Relationships, no matter what kind, tend to involve some kind of "give and take". In order to create a harmonious balance, a combination of extremes is needed. This can be explained by Relational Dialectics Theory.
In the book Engaging Theories in Interpersonal Communication: Multiple Perspectives, Baxter and Braithewaite provide the definition,
"Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT) is a theory of the meaning-making between relationship parties that emerges from the interplay of competing discourses."
Understanding the "push and pull" of relationships has become especially useful in modern times with the heightened use of technology and social media. For example, celebrity influencers interact with their fans on a daily basis using a variety of platforms. It is common knowledge that celebrities tend to live a lot of their lives in the public eye and are open with fans on platforms such a twitter in order to feel personal and like a friend. However, with extremely personal issues, the use of direct messaging, and with information such as their home addresses, many celebrities prefer to stay more private and not connect with fans on that personal of a level. This exemplifies openness vs. closeness.
Through this blog, there is much more that will be shared to explain Relational Dialectics Theory.
Enjoy!
Cited
Baxter, L. & Braithwaite, D. (2008). Relational dialectics theory: crafting meaning from competing discourses. In L. A. Baxter & D. O. Braithwaite (Eds.), Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: Multiple perspectives(pp. 349-362). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: 10.4135/9781483329529.n26
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