Interpersonal Communication in What Women Want (2000)

Film Overview and Characters

What Women Want is an American romantic comedy released in 2000, starring Helen Hunt and Mel Gibson. The story revolves around Nick Marshall (played by Mel Gibson), a Chicago advertising executive with an ultimate alpha-male personality who is widely considered a chauvinist. He is regarded as highly skilled at selling what men want and at seducing women. Although Nick believes he is next in line for a major promotion, he faces unexpected competition from Darcy McGuire (played by Helen Hunt), who is hired for the position Nick had expected to receive in order to broaden the company's general appeal to women.

In a freak accident, Nick is electrocuted and develops the ability to hear the innermost thoughts of women. He subsequently uses that ability to advance his own ideas vicariously through Darcy, encouraging her as if the ideas were her own or a collaboration between them. Nick also learns, through his new ability, what women truly think of him — a process that provides interesting moments of epiphany and clarity. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of Nick's relationship with his teenage daughter and the consequences of his having been an absent father during many of her formative years.

Nick eventually undermines Darcy on a significant campaign, causing her to lose her position. Just as bizarrely as Nick acquired his gift, he loses it. He discloses what has transpired to Darcy and risks losing her; however, she responds with understanding and forgiveness.

The interpersonal communication concepts applied in this analysis are relational development — as it relates to the initial stages of the relationship between Nick and Darcy — and self-disclosure. The primary subject of analysis is Nick and his relationships with the women in his life, as well as the development of his personal self through self-disclosure. The third concept examined is personal space. As evidenced in the film, the concepts of relational development, self-disclosure, and personal space are examined within the contextual framework of interpersonal communication theories.

Interpersonal Communication and Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Uncertainty Reduction Theory, introduced by Berger and Calabrese (1975), was posited as a means of predicting and explaining relational development — or the lack of it — between strangers. The theory explains how individuals strive to reduce the uncertainties that exist between each other, particularly during initial interactions, as evidenced by self-disclosure. The theory posits that upon meeting, strangers move through a series of steps or checkpoints in order to diminish uncertainties about each other and develop a sense of whether they like or dislike the other person.

The initial stage of this theory is characterized by behavioral norms; exchanges are frequently transactional and demographic (Berger & Calabrese, 1975; Griffin, 2009). As interaction moves into the second phase — the personal phase — exploration begins regarding the beliefs and attitudes of the other individual. This most frequently occurs after several interactions at the entry stage. One individual will often probe the other in an effort to ascertain information regarding morals, values, and personal issues. There is also a reported increase in emotional involvement as more personal disclosures are made (Berger & Calabrese, 1975). During the final stage of relational development, former strangers make a determination as to whether they wish to continue developing the relationship, with any plans for the future being articulated. In the absence of mutual liking, either individual may opt not to pursue the relationship (Berger & Calabrese, 1975; Griffin, 2009).

The initial interactions between Darcy and Nick reflect the steps posited by Uncertainty Reduction Theory. During their first encounter — when Darcy is introduced as the new head of the advertising department, a position Nick believed he was poised to receive — there is an exploration of uncertainty about the other. Although not verbally articulated, each character nonverbally sizes the other up by way of expressed thought that only the audience can hear. Darcy asserts that "he doesn't like me already" upon introduction. Nick speculates as to why it would be necessary for a woman to appeal to other women when he is perfectly capable of executing that task himself.

As the relationship begins to transition through the initial stages, verbal exchanges occur between the two, alongside audience-only exchanges as Darcy moves into her new office. Nick takes note of her decorative style. Now that he has developed his new skill of hearing women's thoughts, what Darcy believed were her own private questions and assumptions about Nick are audible to him. She thinks about his physical characteristics, and because Nick can hear them, he laughs at the realization that they are "checking each other out."

Conclusion

As evidenced by the analysis above, the interpersonal communication characteristics of relational development, self-disclosure, and personal space have been examined as they relate to the film What Women Want. Although the film is a romantic comedy, the interactions between males and females and the use of humor provide genuine insight into human relations. The uncertainties that exist upon initial meeting — evidenced particularly by the relationship between Nick and Darcy and articulated by Uncertainty Reduction Theory — speak to the initial impressions and assumptions made when strangers first encounter one another. The power of first impressions can truly determine whether a relationship will ensue, and both parties can participate in shaping the outcome of that relationship.

Secondly, self-disclosure is a powerful interpersonal communication tool and reveals the most about an individual only insofar as that individual is willing to personally share in the present. Lastly, personal space in interpersonal communication is a societal determinant that provides general guidelines for how communication between individuals should transpire. It is important to note, however, that rules regarding personal space can and do fluctuate and are contingent upon the situational variables that affect them.

References

Baxter, J. (1970). Interpersonal spacing in natural settings. Sociometry, 33, 444–456.

Berger, C., & Calabrese, R. (1975). Some explorations in initial interaction and beyond: Toward a developmental theory of communication. Human Communication Research, 1, 99–112.

Felipe, N., & Sommer, R. (1966). Invasions of personal space. Social Problems, 14, 206–214.

Griffin, E. (2009). A first look at communication theory (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Hall, E. (1973). The silent language. Garden City: Anchor Press.

Johnson, D. Reaching out: Interpersonal effectiveness and self-actualization. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.