Term
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Definition
| A decision to remain with a relationship. Commitment is one of three dimensions of enduring romantic relationships, and it has more impact on relational continuity that does love alone. It is also an advanced stage in the process of escalation in romantic relationships. |
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Term
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Definition
| The set of processes in relational deterioration in which established relationship patterns break down and partners discuss problems and alternative futures for the relationship |
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Term
| Explorational Communication |
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Definition
| The stage in the escalation path of romantic relationships in which two people explore various common interests and backgrounds that might provide a basis for further intersection |
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Term
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Definition
| A set of processes in the deterioation of romantic relationships, in which partners put the relationship to test |
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Term
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Definition
| A person, characterized by unique needs, goals, experiences, and qualitities that affect what he or she looks for in others and relationships |
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Term
| Intensifying Communication |
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Definition
| The stage in the escalation of romantic relationships that increases the depth of a relationship by increasing personal knowledge and allowing a couple to begin creating a private culture. Also called euphoria |
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Term
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Definition
| The first set of processes in disintegration of romantic relationships; involves brooding about problems in the relationship and dissatisfactions with a partner |
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Term
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Definition
| Something put into a relationship that cannot be recovered should the relationship end. Investments, more than rewards and love, increase commitment |
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Term
| Invitational communication |
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Definition
| The second stage in the escalation phase of romantic relationships, in which people signal that they are interested in interacting and respond to invitations from others |
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Term
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Definition
| One of four responses to relational dialectics; involves balancing or finding a compromise between two dialectical poles |
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Term
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Definition
| Intensly positive feelings and desires for another person. Passion is based on the rewards of involvement and it not equivalent to commitment |
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Term
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Definition
| A relationship defined by uniqueness, rules, relational dialectics, and commitment and affected by contexts. Personal relationships, unlike social ones, are irreplaceable |
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Term
| Psychological responsibility |
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Definition
| The responsibility for remembering, planning, and coordinating domestic work and child care. In general, women assume the psychological responsibility for child care and housework even if both partners share in the actual tasks. |
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Term
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Definition
| One of four responses to relational dialectics. The reframing response transcends the apparent contradiction between two dialectical poles and reinterprets them as not in tension. |
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Term
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Definition
| A private world of rules, understandings, and patterns of acting and interpreting that partners create to give meaning to their relationship; the nucleus of intimacy. |
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Term
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Definition
| Opposing forces or tensions that are normal parts of all relationships. The three relational dialectics are autonomy/connectedness, novelty/predictability, and openness/ closedness. |
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Term
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Definition
| The final set of processes in relationship deterioration, in which ex–partners begin to live independent of the former relationship. |
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Term
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Definition
| A stage in the escalation of romantic relationships that many but not all couples experience; involves evaluating a relationship and working out any obstacles or problems before committing for the long term. |
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Term
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Definition
| Patterned ways of behaving and interpreting behavior; all relationships develop rules. |
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Term
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Definition
| One of four responses to relational dialectics. Segmentation responses meet one dialectical need while ignoring or not satisfying the contradictory dialectical need. |
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Term
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Definition
| One of four responses to relational dialectics. The separation response occurs when friends or romantic partners assign one pole of a dialectic to certain spheres of activities or topics and assign the contradictory dialectical pole to distinct spheres of activities or topics. |
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Term
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Definition
| Unlike personal relationships, social ones tend to follow broad social scripts and rules, and participants tend to assume conventional social roles in relation to one another. Social relationships, unlike personal ones, can be replaced. |
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Term
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Definition
| A set of processes in relational disintegration in which partners figure out how to inform outsiders that the relationship is ending and look to friends and family for support during the trauma of breaking up. |
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