How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Relationships

Explanations > Relationships

An important part of communicating and persuading is in the way we relate to one another.

• Stages of relationships
  • Devito's Relationship Stages: Making and breaking relationships.
  • Knapp's Relational Development Model: Another relationship stage model.
  • Relationship Development Stages: A generic model.
• Connecting with others
  • Attachment: Childhood connections are important.
  • Building Rapport: Ways to establish connection.
  • Four Models of Relating: Ways we relate to others.
  • Give and Take: Balancing obligation.
• Relationship topics
  • Power: The dominance of one person over another.
  • Trust: One of the basic elements of any relationship.
  • Groups: Numbers of people in complex and team relationships.
  • Theories about Friendship: How we hook up.
  • Social Capital: The balance of who owes who what.
  • Status: A common relational concern.
• Talking with others
  • Assertiveness: Being neither passive nor aggressive.
  • Body language: A large part of communication is non-verbal.
  • Conversation: How to hold down a conversation with others.
  • Excuses: Justification and avoidance.
  • Listening: Hear the person as well as what they say.
  • Mind-Reading Mistakes: How we misunderstand.
  • The Power of Apology: Saying sorry can help a lot.
  • Questioning: Using questions to get the results you want.
  • Romance Conversations: Getting closer together.
  • Teasing: Testing trust.
  • Theory of Mind: Thinking about what they are thinking.
  • Value Exchange: Giving and getting.
  • Warmth and Competence: Emotions triggered by evaluating others.
• Articles
  • Abusive Relationships: How it all goes wrong.
  • Three Type of Arrogance: How we lord it over others.

So what?

Relationships don't just happen: they need work. They also fail easily when trust is betrayed. So be deliberate about building and sustaining relationships that will help you over the longer term.

See also

Identity, Trust, Gender, Bonding principle, Sociology, Two Types of Criticism

Theories about helping others, Power, Theories about groups