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Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven. Theories of Communication in Ongoing Relationships. Relational Systems Theory: The Palo Alto Group. Bateson and his colleagues (WBJ) The Palo Alto group was concerned with understanding the general nature of communication

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Chapter Eleven

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  1. Chapter Eleven Theories of Communication in Ongoing Relationships

  2. Relational Systems Theory:The Palo Alto Group • Bateson and his colleagues (WBJ) • The Palo Alto group was concerned with understanding the general nature of communication • Particular concern was given to the role of communication in psychiatric pathologies

  3. Systems Theory: Shift in Focus • Prevailing view was that mental illness was a disease of the individual, treated through individual-level treatment • Palo Alto group moved to an emphasis on the system in which the individual was embedded • Particular attention paid to relational communication in the family system

  4. Systems Concepts • Family systems are interdependent • behavior of individuals depends on each other • They develop and change through • positive feedback (change in stability) & • negative feedback (preserves status quo of system) • They are characterized by equifinality – • same final state can be achieved through multiple paths

  5. Some Systems Terms • Input/throughput/output • Environment • Goal • Equifinality/Equipotentiality • Homeostasis/dynamic equilibrium • Rules: how things work—not how supposed to work • Feedback • Positive: Change the system: Deviation amplifying • Negative: Inhibit change: Deviation inhibiting • Schismogenesis (positive/negative)

  6. Theoretical Influences on Relational Systems Theory • Theory of logical types--systems are organized at various levels of abstraction (take out garbage: behavior or relational meaning) • Rules orientation—highlights role of relational agreements that prescribe certain behavior • Constitutive or regulative • Implicit or explicit • Shifts influence from individual to system

  7. Pragmatics of Human Communication (1967) • Axiom One: One Cannot not Communicate. • Axiom Two: Communication has both relational and content functions in interaction • Axiom Four: Humans communicate through both digital and analogic code systems

  8. Pragmatics(continued) • Axiom Three: In relational systems, we often punctuate interaction in different ways, leading to different meaning • Axiom Five: Communication interactions can be either symmetrical (based on equality and mirroring) or complementary (based on differences—assertive & passive)

  9. Pragmatics(continued) • As a result of these complexities, relational communication can become dysfunctional (paradoxes and double binds) • Relational system change must often be second-order change, often accomplished through reframing from outside of the system • first-order change within system may not work

  10. Relational Systems Theory:Developments Important contribution to understanding power and control in relational communication. Coding of complementary and symmetrical interaction (Edna Rogers) Interact: Two-turn sequence reveals power/control through one-up and one-down patterns though may be topic specific

  11. 3 turns = 2 interacts • Interact example: Who’s in charge? One up One up One down • Relational Dialectics: Philosophical Roots--Nothing on this (pp. 196-197)

  12. Relational Dialectics • A dialectic approach to relationships proposes that relationships are comprised of inherent contradictions • A dialectic is not a “dualism” in which one aspect of a contradiction can or should be chosen • In a dialectic approach, both poles of the contradiction can and do exist together

  13. Dialectics: Central Concepts • Contradiction: The coexistence and conflict of interpenetrated opposites • Totality: Contradictions in a relationship are part of a unified whole and cannot be understood in isolation • Process: Movement, activity, and change are fundamental properties of social life • Praxis: The choices social actors make in the midst of dialectical tensions

  14. Relational Dialectics: Types Romantic Relationships • Connection-Autonomy • Certainty-Uncertainty (predictability—novelty) • Openness-Closedness • Dialectics can be internal to relationship or external (relationship and network)

  15. Baxter’s Typology of Dialectical Tensions Integration- Stability- Expression- Separation Change Privacy Connection- Autonomy Predictability-Novelty Openness- Closedness Internal Inclusion- Seclusion Revelation- Concealment Conventionality- Uniqueness External

  16. Rawlins: Friendship Dialectics In addition to Baxter’s dialectics, Rawlins adds: • Affection-Instrumentality • Judgment-Acceptance • Ideal –Real (Miller forgot this one)

  17. Relational Dialectics:Praxis patterns (Table 11.1, p. 201) • Balance • Integration • Recalibration • Reaffirmation • Denial • Disorientation • Spiraling Inversion • Segmentation

  18. Relational Dialectics:Areas of continuing research • Dialectics in friendships: This work (e.g., Rawlins) has looked especially at adolescent friendship • Dialectics in romantic relationships: This work has considered various stages of romantic relationships • Family dialectics: This research has considered praxis patterns in families, especially blended families

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