Friendships and Professional Relationships Chapter 9 Friendship is

Friendships and Professional Relationships Chapter 9 “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one. ’” ― C. S. Lewis

Why Social Relationships Matter We Need to Belong—Roy Baumeister Seek, form, maintain, and protect strong social relationships We needs bonds that are interactive and emotionally close

Why Social Relationships Matter Social Relationships Bring Rewards Emotional Rewards �Emotional support and encouragement �Happiness Social Relationships Bring Material Rewards Money, food, shelter, transportation

Why Social Relationships Matter Relationships Bring Health Rewards Survival after major health issues Happiness and relaxation help us ward off negative effects of stress Friends can look out for our safety and well-being

Why Social Relationships Matter Social Relationships Carry Costs Time, emotional energy, physical energy, money, etc. Issues arise if costs outweigh benefits (Social Exchange Theory)

Forming and Maintaining Social Bonds Attraction Theory: Interpersonal, physical, social, task (abilities) o. Factors Spark Interpersonal Attraction: Ø Personal appearance Ø Proximity—how closely together people live or work, frequency of interaction Ø Similarity Ø Complementarity—based on differences

Forming and Maintaining Social Bonds Uncertainty Reduction Theory Ø Berger & Calabrese Ø Reducing our uncertainty about another person Ø Uncertainty is unpleasant Ø Motivation is to reduce uncertainty Ø Using communication behaviors to get more information Ø Uncertainty is then reduced The less uncertain we are, the more we will like the person

Forming and Maintaining Social Bonds Predicted Outcome Value Theory—Michael Sunnafrank When we first communicate with others, we try to determine whether continued comm. With them will be worth our effort If we like someone when we first meet and predict positive outcomes for future interactions, we will want to get to know the person better. Negative first impression, don’t want to know person better.

Understanding Relationship Formation Approach Behaviors Any forms of attraction to another will cause us to use approach behaviors Comm. behaviors that signal interest in another person Avoidance Behaviors Signal a lack of interest in another person Forming a relationship doesn’t mean we will want to maintain that relationship!

Social Exchange Theory

Theories about Costs & Benefits o Social Exchange Theory o. Thibaut & Kelley o. Seek to maintain relationships where benefits outweigh costs o. Comparison Level o. Realistic expectation of what you want and think you deserve from a relationship o. Comparison Level of Alternatives o. Beliefs concerning how good or bad your current relationship is compared with your perceived options

Equity Theory

Equity Theory o. A good relationship is one in which your costs and rewards are equal to your partner’s o. If there is inequality, one partner is overbenefited and one is under-benefited If both partners get the same level of benefits, but one partner’s costs are greater, equity theory predicts the partner with more costs will not want to maintain the relationship

Relational Maintenance Behaviors How we maintain relationships Positivity Behaviors that make others feel comfortable around us Openness Willingness to discuss relationship Assurances Verbal & nonverbal behaviors to illustrate faithfulness and commitment

Relational Maintenance Behaviors Social Networks All of the family relationships and friendships that a person has Sharing Tasks Performing your fair share of work in the relationship

Characteristics of Friendship o Voluntary o o o Both parties are in relationship by choice Attraction and balance of cost and rewards influence friendship Require use of maintenance behaviors (e. g. positivity, openness, task sharing)

Characteristics of Friendship o Between Peers o. Formed with people of equal or similar power status o“Non-peer” friendship can manifest complications and power struggle o. Governed by Rules o. Both parties have relationship expectations o. Implicit “Rules of Friendship”

Characteristics of Friendship Differ by Sex o. Gender differences in friendship values o“Doing vs. Talking” Same Sex Friendships o. Research results do not characterize ALL same-sex friendships o. Differences do not determine friendship importance

Characteristics of Friendship Opposite-sex friendships o. Both o. Can genders value new perspectives experience physical or romantic attraction (e. g. “Friends with benefits”)

Characteristics of Friendship o Life Span—William Rawlins, Ohio Univ. o. Role-limited interaction o. Meet for first time, civil o. Friendly Relations o. Talk more, friendlier, share stories o. Moves toward friendship o. Comm. more social, share activities o. Nascent friendship o. Begin to think of themselves as friends, comm. is more personal o. Stabilized friendship o. Fully established, share attitudes, trust o. Waning friendship o. Decline, may become distant and casual or relationship could end

Characteristics of Friendship o. Grow to Dislike Each Other o. Many o. Life reasons why this may occur Circumstances o. Many aspects of life may cause us to drift apart from friends. o. Don’t always want rel. to end—may not have time, energy to spend with other person

Social Relationships in the Workplace Co-workers o. Likely to be formed with immediate peers vs. supervisors o. Bond through common experiences o. Significant amount of time spent together o. Affects your job satisfaction Influences on job satisfaction o. Social dimension vs. task dimension

Social Relationships in the Workplace o Superiors and Subordinates o. Challenges of power difference o. Influences job satisfaction both positively and negatively o. Open communication about potential and direct conflicts o Sexual Harassment o. Quid pro quo (Latin for “this for that”) o. Hostile work environment (sexually offensive or intimidating)

Social Relationships in the Workplace o Clients o. Personally and professionally rewarding o. Task-social tensions can occur o. Health care setting – ethical guideline o. Set clear personal and professional boundaries