CHAPTER 10

Research Resources

Check out the following contemporary readings in communication at your library. (Hint: These are good sources to start with if you are asked to write a research paper!)

Fitzpatrick, J., and D. Sollie. (1999). "Unrealistic Gendered and Relationship-Specific Beliefs: Contributions to Investments and Commitment in Dating Relationships." Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 16: 852-867.

Flora, J., and C. Segrin. (2000). "Relationship Development in Dating Couples: Implications for Relational Satisfaction and Loneliness." Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17: 811-825.

Hoppe-Nagao, A., and S. Ting-Toomey. (2002). "Relational Dialectics and Management Strategies in Marital Couples." Southern Communication Journal, 67: 142-159.

Vittengl, J. R., and C. S. Holt. (2000). "Getting Acquainted: The Relationship of Self-Disclosure and Social Attraction to Positive Affect." Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17: 53-66.

Links to Resources on the Web
* Visit Love.Org and read some of the personal ads placed by singles looking for love, romance, or partnership. What do you see in the ads that either supports or contradicts the theories of relationship development discussed in Chapter 10? For instance, do most individuals advertise that they are looking for people who are similar to them or who are different, who would provide more rewards than costs, and/or who are attractive on one or more dimensions of attractiveness? Knowing what you know about interpersonal theories, what would you be sure to include in your own personal ad if you were looking for a mate or date?

* Visit the homepage for the International Network on Personal Relationships (INPR). INPR is an interdisciplinary organization of academics and practitioners dedicated to understanding the complexities of personal relationships. Explore both the topics discussed in the "discussion groups" and the topics being studied by personal relationship scholars from a variety of disciplines (click on "publications"). What topics do you find in either of these links that are similar to or extend our discussions in Chapter 10?

Applying Communication Research to Everyday Contexts

Perceptions of Relational Dialectics
Take a minute to reflect on three things that a current friend or romantic partner does that really irritate you. Write these down on a list. What is it about these things that make them your pet peeves? Now, use the concepts that you've learned about dialectical theory to explain these annoyances in terms of dialectical tensions. For example, if you said, "He always has to choose the movie we see." This could be explained by the tension of predictability vs. novelty tension, or openness vs. closedness tension. Are there some that cannot be explained by these three sets of tensions? Can you think of new tensions that might be useful in explaining your pet peeves?

Relational Costs and Rewards
Think of a relationship which you are currently in, and list all of the costs and rewards associated with being in that relationship, being as honest with yourself as you can be. Then do an analysis of your comparison level (CL) and your comparison level alternatives (Clalt). What conclusions can you draw from this exercise? Did your findings surprise you?