Friendships and Professional Relationships

1. Friendships and Professional Relationships Chapter 9 “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” ― C.S. Lewis

2. Why Social Relationships Matter We Need to Belong—Roy Baumeister • Seek, form, maintain, and protect strong social relationships • We needs bonds that are interactive and emotionally close

3. Why Social Relationships Matter Social Relationships Bring Rewards • Emotional Rewards • Emotional support and encouragement • Happiness Social Relationships Bring Material Rewards • Money, food, shelter, transportation

4. Why Social Relationships Matter • Relationships Bring Health Rewards • Survival after major health issues • Happiness and relaxation help us ward off negative effects of stress • Friends can look out for our safety and well-being

5. Why Social Relationships Matter • Social Relationships Carry Costs • Time, emotional energy, physical energy, money, etc. • Issues arise if costs outweigh benefits (Social Exchange Theory)

6. Attraction Theory: Interpersonal, physical, social, task (abilities) Factors Spark Interpersonal Attraction: Personal appearance Proximity—how closely together people live or work, frequency of interaction Similarity Complementarity—based on differences Forming and Maintaining Social Bonds

7. Uncertainty Reduction Theory Berger & Calabrese Reducing our uncertainty about another person Uncertainty is unpleasant Motivation is to reduce uncertainty Using communication behaviors to get more information Uncertainty is then reduced The less uncertain we are, the more we will like the person Forming and Maintaining Social Bonds

8. Forming and Maintaining Social Bonds • Predicted Outcome Value Theory—Michael Sunnafrank • When we first communicate with others, we try to determine whether continued comm. With them will be worth our effort • If we like someone when we first meet and predict positive outcomes for future interactions, we will want to get to know the person better. • Negative first impression, don’t want to know person better.

9. Understanding Relationship Formation • Approach Behaviors • Any forms of attraction to another will cause us to use approach behaviors • Comm. behaviors that signal interest in another person • Avoidance Behaviors • Signal a lack of interest in another person • Forming a relationship doesn’t mean we will want to maintain that relationship!

10. Social Exchange Theory

11. Social Exchange Theory Thibaut & Kelley Seek to maintain relationships where benefits outweigh costs Comparison Level Realistic expectation of what you want and think you deserve from a relationship Comparison Level of Alternatives Beliefs concerning how good or bad your current relationship is compared with your perceived options Theories about Costs & Benefits

12. Equity Theory

13. Equity Theory • Equity Theory • A good relationship is one in which your costs and rewards are equal to your partner’s • If there is inequality, one partner is over-benefited and one is under-benefited • If both partners get the same level of benefits, but one partner’s costs are greater, equity theory predicts the partner with more costs will not want to maintain the relationship

14. Relational Maintenance Behaviors • How we maintain relationships • Positivity • Behaviors that make others feel comfortable around us • Openness • Willingness to discuss relationship • Assurances • Verbal & nonverbal behaviors to illustrate faithfulness and commitment

15. Relational Maintenance Behaviors • Social Networks • All of the family relationships and friendships that a person has • Sharing Tasks • Performing your fair share of work in the relationship

16. Characteristics of Friendship • Voluntary • Both parties are in relationship by choice • Attraction and balance of cost and rewards influence friendship • Require use of maintenance behaviors (e.g. positivity, openness, task sharing)

17. Characteristics of Friendship • Between Peers • Formed with people of equal or similar power status • “Non-peer” friendship can manifest complications and power struggle • Governed by Rules • Both parties have relationship expectations • Implicit “Rules of Friendship”

18. Characteristics of Friendship Differ by Sex • Gender differences in friendship values • “Doing vs. Talking” Same Sex Friendships • Research results do not characterize ALL same-sex friendships • Differences do not determine friendship importance

19. Characteristics of Friendship Opposite-sex friendships • Both genders value new perspectives • Can experience physical or romantic attraction (e.g. “Friends with benefits”)

20. Characteristics of Friendship • Life Span—William Rawlins, Ohio Univ. • Role-limited interaction • Meet for first time, civil • Friendly Relations • Talk more, friendlier, share stories • Moves toward friendship • Comm. more social, share activities • Nascent friendship • Begin to think of themselves as friends, comm. is more personal • Stabilized friendship • Fully established, share attitudes, trust • Waning friendship • Decline, may become distant and casual or relationship could end

21. Characteristics of Friendship • Grow to Dislike Each Other • Many reasons why this may occur • Life Circumstances • Many aspects of life may cause us to drift apart from friends. • Don’t always want rel. to end—may not have time, energy to spend with other person

22. Social Relationships in the Workplace Co-workers • Likely to be formed with immediate peers vs. supervisors • Bond through common experiences • Significant amount of time spent together • Affects your job satisfaction Influences on job satisfaction • Social dimension vs. task dimension • Superiors and Subordinates: • Challenges of power difference • Influences job satisfaction both positively and negatively • Open communication about potential and direct conflicts

23. Social Relationships in the Workplace • Superiors and Subordinates • Challenges of power difference • Influences job satisfaction both positively and negatively • Open communication about potential and direct conflicts • Sexual Harassment • Quid pro quo (Latin for “this for that”) • Hostile work environment (sexually offensive or intimidating)

24. Social Relationships in the Workplace • Clients • Personally and professionally rewarding • Task-social tensions can occur • Health care setting – ethical guideline • Set clear personal and professional boundaries