Theories of Interpersonal Relationship

Interpersonal relationship refers to a strong association amongst individuals with similar tastes, aspirations and interests in life. It is essential for individuals to share a healthy relationship with each other not only for quicker delivery of results but also for a positive ambience at the workplace.

Let us go through the theories of interpersonal relationship development in detail:

Social Exchange Theory

Social Exchange Theory was proposed by George Casper Homans in the year 1958.

According to Social Exchange Theory “give and take” forms the basis of almost all relationships though their proportions might vary as per the intensity of the relationship.

In a relationship, every individual has expectations from his/her partner. A relationship without expectations is meaningless.

According to Social Exchange theory feelings and emotions ought to be reciprocated for a successful and long lasting relationship.

Relationships can never be one sided. An individual invests his time and energy in relationships only when he gets something out of it.

There are relationships where an individual receives less than he gives. This leads to situations where individual starts comparing his relationship with others.

Comparisons sometimes can be really dangerous as it stops individuals from putting their best in relationships. Don’t always think that you would have a better relationship with someone else. Understand your partner and do as much as you can for him/her. Don’t always expect the other person to do things first. Take initiative on your own and value partner.

Uncertainty Reductions Theory

Both Charles R. Berger and Richard J. Calabrese proposed Uncertainty Reductions Theory to explain the relationship between individuals who do not know each other much or are complete strangers.

According to Uncertainty Reductions Theory, two unknown individuals meeting for the first time go through various stages to reduce the level of uncertainty between them and come closer to each other. Strangers must communicate well to know each other better and find out their compatibility level.

Following are the stages individuals go through to reduce the level of uncertainty in relationships.

  1. Entry Stage

    The entry stage is characterized by two individuals trying to know each other better.

    Each one tries to find out the other person’s background, family members, educational qualification, interests, hobbies and so on.

    Each one discloses his/her likes and dislikes to strengthen the bond and take the relationship to the next level.

  2. Personal Stage

    In the second stage or the personal stage, individuals try to find out more about their partner’s attitude and beliefs.

    Individuals try to know more about the other person’s ethics, values, behaviour and nature on the whole. Individuals who are no longer strangers learn more about each other’s personality traits in the personal stage.

  3. The Exit Stage

    The Personal Stage decides the fate of the relationship. Individuals comfortable in each other’s company decide to enter into long term commitments i.e. either formally get married or stay together forever.

    Not all relationships flower into marriages. Individuals failing to understand and adjust with each other decide to mutually end their relationship for a better future.

    The exit stage is characterized by individuals moving out of relationships in search of a more compatible partner.


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Authorship/Referencing - About the Author(s)

The article is Written By “Prachi Juneja” and Reviewed By Management Study Guide Content Team. MSG Content Team comprises experienced Faculty Member, Professionals and Subject Matter Experts. To Know more, click on About Us. The use of this material is free for learning and education purpose. Please reference authorship of content used, including link(s) to ManagementStudyGuide.com and the content page url.


                                          

Interpersonal Relationship Model

In today’s world nothing can be done all alone. We need people around who can help and guide us at the times of crisis. Remember conflicts and misunderstandings lead you nowhere. They are just a sheer waste of time and energy. Individuals ought to be cordial with each other for peace at the workplace as well as in personal lives. Working together also reduces stress and frustration among employees. Human beings are not machines and we need trustworthy people with whom we can share our emotions and feelings.

A strong connection between two individuals with similar interests is often called as interpersonal relationship. Individuals compatible with each other often enter into a relationship.

Interpersonal Relationship Model

Interpersonal Relationship model explains an individual’s outlook towards relationship and how one’s perception changes in due course.

Two people come together, like each other and enter into a relationship.

According to interpersonal relationship model, two directional components go a long way in creating an individual’s perception about relationships.

They are as follows:

  • Other to Self: The component “other to self” represents an individual’s awareness of his partner’s attitude, thoughts and beliefs towards himself. The other to self component is more to do with the awareness of an individual as to how his/her partner treats him/her.

  • Self to Other: The “self to other” component signifies an individual’s awareness of his own behaviour, attitude towards his/her partner. How an individual treats the other person in relationship is denoted by self to other component.

Interpersonal Relationship Model describes above two directional components as per following criteria:

Assistive Polarity

Assistive Polarity further consists of the following:

  1. Assistive Attitude: Assistive attitude consists of actions and behaviour which are in favour of the other person.

  2. Resistive Attitude: Resistive attitude consists of actions and behaviour of an individual which are against the recipient and tend to make the other person weak.

  3. Level of Intentionality: Level of intentionality further consists of following three levels:

    1. Hypo telic Level of intention: Sometimes an individual is unaware of the other person’s aspirations and intentions and unknowingly comes in his/her way without realizing its harm. Hypotelic level signifies resistance to other person’s aspirations unknowingly.

    2. Telic or Meta telic Level of Intention: There are several cases where individuals deliberately stop the other person from doing something clearly knowing how much it would affect the other person. An individual intentionally obstructing aspirations of an individual comes under telic or meta telic level of intention.

    3. Degree of Autonomy: Degrees of autonomy are further classified into the following:

      According to interpersonal relationship model, the degree of assistance and obstruction arise out of following:

      • Auonomous Agency: Autonomous agency comes into picture when both resistance as well as acceptances arises out of either of the two partner’s personal wishes, choices and interests. None of the partners is influenced by a third party.

      • Proxy Agency: Proxy agency comes into play when resistances and acceptances are due to an external party often called the third party. Here the third party influences the decisions of the two individuals in relationship often called as Targets.


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Authorship/Referencing - About the Author(s)

The article is Written By “Prachi Juneja” and Reviewed By Management Study Guide Content Team. MSG Content Team comprises experienced Faculty Member, Professionals and Subject Matter Experts. To Know more, click on About Us. The use of this material is free for learning and education purpose. Please reference authorship of content used, including link(s) to ManagementStudyGuide.com and the content page url.


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