Case Study: Relational Dialectics Theory

Introduction

In every interpersonal relationship, whether it be with a friend, family member, or romantic partner, we constantly find tension occurring. This is not something we should run from. We are wired to naturally have a contradicting nature and have opposing desires to that of our partner. The constant contradiction that occurs in our closest relationships can be explained through the Relational Dialectics Theory. When reviewing the different theories and case studies, Case Study 6 was the obvious choice to use in my paper to exemplify issues that Relational Dialectics Theory addresses. In Case Study 6 – I Need Some Space: Friends Through Good Time and Bad, we see two friends, Ashley and Jacinta, continuously experiencing different relational behaviors between themselves. I will help explain these tensions by connecting key terms from the theory, such as openness-closedness, to issues occurring between the two friends.

How does communication generate tension amongst people within relationships? This is the question that RDT (Relational Dialectics Theory) attempts to answer. Research by Gerald Driskill, John Mayer, and Julien Mirivel says also says that “RDT assumes that two competing forces are embedded in language and are thus an inherent part of how social worlds are created” (245) So when we see friends, family and co-workers working out decisions or issues that they have together, we are watching them grow and move forward in a way that will strengthen their relationship due to the “constitutive dialogue”. (Griffin p. 160) Similarly, this relates to the idea behind the Yin-Yang symbol. This is an ancient Chinese philosophy that the dialectical theory originated from, saying, “All aspects of the universe contain s...

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..., so much that she has to be with her at all times. Ashley begins to get tired of this as she experiences autonomy and needs some away time. When she starts hang out with friends other than Jacinta, Jacinta doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t know how to adapt to life without her best friend, just like some of the wives don’t know how to adapt to life without their best friend and husband. Both experience loneliness and sort of a panic attack. Pilling says, “Too much concentration on being a couple at the expense of autonomy, however, results in individual identities becoming lost” (p. 20). This represents exactly what is going on in Jacintas life and the lives of wives whose husbands have been deployed. Not that too much concentrating on being a married couple is a bad thing, but it just makes it that much tougher for them to adapt to life without their husbands.