Relational Dialecticics: The Analysis Of Long Distance Relationships
2652 Words11 Pages
“Relational dialectics are a dynamic knot of contradictions in personal relationships; an unceasing interplay between contrary or opposing tendencies” (Griffin, 2012, p. 154). Long distance relationships are a romantic partnership between two people who are living apart. This type of relationships are becoming common especially amongst college students and working class families who sometimes have to travel miles away for either a better college education, life, or financial opportunities. Researchers evaluate that anywhere in the range of 25% - 40% of undergraduate students are engaged in a long distance relationship, and most of these students have kept the relationship (Dainton & Aylor, 2002, p. 119). Lately, due to the advanced innovation…show more content… Relational dialectics perspective points that the concept of life exist in and through the individual communication practices (Baxter & Montgomery, 1996, p. 17). The contradicting tensions of integration-separation are the push-pull of individual identity and connecting with others. The stability- change are couples preditable actions and the need for change. While the need to share private information within couples and their families or friends is the expression-nonexpression tensions in a relationship. There are also external tensions that manifest the “up and downs” of intimate relationships (Baxter & Montgomery, 1996)This study also indicates facts that relational dialectics plays major roles on communication satisfaction, emotional satisfaction, and physical satisfaction in long distance relationships. Despite the fact that they create tensions, these dialectics can help build, strenghtened, and stabilize a relationships too. Hence through the process of communication, these tensions can be managed and reduced. As Baxter and Montgomery (1996) notes, dialogue is important to overcome some of these tensions in