what is dialectical theory communication

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What is relational dialectics theory in communication?

Relational Dialectics Theory. Relational dialectics is a concept within communication theories which is introduced by professors Leslie Baxter and Barbera M.Matgomery in 1988, the concept focuses on the contradictions in relationships. The relational dialectics has its roots from the concept of the extreme will sustain the sources of the contrary.

What is dialectic in psychology?

A dialectic is a relationship between two opposing concepts that constantly push and pull one another (Martin & Nakayama, 2010). To put it another way, thinking dialectically helps us realize that our experiences often occur in between two different phenomena.

What is internal dialectics and external dialectics?

Internal dialectics can be understood as the tension between the relational partners while external dialectics can be understood as the tension between the couple and society. The relational dialectics (competing states) can be classified as follows.

What are the features of social dialectics?

Social dialectics is not a single theory but a family of theories (Montgomery and Baxter 1998). Like any family, the various dialectical approaches share some features in common yet differ in others. This entry emphasizes the common features. The central concept of dialectical theorists is the contradiction.

What is the dialectical theory?

Dialectical Theory has its roots in the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang -- i.e., all aspects of the universe contains the seeds of its opposites -- as well as the Western philosophy that the world is in constant flux (change), with creative and destructive forces constantly operating upon each other.

What is dialectical theory interpersonal communication?

Relational dialectics theory is a theory of how meanings are constructed through speaker utterances, whether verbal or nonverbal, oral or written. The theory views meaning-making as a fluid, polemic process in which different, often competing discourses or worldviews struggle for dominance.

What does dialectical theory assume about human relationships?

Definition of Relational Dialectics Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT) is a communication theory that believes that relationships between people are always changing, that tensions in our relationships are normal, and that good clear communication is necessary to sustain positive productive interpersonal relationships.

What are the 3 relational dialectics?

Concepts of Relational Dialectics TheoryContradiction. Contradiction is one of the core concepts of relational dialectics theory. ... Totality. Totality says that contradictions in a relationship are a unified whole and cannot be understood in isolation. ... Motion. Relationships are processual in nature. ... Praxis.

What are four key features of dialectics theory?

The four core concepts of relational dialectics include: contradiction, totality, process, and praxis. Contradictions are the core concept of relational dialectics. It is the dynamic interplay between unified oppositions.

What are the 6 dialectical tensions?

Three research questions are specifically addressed: (1) Do married couples identify the six tensions proposed by Baxter--autonomy-connection, predictability-novelty, openness-closedness, inclusion-seclusion, conventionality-uniqueness, and revelation-concealment?; (2) Do married couples identify different tensions at ...

What is an example of a dialectic?

A dialectic is when two seemingly conflicting things are true at the same time. For example, “It's snowing and it is spring”. You might also see dialectics when in conflict with other people. I like to think of it as having an elephant in the room with two blindfolded people on opposite ends of the elephant.

What is dialectical method of social change?

In basic language, the dialectic is a process that drives social change. Hegelian philosophy stipulates that social change occurs via an internal conflict upon which all ideas and states of affairs rest. A thesis always contains an antithesis that eventually instigates change.

Where does Marx talk about dialectical materialism?

The concept of dialectical materialism emerges from statements by Marx in the second edition postface to his magnum opus, Das Kapital. There Marx says he intends to use Hegelian dialectics but in revised form.

What is relational communication theory?

Relational communication encompasses communication processes in personal relationships such as romantic relationships, family relationships, and friendships.

What did Seppala's studies reveal about workplace relationships?

In short, Seppala's research found that employees are drawn to managers they can trust, and her recommendation based on the findings was that managers make being trustworthy a priority.

When was the relational dialectics theory created?

1988Relational dialectics is a concept within communication theories which is introduced by professors Leslie Baxter and Barbera M. Matgomery in 1988, the concept focuses on the contradictions in relationships. The relational dialectics has its roots from the concept of the extreme will sustain the sources of the contrary.

What is dialectical theory of social change?

The fundamental assumption of social dialectical theorists is that all relationships—friendships, romantic relationships, family relationships—are interwoven with multiple contradictions. Social dialectics is not a single theory but a family of theories (Montgomery and Baxter 1998).

What are dialectical tensions examples?

A dialectical tension is a system of oppositions that logically or functionally negate one another. For example, certainty and uncertainty can be regarded as a dialectical tension in that certainty is regarded as incompatible with uncertainty and vice versa.

What are the 3 parts of Hegel's dialectic?

This is the essence of what is popularly called Hegelian dialectics. According to the German philosopher Walter Kaufmann: Fichte introduced into German philosophy the three-step of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, using these three terms.

What is expression privacy dialectic?

The expression–privacy dialectic captures the desire for both intimacy while we crave distance between ourselves and others. The open–closed dialectic is the internal struggle between expression and privacy. The revelation–concealment dialectic is the external expression of the conflict between openness and privacy.

How can relational dialectics be applied to interpersonal relationships?

The relational dialectics can be applied in studying interpersonal relationships. The behavioral changes in the partners can be comprehended by applying the contradictions that balances the relationship. To maintain a relationship it is important to understand the core concepts of relational dialects.

What is relational dialectics?

Relational dialectics is a concept within communication theories which is introduced by professors Leslie Baxter and Barbera M.Matgomery in 1988, the concept focuses on the contradictions in relationships. The relational dialectics has its roots from the concept of the extreme will sustain the sources of the contrary.

What are the dialectics of a relationship?

The most common dialectics in a relationship are. 1. Openness and closeness. In a relationship, both partners expect openness in their communication as to be dependable and also to maintain an healthy relationship. But on the contrary, the individual desires privacy. 2.

How to manage tension between couples?

The tension between these couples can be managed by understanding that the relationships are inconsistent by communicating effectively and accepting the contrary behaviors of the partners in a relationship.

What is a relationship?

A relationship is a union where two individuals from different background compromise in many ways. People experience internal tensions inconsistently while being in a relationship. Over time the pressures will be recurring in nature and from this extreme tendencies, the relationship sustains.

When does totality come?

Totality – in relational dialectics, the totality comes when the opposites unite. Thus the relationship is balanced with contradictions and only then it reaches totality

How long did Sam and Susan date?

Sam and Susan started dating for almost a year and once perfect relationship are confronted with problems from both sides. As every couple they started a relationship being open to each other which was comfortable in the beginning and as time progressed they both started longing for privacy.

How can dialectical communication be useful?

Communication across cultures and co-cultures is complicated, messy, and at times contradictory. Therefore, it is not always easy to conceptualize or study. Taking a dialectical approach allows us to capture the dynamism of intercultural communication. A dialectic is a relationship between two opposing concepts that constantly push and pull one another (Martin & Nakayama, 2010). To put it another way, thinking dialectically helps us realize that our experiences often occur in between two different phenomena. This perspective is especially useful for communication because—when we think dialectically—we think relationally. This means we look at the relationship between aspects of communication rather than viewing them in isolation. Intercultural communication occurs as a dynamic in-betweenness that, while connected to the individuals in an encounter, goes beyond the individuals, creating something unique.

Why is dialectical thinking important?

Thinking dialectically helps us see the complexity in culture and identity because it doesn’t allow for dichotomies. Dichotomies are dualistic ways of thinking that highlight opposites, reducing the ability to see gradations that exist in between concepts. Dichotomies such as good/evil, wrong/right, objective/subjective, male/female, in-group/out-group, black/white, and so on form the basis of much of our thoughts on ethics, culture, and general philosophy, but this isn’t the only way of thinking (Martin & Nakayama, 1999). Many Eastern cultures acknowledge that the world isn’t dualistic. Rather, they accept as part of their reality that things that seem opposite are actually interdependent and complement each other.

What is dialectic in communication?

A dialectic is a relationship between two opposing concepts that constantly push and pull one another (Martin & Nakayama, 2010). To put it another way, thinking dialectically helps us realize that our experiences often occur in between two different phenomena. This perspective is especially useful for communication because—when we think ...

Why is dialectic important?

This dialectic is useful because it helps us account for exceptions to cultural norms. For example, the United States is said to be a low-context culture, which means that we value verbal communication as our primary, meaning-rich form of communication. Conversely, Japan is said to be a high-context culture, which means they often look for nonverbal clues like tone, silence, or what is not said for meaning.

What are the five dialectics?

I n this section, we will discuss what a dialectical approach entails and examine five dialectics to help us better understand the link between culture and communication: Cultural-Individual, Personal-Contextual, Differences-Similarities, Static-Dynamic, and Privileges/Disadvantages.

What is privileges disadvantages?

The privileges-disadvantages dialectic captures the complex interrelation of unearned, systemic advantages and disadvantages that operate among our various co-cultural identities. As was discussed earlier, there exists both the dominant culture and co-cultures; our co-cultural groups have certain privileges and/or disadvantages. To understand this dialectic, we must view these identities through a lens of intersectionality, which asks us to acknowledge that we each have multiple cultural and co-cultural memberships that intersect with each other. Because our co-cultural memberships are complex, no one is completely privileged and no one is completely disadvantaged. For example, while we may think of a white, heterosexual man as being very privileged, they may also have a disability that leaves them without the able-bodied privilege that a Latina woman has. This is often a difficult dialectic for many to understand, because we are quick to point out exceptions that we think challenge this notion. For example, many people like to point out Oprah Winfrey as a powerful black woman. While she is definitely now quite privileged despite her disadvantaged identities, her trajectory isn’t the norm. When we view privilege and disadvantage at the cultural level, we cannot let individual exceptions distract from the systemic and institutionalized ways in which some people are disadvantaged while others are privileged.

What is static dynamic dialectic?

The static-dynamic dialectic suggests that culture and communication change over time yet often appear to be and are experienced as stable. Although it is true that our cultural beliefs and practices are rooted in the past, cultural categories that most of us assume to be stable, like race and gender, have changed dramatically in just the past fifty years. Some cultural values remain relatively consistent over time, which allows us to make some generalizations about a culture. For example, cultures have different orientations to time. The Chinese have a longer-term orientation to time than do Europeans (Lustig & Koester, 2006). This is evidenced in something that dates back as far as astrology. The Chinese zodiac is done annually (The Year of the Monkey, etc.), while European astrology was organized by month (Taurus, etc.). While this cultural orientation to time has been around for generations, as China becomes more Westernized in terms of technology, business, and commerce, it could also adopt some views on time that are more short term.

How to manage Relational Dialectics?

The founders of this theory have suggested eight methods by which individuals can manage dialectics in the relationship. These methods are briefly described below.

What is the difference between internal and external dialectics?

Relational dialectics can be of two types – internal and external. Internal dialectics can be understood as the tension between the relational partners while external dialectics can be understood as the tension between the couple and society.

What is relational dialectics theory?

Relational dialectics theory is an interpersonal communication theory which explains communication patterns that arise between individuals when they maintain a relationship. The theory focuses on tensions and struggles in a relationship. These tensions could be within the relational partners or between the couple and the society.

What is reaffirmation in relational dialectics?

Reaffirmation – Reaffirmation refers to the process of accepting the tension as a normal and healthy part of a relationship is also a way of managing relational dialectics.

What did Baxter and Montgomery do?

Baxter and Montgomery independently analyzed tensions inherent in romantic relationships and listed the contradictions voiced by the couples. Although in the initial phase, both Baxter and Montgomery worked separately, they soon realized that what they were doing was common.

What is the act of responding to only one side of the tension while ignoring the other side of tension?

Denial – Denial refers to the act of responding to only one side of the tension while ignoring the other side of tension. Disorientation – Individuals can manage relational dialectics by disorienting the relationship. This means the partners in a relationship can escape the tension by ending the relationship.

How does alternation help in relational dialectics?

Alternation – Alternation can be a good way of managing relational dialectics. In this approach, the partners alternately give attention to their tensions.

History of Relational Dialectics Theory

• Relational dialectics theory was first proposed respectively by Leslie A. Baxter and Barbara M. Montgomery in 1988. They developed the theory to explain how communication creates and constantly changes close relationships. Baxter and Montgomery independently analyzed tensions inherent in romantic relationships and listed the contradictions voiced b...

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CORE Concepts and Assumptions

How to Manage Relational Dialectics?

Limitations of Relational Dialectics Theory