The stability and satisfaction of relationships is a major problem that has been, and is continually being researched. Relational dialectics takes a look at what communication in relationships looks like. The two leading researchers in this field are Baxter and Montgomery. They are also the same researchers who proposed the theory in 1988. Their definition of this field of study is, “The both/and quality that leads us to contradiction between us and our relationship partner”(Wood, 2000, p.132). Communication is much more than just a way of dispersing and receiving information in relationships. Instead, Baxter and Montgomery see it as the means for tension or contradiction. Working to get through the tensions and contradictions of life is essentially
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The study examined the relationship between the types of dialectical tensions. It specifically wanted to “Consider how the levels of dialectical tension are related to levels of relational satisfaction”(Allen, 1996, p.9). In his study, he states that tension in dialectics is bipolar. There are both positive and negative poles in every relationship and people are often bouncing back and forth between them. Allen believed that partners manage their relational tension by not allowing either pole of the opposite force to dominate the relationship. This idea of back and forth in relationship is what Baxter and Montgomery see as the primary problem in most relationships. Ottu states that, “A tension that one partner feels will ultimately affect the other partner even if the partner did not initially feel the tension”(Ottu, 2012). When partners don’t note these tensions, they have the potential to build up. Allen believed that as the value of one variable increased, the value of the other variable would decrease. What he would find was that an increase in one pole did not necessarily mean that the other pole would decrease. Allen also found that the more positive someone rated tensions in relationships, the more satisfied they …show more content…
According to (Wood, 1997, p.135), “Among counselors, there is virtual consensus that the most central friction in personal relationships is the dialectic of connection/autonomy”. Wood believes the balance of openness/closedness plays a large part in how much someone is connected with their partner. Baxter and Montgomery believe this is a struggle between wanting self disclosure and not revealing too much personal information. Wood describes that this dialectic is most important during the early stages of relationships. It’s the period when they are experimenting with how much to reveal about who they actually are. These couples are at a point where these two tensions will begin to impact their relationship the most. Both of these dialectics depend on self-disclosure. So, the admission of them should be similar. Openness and connection are similar because of the self-disclosure that is involved. Also, closedness and autonomy are also similar because of the independence that is
The study examined the relationship between the types of dialectical tensions. It specifically wanted to “Consider how the levels of dialectical tension are related to levels of relational satisfaction”(Allen, 1996, p.9). In his study, he states that tension in dialectics is bipolar. There are both positive and negative poles in every relationship and people are often bouncing back and forth between them. Allen believed that partners manage their relational tension by not allowing either pole of the opposite force to dominate the relationship. This idea of back and forth in relationship is what Baxter and Montgomery see as the primary problem in most relationships. Ottu states that, “A tension that one partner feels will ultimately affect the other partner even if the partner did not initially feel the tension”(Ottu, 2012). When partners don’t note these tensions, they have the potential to build up. Allen believed that as the value of one variable increased, the value of the other variable would decrease. What he would find was that an increase in one pole did not necessarily mean that the other pole would decrease. Allen also found that the more positive someone rated tensions in relationships, the more satisfied they …show more content…
According to (Wood, 1997, p.135), “Among counselors, there is virtual consensus that the most central friction in personal relationships is the dialectic of connection/autonomy”. Wood believes the balance of openness/closedness plays a large part in how much someone is connected with their partner. Baxter and Montgomery believe this is a struggle between wanting self disclosure and not revealing too much personal information. Wood describes that this dialectic is most important during the early stages of relationships. It’s the period when they are experimenting with how much to reveal about who they actually are. These couples are at a point where these two tensions will begin to impact their relationship the most. Both of these dialectics depend on self-disclosure. So, the admission of them should be similar. Openness and connection are similar because of the self-disclosure that is involved. Also, closedness and autonomy are also similar because of the independence that is