Essay on Exploring Human Relationships: Differentiating Interactions and Characteristics

It is quite clear that human life is entirely an endless relationship circle that everyone is expected to pass through for survival. In this context, it is essential for the exploration of the kinds of relationships that humans are more likely to deal with. It provides the basis for the description of the interpersonal link. Nevertheless, the description of a variety of levels of relationship coupled with the characteristics is primarily aimed at differentiating it with other kinds of interaction. In this paper, the attributes of romantic relationships as the reflection of the interpersonal affair are insightfully described. According to Julia T Wood, the interpersonal relationship is merely understood through the examination of the actions of the partners other than focusing on the environment or participants. Thus, this helps to understand the reflection of the romantic relationship between Billy and Jane as an interpersonal. Moreover, it is worth incorporating the findings of Martin Buber, whose works had brought new insight into the levels of communication. In this regard, it is more critical for the recognition of communication as the backbone of the active relationship.

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The description of the interpersonal communication can be done without the explanation of the diversity with interaction. For an adequate understanding of interpersonal communication, it is required for the exploration of the role played by contact. In this perspective, it implies the establishment of a firm foundation laid by the proper community (Wood, 2015). It signifies that any relationship is mainly relying on the impacts of communication. Interpersonal communication can take place in a variety of ways. And the provision of the differences helps to explore the attributes of romantic relationships as an interpersonal (Richardson, 2019). From the beginning of the family, there are formations of relationships between households. And this later expands to the other people outside the family. For example, the pursuit of happiness and career goals primarily rely on help from other people. It may include the people in the neighborhood or estate, salespeople at the shopping store, the healthcare practitioners and as well as the teachers at school (Wood, 2015). However, these relationships tend to have different features with a romantic relationship that has unique characteristics.

The romantic relationship takes place through the existence of interpersonal communication. Before the provision of the description of the aforementioned relationship, it is worth considering the description of the theory of communication. According to Martin Buber (1970), there are three levels that are commonly found in every relationship involving different people. In this perspective, it signifies that any communication must possess one of the levels in his theory. These levels are as follow the I-It Communication, I-You Communication, and as well as I-Thou Communication (Richardson, 2019). In the first level, Bubes explains that the partners or communicators do not recognize each other as human. For example, when a person approaches us in the restaurants for asking what he/or she can help us, we sometimes tend to ignore the personality and instead consider them as objects (Richardson, 2019). It is the same as the scenario whereby the beggars at ask for help and ignore by pretending as if the person is not there. This level is followed by the level of communication, which is almost in every life interaction with others.

In I-You Communication, the people are more likely to interact with another person, but not genuinely interested in knowing more about the person. And this reflects the way communicator perceives others in a relationship (Hargie, 2016). For example, when the person visits the healthcare clinic for medical treatment, the patient may involve in a personal conversation with the nurse or any other practitioner. But this may not go far beyond the premises of the healthcare. Nevertheless, the patient recognizes the nurse as a person and vice-versa. In a more profound context, communication is highly based on the responsiveness (Wood, 2015). It is worth understanding that the third level of communication involves the trust of each other. It is so unique in other forms of communication that take place in the interaction between people. I-Thou Communication is rare to find among the vast communication between people in society.

In this perspective, I-Thou Communication drives us to the core goal of this essay that provides the exploration of a romantic relationship. This mainly based on the fact that it requires a high level of commitment and intimacy to maintain the position (Richardson, 2019). As previously mentioned, I-Thou Communication reflects the desire of each partner to make another happy due to the uniqueness of one's characters and personality. Therefore, this implies that it is the most attractive way of communicating (Wood, 2015). But some reasons hinder this kind of communication from happening everywhere with every person. The individual involved is known wholly through the expression of one's feelings and emotions. Thus, this forms the basis for an intimate relationship between the people (Richardson, 2019). The observation of romantic ties, coupled with the inclusion of link theories, helps to analyze the close relationship between Billy and Jane.

The third level of communication entirely reflects the attributes of a romantic relationship between the opposite sex. And this is merely based on the fact that their connection is more selective due to their ability to be open toward another. According to Julia T Wood (2015), interpersonal communication is primarily characterized by particular decisions carried out in a systematic process that reflects sharing of personal knowledge to create a meaningful life or situation (Wood, 2015). For active exploration, it is more significant to realize the need for the reflection of the observed behaviors and communication of the romantic relationship of the partners mentioned above. Their relationship had gone through changes that are primarily targeting to attain the blissful life of the two together (Hargie, 2016). Thus, this implies a systematic process of communication for understanding each other.

In the beginning, when Smith met Jane during the second term of their first year in college. It seemed like they were trying to attract each other. And everything seemed right between the two until they started to feel something was not going directly. However, this reflected the shifting to another stage that required them to remain faithful to each other regardless of flaws. This is where most of the relationships end-up, but when solved wisely by the desire of each partner to correct flaws (Wood, 2015). At this stage, Smith started to become more open to her, hence establishing interpersonal communication built on trust and strong affection to each other. It was because of their trust to each other that they were motivated to show commitment. Nonetheless, their relationship was developed by overtime slowly until they become committed (Hargie, 2016). Thus, this led to the final declaration of their love for each other for living together forever.

The exploration of interpersonal communication needs to incorporate various theories to get depth insight of the growth and maintenance of a romantic relationship. In 1958, The Social Exchange Theory by George C Homans merely revealed the expectations of the partners in a relationship (Cropanzano et al., 2017). It further emphasizes the meaning that fulfillment of the expectations brings to the relationship. Regarding the link mentioned above of Smith and Jane, it is essential to understand the commitment of each partner to make his/or her partner become a better person. On the other hand, the Uncertainty Reductions Theory focuses on the explanations of the stages that partners undergo for mature relationships (Protami et al., 2017). This involves three phases that are more likely to be passed through, and they include the Entry stage, where each tries to know the other. The second is Personal Stage, which primarily emphasizes the understanding of the other in terms of behaviours, beliefs, and values. When each partner can accept the other for who he/or she is, the Exit stage is where the relationship is continued or ended (Protami et al., 2017). Therefore, the description of the interpersonal theories provides a clear view of the process and necessary elements for growth and attainment of blissful love.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this essay primarily provides the exploration of the interpersonal communication of partners in a romantic relationship. However, this requires an understanding of the essential elements of contact for gathering accurate information. In this regard, the paper further examines the interaction of Smith and Jane, whose relationship grew over time. It also emphasizes on the relationship's stages that made it become romantic. Thus, this helps to understand the possession of traits of interpersonal communication by the findings of Julia T Wood. Moreover, the discussion of Martin Buber provides depth insight into the levels of connection with their differences. This extends to the description of the features of interpersonal communication. In this essay, there incorporation of the Social Exchange Theory and Uncertainty Reduction Theory helps to get the more profound meaning of the relationship between intimate partners.

References

Cropanzano, R., Anthony, E. L., Daniels, S. R., & Hall, A. V. (2017). Social exchange theory: A critical review with theoretical remedies. Academy of Management Annals, 11(1), 479-516.

Hargie, O. (2016). Skilled interpersonal communication: Research, theory, and practice. Routledge.

Pratami, A. M., & Rusfian, E. Z. (2017, November). Uncertainty reduction in the middle of an organizational crisis: the application of interpersonal communication and leadership communication. In Proceeding of International Conference on Communication, Culture and Media Studies (CCCMS) (Vol. 2, No. 2).

Richardson, K. (2019). The human relationship in the ethics of robotics: a call to Martin Buber's I and Thou. AI & SOCIETY, 34(1), 75-82.

Wood, J. T. (2015). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters. Nelson Education.