Communication, Intimacy, and Close Relationships

Communication, Intimacy, and Close Relationships offers an account of the nature of intimate relationships and their effects on people's self-concepts. The development and maintenance of intimate relationships are examined, along with people's motives and goals in pursuing intimacy; the nature of social exchanges in intimate relationships; and the consequences for individuals who find themselves socially isolated. The critical role of communication in intimate relationships is given emphasis.

Comprised of seven chapters, this book begins with a discussion on the role of self-disclosure in intimate relationships as well as the risks that individuals incur when they self-disclose. The next chapter presents a cognitive interaction model of the nature of intimacy and intimate relationships within the context of cognitive-social learning theory and a systems theory approach to communication. The effect of people's motives on relationships is then considered, together with the role of two fundamental human motives - power and intimacy - on love and friendship. The remaining chapters focus on the importance of the identification process - that is, how people fix their own and others' identities in social interaction - in developing relationships; patterns of nonverbal exchange in close relationships; how and why loneliness occurs; and the nature of social exchange processes in intimate relationships. The book concludes with an epilogue that provides a perspective on why people may find it difficult or easy to form intimate relationships.

This monograph should be a valuable resource for psychologists and sociologists.

Contenu

Contributors
Preface

1. Self-Disclosure and Intimate Relationships
   Introduction
   Role of Self-Disclosure in Intimate Relationships
   Self-Disclosure and Vulnerability
   References
2. A Cognitive Interactional Model of Intimate Relationships
   Introduction
   Toward a Working Definition of Intimate Relationships
   The Model: A Molecular View
   A Molar View of the Model
   Summary and Conclusions
   References
3. Human Motives and Personal Relationships
   Introduction
   Human Motives
   Power Motivation and Personal Relationships
   Intimacy Motivation and Personal Relationships
   Conclusions
   References
4. Identities, Identifications, and Relationships
   Introductory Overview
   The Identification Process
   Self-Presentational Concerns in Relationships
   The Accommodation of Identities in Relationships
   Summary
   References
5. Intimacy, Social Control, and Nonverbal Involvement: A Functional Approach
   Expressive and Exchange Processes
   Intimacy Models of Nonverbal Exchange
   Intimacy and Nonverbal Involvement
   A Functional Classification of Nonverbal Behavior
   The Sequential Functional Model
   Implications of the Functional Model
   Research Evidence
   Social Control and Self-Disclosure
   Discussion
   References
6. Implications of Social Psychological Concepts for a Theory of Loneliness
   Studying Loneliness
   Theoretical Statements about Loneliness: A Word of Caution
   On Social Relationships
   Needs and Goals of Social Relationships
   Social Networks
   An Exchange Theory Approach to Relationship Centrality and Network Size
   Loneliness and Prior Social Relationships
   Must People Be Aware That They Are Lonely To Be Lonely?
   References
7. Selectivity and Urgency in Interpersonal Exchange
   Introduction
   The Desire to Benefit an Interaction Partner
   Resource Theory-What Is Exchanged?
   Selectivity in Social Exchange
   Individual Differences Affecting Selectivity
   Related Concepts about Social Exchange
   Conclusion
   References
   Epilogue The Dangers of Intimacy
   Intimacy: What Is It?
   Intimacy: Why Not?
   A Prescription for Intimacy
   References
   Author Index
   Subject Index