Personal Relationships

Foundations of Personal Relationships

Attraction: One of the key elements that initiate a personal relationship. It can be physical, emotional, or cognitive, determined by factors such as physical appearance, similarity, or shared interests.
Reciprocity: Our tendency to respond to someone’s positive behaviour with similar behaviour. If someone is kind to us, we tend to be kind in return.
Self-disclosure: This refers to the sharing of personal information with another person. The act of self-disclosure can create feelings of intimacy and closeness.
Social Exchange Theory: This theory proposes that individuals seek out relationships in which rewards outweigh the costs.

Friendships: These are characterized by trust, mutual understanding, and similar interests. The reciprocity norm plays a significant role in sustaining friendships.
Romantic Relationships: These involve greater emotional depth compared to friendships and are often characterised by feelings of love, passion, commitment, and physical intimacy.
Family Relationships: These are typically the longest lasting relationships an individual will have, and are often characterized by deep emotional ties and obligations.

Communication: Open, honest communication is critical for the health of all relationships.
Conflict Resolution: Healthy relationships often involve disagreements. Skills in conflict resolution can prevent disagreements from escalating and harming the relationship.
Sacrifice: Sometimes, maintaining a relationship requires individuals to make sacrifices, which means prioritizing the needs or benefits of the other person or the relationship above one’s own needs or desires.

Relationship Dissatisfaction: This refers to a feeling of unhappiness or discontent in a relationship. When dissatisfaction outweighs satisfaction, it may lead to a break-up.
Social Exchange Theory: In this context, the social exchange theory explains that people will leave relationships if they perceive the costs to outweigh the benefits.
Investment Model of Commitment: This model suggests that people are more likely to stay in unsatisfying relationships if they have invested substantial time, effort, or resources and if alternatives are perceived as less attractive.
Coping Strategies: Different individuals cope with breakups differently. Active strategies like seeking social support or engaging in activities may be more beneficial than passive ones.

On Individual Well-being: Quality of personal relationships has been linked to mental and physical health. Supportive relationships can increase happiness, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
On Social Identity: Relationships can help shape our social identities. How we perceive ourselves in relation to others can influence our self-esteem and confidence.
On Society: The quality of personal relationships in a community can influence societal harmony and productivity. Strong personal relationships may contribute to a more cohesive society.