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Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT), maintain that relational life is…
Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT)
Leslie Baxter and Barbara Montgomery (1996)
Monologic approach- an aproach framing contradiction as either relationship
Dualistic Approach - an approach framing contradiction as two separate entities
Dialectic Approach- An approach framing multiple points of view play off one another in every contradiction
Assumptions of RDT
Communication is central to organizing and negotiating relational contradiction
Relationships are not linear
Relational life is characterized by change
Contradiction is the fundamental fact of relational life
Core concepts of Dialectics
Totality- acknowledges the interdependence of people in a relationship
Contradiction-
the central feature of the dialectic approach ; refers to oppositions
Motion -
the processual nature of relationship and their change over time
Praxis - refers to the choicemaking capacity of humans
Basic Relational Dialectics
Autonomy and Connection - An important relational tension that shows our conflicting desires to be close and to be separate
Openness and Protection - an important relational tension that shows our conflicting desires to tell our secrets and to keep them hidden
Novelty and Predictability - an important relational tension that shows our conflictiing desires to have both stability and change
Contextual Dialectics
Interactional dialectics - tensions resulting from and constructed by communication
Contectual Dialectics - Tensions resulting from the place of the relationship within the culture
Public and Private Dialectic - a contextual dialectic resulting from a private relationship and public life
Real and Ideal dialectic - A contextual dialectic resulting from the difference between idealized relationship and lived relationship
Responses to Dialectics
Cyclic Alternation - A coping response to dialectical tensions refers to changes over time within the relationship
Segmentation - A coping response to dialectical tension ; refers to changes due to context
Selection - A coping response to dialectical tensions;refer to prioritizing oppositions
Integration - synthesizing the oppositions
Neutralizing - refers to compromising between the opposition
Disqualifying- Neutralizes the dialectics by exempting certain issues from the general pattern
Reframing - refers to transforming the oppositions
maintain that relational life is characterized by ongoing tension between contradictory impulses.