CHAPTER 9
COMMUNICATION IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
Objectives
After studying the material in Chapter Nine of Looking Out/Looking In, you should understand:
2. Similarities and differences between masculine and feminine intimacy styles.
4. The role of mediated communication in creating and maintaining intimacy.
6. Characteristics of families, friendships, and romantic relationships.
8. The role of gender in friendship communication.
10. Couple’s conflict styles.
12. Methods for improving close relationships.
1. Identify the level and types of intimacy in a specific relationship, and describe ways in which the
quality and extent of intimacy could be improved.
3. Describe the systemic properties of a particular family unit, and also describe that family’s
communication patterns.
5. Identify the turning points and conflict styles in a specific romantic relationship.
7. Choose and use communication strategies to help maintain and support a close, committed
relationship.
A. Your IQ (Intimacy Quotient) (Pause and Reflect, text, p. 281)
Objective
To help students determine the levels of intimacy in their important relationships.
Discussion Questions (provided in activity)
B. Maintaining Your Relationships (Pause and Reflect, text, p. 301)
Objective
To help students consider their effectiveness in maintaining important relationships.
Instructions
Conduct as a small group activity. Return to large group for discussion. Explain the analogy between
Discussion Questions
1. What happens to structures when they aren’t maintained and repaired? How does this metaphor
apply to relationships?
4. Segue into the topic of relational repair and discuss specific strategies.
C. Your Relational Transgressions (Pause and Reflect, text, p. 303)
Objective
To help students identify their own relational transgressions and consider strategies for repair.
Discussion Questions
1. What types of transgressions do you find necessary to repair? Explain.
D. Intimacy in Mediated Communication
Instructions
Discussion Questions
1. How often do we use these forms of technology to communicate interpersonally with others?
Which ones do we tend to use more than others? What is the balance between face to face and
mediated communication?
2. Would you agree with studies described in the text that say intimacy may develop more quickly
E. Romance in the Workplace (On the Job in text, p. 283)
Discussion Questions