Reflection Of Interpersonal Communication

The memory of meeting my wife, dating and preparing for marriage stands as an authentic representation of interpersonal relational communications. Similarities in familial experience, mindset and beliefs at the time of our meeting served as a benchmark for coordinated management of meaning. At the age of 23, my overall perspective on relationships changed from desiring casual dating to the pursuit of a partner in life. Concurrently, an 18 year old young lady named Takiyah had the same objective in mind. Mutual cognitive dissonance regarding romantic relationships and corresponding actions resulted in the joining of two people through successful communications processes. The journey from acquaintance to friend, lover, and partner was paved

Consequences of prolonged information gathering (uncertainty reduction) improved my impressions and increased my perception of relational value. Knowing more about her resulted in a greater desire to increase intimacy. Shared relational, political, social and religious beliefs provided a basis for mutual feelings of positive value. Personal Disclosure also revealed that Takiyah was four years younger and lived more than one hour’s driving time from my residence. After weighing the cost of extended travel and the disparity in age, I decided that the reward of her company outweighed those costs. (Outcome & Reward-Cost Ratio)

Dinner at “The Red Lobster”, a two (2) hour drive to the beach city of Santa Monica and a viewing of one of the worst movies of all times (Speed 2: Cruise Control) confirmed our mutual romantic interest in each other. The transition toward deeper and meaningful intimacy began soon after our first date. Social penetration occurred when prepared dinner for her at my apartment two days after our initial romantic encounter. Sitting on my couch, private disclosure reciprocity enhanced understandings. With every disclosed detail, our desire to remain intimate and exclusive

From our initial interaction to a real and ideal dialectic, a lasting and effective communicative relationship was born. In hindsight, each moment of difficulty in our relationship was resolved by reducing uncertainty (finding out what I did wrong), social exchange (Is the cost of being right more valuable than peace), social penetration (taking the time to understand what went wrong) and relational dialectics (knowing that I’m right but letting her win the argument even though, I’m right). My summation may be facetious in its tone but relevant toward understanding relational communications. Interpersonal communication success is not the result of the implementation of a singular theory but the intentional use and recognition of multiple theories toward message delivery and the appropriate assignment of