last post

I thought communication between friends was pretty interesting and I was even more interested since we had to write a paper on a developing or developed relationship we have. I believe knowing these aspects of communication in my friendship help my friendships out so I won’t lose friends to these minor problems and issues. I am sure many of us can be associated with these aspects of friendship and the examples and concepts of friendship is and how to solve things. I could relate to these guidelines such as engaging in dual perspective and always acknowledge and be understanding of each other so the friendship can last. Second, communicate honestly that is important because we want to be truthful and honest even if it hurts because the lies will come back to haunt us. Third, grow from our differences so we should be open to diversity and experience new experiences. Lastly, never sweat the small stuff because its not worth losing your friendship for.

Favorite thing

This class was really interesting. It taught me a lot of new things that i never knew. I really enjoyed reading all the different ways to communicate. I found out that their are different kinds of love, that was pretty interesting. I just loved learning about the interpersonal communication we have and can use on others. What i really like about the class are the weekly blogging. It was tedious but it helped me and probably everyone else about each chapter and understand it better and opinion-nate on each post. I like how we had to do only 3 papers that weren't so bad where we could basically talk about ourselves and our opinions. The quizzes and midterm i felt were kind of tricky. I felt like there are multiple answers for some of the questions. I don't like how the answers don't pop up after we do the quiz, so we don't know which we got wrong and what we need to work on. With it telling us what we got wrong it can help us on the final. Overall, this class was great and didn't have me stress a lot. :)

learning throughout the semester

This class has taught me a lot of new different things/ terms about communication especially interpersonal communication. I learned about the non verbal and verbal communication which can be really strong. I learned a lot of different aspects of interpersonal communication in this class over the course of the semester. I have been using and will use a lot of the interpersonal communication skills in my life after finding out the new terms and how to use it effectively aka being a good friend, a good listener, trying to understand them, etc.  Interpersonal communication is a very important aspect of interaction within the family and friends and whoever. I found that communication dynamics with gender perspective most that stuck out to me. I do not like that men would rather eat, watch tv, socialize with their friends but they don’t like to discuss their issues with you. Women want the emotional support. Other things I learned is that family will always be there and you can be blunt to them. Defensiveness is okay sometimes but you have to be understanding and not blunt. Different countries have different customs. A lot of new things opened my eyes to help understand interpersonal communication better. 

Equity

I found that maintaining equity in family relationships was the most interesting to me this week. A lot of families do not have equality among all of the family members. Equity should be maintained in ways that everyone in the family gets treated equally. Usually the decision maker is either one or both of the parents. In my family my dad use to be the decision maker for a little but once we got to our teen age we did whatever. (not bad or illegal things but we just planned and decided on our own) My family is really really stubborn and we all sometimes make mistakes but some decisions but who doesn't. The social exchange theory was quite interesting. Wood  says "as long as your rewards outweigh your costs, the net outcome of the relationship is positive, so you are satisfied".Having a happy family is very important and its healthy in life. 

marriage

In 50 years or so the biggest change would probably have to be gay/lesbian marriage. Fifty years is a long time and gay marriage should be approved by then.  Also by the next 50 years, I also believe that we will slowly lose cultural trends. I would predict that the changes in marriage will also depend upon the cultural value and beliefs. Most of the young people now a days just live together without getting married ever in life. There is usually like a rule and superstition and all that about living together before marriage but those beliefs has passed since kids are young and naive. The cultural values and beliefs that parents will tell their children will make a huge impact on how their generation will respond to the marriage rituals and kids just have to listen or go with what they believe but thats on them if their marriage fails. In fifty years cultural probably wouldn't matter because kids won't bring on their old traditions, they can and will probably start new ones. America is a melting pot so we will come together since the influences in all the cultures had made us be more connected.

family

When the word family comes into mind or pops up i think of family as someone that would always be there for you and someone that has been there for you since day 1. Family doesn't have to be purely biological but the biological ones are the ones you can usually always count on. I think a family is best defined as people that you can trust going both ways, respect going ways, loyalty going both ways, and commitment to one another.  There are no limitations on what a family can be. I think just as long as that person you call family is there to support you through thick and thin. Passive-congenial and conflict-habituated marriage types don't fit into my definition as a family.  Passive-congenial marriage lacks the building blocks of one another but they do protect and support but financially not emotionally.  Lastly, conflict-habituated marriage offers none of the three aspects that go with being in a 'family.' Marriage i guess makes you a family but giving up your last name for your significant other is a very big step and marriages show that kind of commitment. Family isn't as easy as one living with another for a long period of time its about the commitment, support, and love for one another.

interesting

I really enjoyed reading about the different styles of love. I enjoyed reading this section because i love like love. if that makes sense. i love "love type" movies. I just love people and hearing about their love stories, they are so cute.There are primary ones and secondary love styles. The primary styles of love are Eros, Storge and Ludus. Eros love is powerful and passionate.  Eros involves very intense feelings and sometimes causes the person to self-disclose at an early stage in the relationship. Storge, the second primary love style, which is like a "comfortable, even-keeled kind of love based on friendship and compatibility" as the books states on page 277. Love develops slowly, taking things really slowly and uses buds from similar interests, life goals and etc. Find common ground and similar things that interest both in the relationship.  Usually it isn't intense  love but imore like a growing relationship. Last style of love that is primary is ludus. Ludus is like playing a love game with commitment but like a casual relationship.