Relational Dialectics, Social Penetration Theory

Communication, Theories, and Challenges When we communicate with one another, there is various communication, that is backed by theories, and challenges. This essay is going to define two theories which are Relational Dialectics Theory and, Social Penetration Theory. Then the essay will compare challenges, and complications using three different relationships. The three relationships chosen are sibling, friendships, and romantic interest.

Theory: Relational Dialectics

Proposed in 1988 by Leslie Baxter and W.K. Rawlins, this theory of interpersonal communication reflect and highlights the struggles, tensions, of relationships with bonds that are personal or close. “Communication parties experience internal, conflicting pulls causing relationships

Those pressures include: connection–autonomy; certainty–uncertainty; and openness–closedness. With the connection and autonomy: there is the desire to have permanent and close ties in the interpersonal relationship, however the relationship cannot tolerate unless involved parties have alone time. One can lose their individuality if private alone time does not take place. With certainty-uncertainty: the parties in their interpersonal relationship look for predictability along with assurance. Nevertheless, there must be some spontaneity, if not the relationship can become predictable and boring. Last but no least in openness-closedness: the parties divulge and reveal information that is personal but only disclose a little to the

The theory is steered by the relational development assumptions that includes the four stages, which can include the distance and deterioration. This theory considered to be psychological, is the framework in interpersonal communication.

Challenges Relating to the Theories- Siblings Siblings such as brother and sister, have their own identity. In the social penetration theory, exposing their vulnerability, it will be only seen amongst them but not exposed to the public. In relational dialectic, they will not lose their individuality. The only spontaneity will be the adventures they will look to achieve at various ages or those from a bucket list.

Challenges Relating to the Theories-Friendships With friendships the challenges in these two theories can be kind of tricky. Depending on the type of relation the two friends have will determine how information will verbalized and not spoken. For instance, Jane and Janet are high school friends. They have been friends since they were ten years old. Jane meet a nice senior name Jimmy, and start dating. Because Jane and Jimmy are not ready to divulge their relationship to Janet, Jane decline because she vulnerable. They decide to wait to. In the meantime, Jane is not spending as much time with Janet because she is dating Jimmy. Janet feels like her relationship with Jane is on the decline because