges certain re!ard theories, or the concept that individuals
"eel re!arded by being liked, or a certain level o" recognition Individuals !ho practice
reciprocity has the chance to e/perience mutuality !ith those they are associated !ith $*iske,
&'1'( +he same attachment is developed through "riendship and inseparable ties
The Concepts of Interdependence, Attachment, and Belonging Related to Intimacy
Interdependence, attachment, and belonging together are all associated !ith intimacy
Interdependence enables individuals to create an environment that aim to promote true trust and
create the atmosphere "or true trust to start and make a relationship thrive Individuals also have
a need to be accepted in a group, to "eel that they are a""iliated and they belong
Interdependence
+o develop interdependence, individuals need to sho! control and trust, both o" !hich
are signi"icant in relation to core social motives In turn, this interdependence, trust and
interaction develop closeness in a relationship 0ach individual6s attitudes or actions in"luence
partners in a relationship It is the interdependence theory that provides an elaboration regarding
the emotional encounter and the patterns o" reliability o""ered by an intimate relationship +he
attraction stage and the beginning stage permit relationships !ith its interdependence to thrive
Attachment
+he relationship bet!een t!o individuals or bet!een an individual and a group is
produced by an attachment or bond 7ust as childhood create inseparable ties bet!een a child and
his or her caregivers and the same encounter helps a gro!ing child to e/perience separation "rom
their caregivers +hese encounters enable children to gain insights about themselves and their
relationships $*iske, &'1', p 8&5( +hus the attachment theory claims that the stability !hich has
been "ormed during the internal !orking models o" relationships !ill in"luence their
relationships and remain "i/ed as they enter the adult stage $*iske, &'1'(
Belonging
+he need to belong is met !hen a person enters a relationship, !hich may re"er not only
to romantic relationships but also to "riendships and interpersonal relationships Belonging, as
!ell as interdependence and attachment, are important in building closer relationships 9nce
intimacy is achieved, the "eeling o" attachment and belonging set in +his is essential "or
individuals to live happy social lives
Cognitive Theories Related to Aggression and Antisocial Behavior
Hostility or aggression is an attitude that decreases the attachment "or an individual, thus
creating un"riendly perceptions +he same behavior can either be physical or verbal !here a
person intentionally in"licts harm to another individual $*iske, &'1'( +he persons !ho practice
aggression are o"ten -uick to be o""ended or "rustrated so as to keep one6s sel")esteem or sel")
presentation up Cognitive theories give individuals insights !hy they display hostility to!ards
others
Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory teaches a person the !ays and conditions !here aggression can be
practiced and evaded +his is accomplished by "orming sel" :punishments In the social learning
theory it is also kno!n that aggression is a product o" emulating and observing another
individual6s character $*iske, &'1'( +his mani"ests !hen individuals practice the same behavior
they have seen or observed in others, in real li"e, movies, or +; sho!s or cartoon Individuals6
minds are likely to create pictures o" such behavior that leads to repetition o" the same behavior
in their "uture encounters $*iske, &'1'( Ho!ever, the same observed behavior may not be
appropriately practiced unless truly comprehended Hence <=o kno!ledge can be gained "rom
observing others unless individuals listen care"ully and comprehend the important -ualities "or
the modeled behavior> $?retchmar, &''@, p8( +he observer must understand accurately !hat
kind o" behavior he is seeing and must be able to recall the observed conduct appropriately +his
aggression is then emulated !hen re!ard is a direct result or !hen the same responses happen at
!ill $*iske, &'1'( Sel")re!ards or sanctions !ork !ith volitional responses to d!indle
incidence o" aggression and to keep an individual6s moral up
Script Theory
+he script theory, on the other hand, sho!s lessons ho! aggressive behavior comes "rom
programs or resources +he script theory directs the practice o" aggression and upholds solid
patterns o" hostility in individuals and "amily members $*iske, &'1'( By sight or observation,
the individual "orms his or her o!n model o" aggression +he aggressive behavior is then
e/ercised real)time or mentally until it is imprinted and becomes easily accessed in the "uture
!here it is perceived to be normal or appropriate conduct $*iske, &'1'( Seeing violent
presentations in print or picture provide most o" the hostility that gets imprinted mentally at a
young age %isplay or per"ormance o" aggressive behavior at a young age means the individual
!ill sho! hostile acts throughout his or her lives $*iske, &'1'( Ahile media is the primary
source !here such hostility is kno!n, it can also be derived or kno!n "rom the social class,
"amily, or inherited "amily traits
Cognitive NeoAggression Theory
Cognitive neo)aggression theory e/plains the reasons !hy individuals behave
aggressively +he cognitive neo)aggression theory e/plains ho! individuals are a""iliated to
aggressive cues, including primitive "eelings associated to con"licts or "lights !ith more
complicated cognitive and emotional responses $*iske, &'1'( It is learned that individuals can
access and display behaviors and insights "rom the past and utili.e the same !henever necessary
# common or un"avorable circumstance could either create "eelings o" "ear or impulses o"
hostility or escape $*iske, &'1'( 0ach individual varies on the degree o" his aggressiveness
Ahile others per"orm more aggression a"ter vie!ing violence on media or seeing !eapons,
others tend to emulate hostile behavior that make them more angry or thrilled to be aggressive
a"ter!ards $*iske, &'1'( #s individuals6 learning varies in e/tent and intensity, the same applies
to learning about aggressionB learning about the latter evokes insights that may cause
individuals to in"lict harm to others
Concl!sion
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 e/posed !ith
another person, sharing common -ualities !ith another, or through a natural yearning to be "ound
"avorable by others Inter)reliability, attachment, and the need to belong in a social group
in"luences closeness and the process o" building close relationships Cognitive theories discuss
the process, the conditions and the reasons !hy individuals sho! aggression and !hat they learn
thru observation *inally, interpersonal relationships do not cease to e/ist to establish rapport
!ith other people based on in"luences "rom !ithin an individual or "rom the society that
surrounds him
Re"erences
%!yer, % $&'''( Interpersonal Relationships $Routledge Codular Psychology(
*iske, S+ $&'1'( Social beingsB Core Cotives in Social Psychology $&
nd
ed( Hoboken, =7B
Ailey
?retchmar, 7 $&''@( Social 2earning +heory In, Social Learning TheoryResearch Starters
Education. 1$1(, 1& Dreat =eck Publishing Retrieved "rom 0BSC9host
2uo, S, 3 4hang, D $&''5( Ahat leads to romantic attractionB similarity, reciprocity, security,
or beautyE 0vidence "rom a speed)dating study Journal of Personality, FF$G(, 588)5HG
Retrieved "rom 0BSC9host