Communication Theory Social Penetration Theory

Communication Theory

Social penetration theory

This theory has it that relationships are progressive and not instantaneous. In their progress, they go through a range of non-intimate relationships to an intimate relationship systematically. This progress, according to Taylor D. & Altman I., (2008) is achieved through the verbal discourse and exchange, no-verbal communication and most significantly behavioral communication means.

It was noted that this theory functions in a linear manner in that it develops in a certain order and follows a linear model with four stages. These stages are the orientation stage (public level), the exploratory effective exchange stage, effective exchange stage and finally into the stable exchange stage.

Self-disclosure

One important aspect in the social penetration theory is self-disclosure. This is referred to as sharing of personal information with other people who are close to us or have strived to be familiar with us. The type of information that is shared here is of the kind that we would not share with the particular person under normal circumstances. Self-disclosure will expose us hence it is quite risky and also makes us vulnerable since it is information that makes us be fully known to others (Counseling Central, 2011).

The significance of self-disclosure can be measured or quantified in both depth and breadth. For instance it would enable us make known our fears and inner problems to a counselor or a friend and in return we are bound to win their trust and get the psychological therapy we needed or the control and confidence in a friend we were struggling to strike a relationship with.

On the other hand, through our self-disclosure, we are likely to get the information about the other person in return. This will help us in establishing a relationship faster with the other person. Self-disclosure will also help us win the trust of even strangers and fortify the new relationships. However, it will be noted that for a counseling instance, the counselor will engage only in appropriate self-disclosure and only if by doing so it will help the client to open up as well having realized that they share a similar situation.

During self-disclosure however, there should be caution taken since there is a likelihood of the counselor or listener removing his attention from the client or the speaker. If the listener or the counselor self discloses so quite often and in too many details, then the whole conversation can change from the client to the counselor or listener. It is therefore that even as the listener or receiver of the self-disclosure and the counselor engages in self-disclosure in return the disclosures should reflect the needs of the client.

2. Relational Dialectics Theory

Relational dialectics theory is defined as an "interpretive theory of meaning-making in familial and non-kin relationships" (Baxter a.L., 2008). The dialectical process of thinking increases in a major manner our general view of the conceptual framework on life and relationships that we form in life. Through the dialectical view, we are able to see what we could not see before in relationships, as well as seeing afresh the things that we saw at a surface level. The theory is very instrumental in crisis or conflict solution and mediation between two conflicting parties.

The dialectical theory has employed four approaches mainly in solving dialectical tensions described as follows:

(a). Totality; which recognizes that contradiction is part and parcel of the human existence and cannot be understood in isolation. It says that dialectics are related intrinsically to each other. Therefore there is a great interdependence of people in a relationship

(b). Contradiction; is considered the pivot of dialectics since it refers to the antagonism that exists between two subjects who have to stay together. It kind of describes unified opposition. This is when we have two tendencies that are unified yet constantly negating each other.

(c). Motion; which suggest that relationships are ever in motion. There in no time of constant stand still. Here in any relationship, if there is any characteristic or value that is pushed to the extreme, it will contain some of the characteristic of the pushing element and consequently push back.