Intimate Relationships
A significant emotional connection and closeness that can be experienced in a relationship.
What is intimacy?
A conflict between two important but opposite needs or desires.
What is a dialectical tension?
Being in only one romantic relationship at a time and avoiding romantic involvement with others.
What does exclusivity mean in a romantic relationship?
The family that you grow up with, such as parents, grandparents, or stepparents.
What is a family of origin?
Emphasizing Excitement.
Which strategy involves doing exciting or exhilarating activities together to bring freshness to a relationship?
When what happens to one person affects everyone else in the relationship.
What is interdependence?
Which dialectical tension involves wanting independence while also wanting closeness?
Autonomy vs. Connection
People freely choose their romantic partner and participate in the relationship.
What does voluntariness mean?
The family we start as an adult, such as a spouse and children we raise.
What is a family of procreation?
Confirming messages.
What type of messages show others that you value, respect, and understand them?
The commitment of our energy and resources and what we get in return.
What is investment in a relationship?
Which dialectical tension involves wanting to be open and honest while also wanting to keep some thoughts and feelings private?
Openness versus Closedness.
What characteristic of romantic relationships is based on the belief that choosing a partner should be grounded in love and attraction?
Love.
The family role that uses logic, reasoning, and unemotional analysis to defuse tension
The computer
Criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling
Gottman's Four Horsemen
Social commitment, emotional commitment, and legal/financial commitment.
What are the 3 different types of commitment discussed in the presentation?
Which dialectical tension involves wanting consistency and stability while also wanting new expereriences?
Predictability versus Novelty.
The expectation that marriage and other long-term relationships are for life.
What does permanence refer to in romantic relationships?
The family role acts as a peacemaker and agrees with others to stop conflict from escalating.
The placater
Why should expectations be communicated openly in a relationship?
To prevent disappointment and help partners understand each other’s needs.
Which type of relationship generally has a higher degree of interdependence: a romantic/family relationship or a boss/employee relationship.
Romantic/family relationships.
Are dialectical tensions automatically harmful to a relationship? What matters most?
No. They are normal; what matters is managing them constructively.
Exclusivity, voluntariness, love, sexuality, and permanence.
What are the five characteristics of romantic relationships discussed in the presentation?
What are family rituals, and why are they important?
Family traditions that reinforce shared values and build a sense of belonging.
Apologizing and taking responsibility, explaining what happened, making amends/offering compensation, or avoiding the issue after an apology is accepted.
Three ways people can try to repair a damaged relationship.