The Dialectic of Expression/Privacy in Internal Form (Openness/Closedness)

Observation:

I want to blab my feelings, my wants, fears, apprehensions and all the people and things that trouble me to my considered true and special friend. Just so he’ll know and understand me. Yet, there is in me that suffers to reveal because of the fright of becoming vulnerable by disclosing personal information to someone who, I don’t think already considers me his true friend.

Importance of the topic:

Dialectical Theory is a distinct theory about the dynamics of communication in relationships. Grounded in different assumptions and focused on different relational processes, dialectical theory emphasizes the continuous, inherent tensions that arise from contradictory impulses for autonomy and connection, openness and closedness, and novelty and routine. Viewing dialectics as natural, ongoing, and productive, this theory provides impressive insight into dynamics that are central, continuous, and never fully resolved parts of relational life. Dialectical Theory encourages us to understand and appreciate the contradictions and continuous changes that saturate, complicate and enliven our relationships.

Communication Theories in Action, Julia T. Wood.

The observation I had falls on the internal form, which concerns with the tensions within relationships of Dialectic of Expression/Privacy. I believe this is so much sensible because it would flow on analyzing the tension between the desire to be open and expressive, and the need to be closed and private. It would focus on the feeling of struggle between self-disclosing and keeping personal information to the ones who experience it, including me. It would also show if the romantic ideal of totally open relationships would really be undesirable and perhaps unbearable in reality. And partners who shared absolutely everything would soon be intolerably bored by information in which they have no interest. Lastly, it could tell us if total openness would also damage a relationship, since some of our private thoughts might hurt our partners.

In truth, these things are already proved. Thanks to Leslie Baxter, who headed the efforts to develop and test dialectical theory in the communication field. Over the years, she and her associates have published many articles that explain, refine, and provide empirical support for the theory (Baxter, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993; Baxter and Simon, 1993; Dindia and Baxter, 1987; wood et al., 1994; Zorn, 1995).

However, it is better to see for ourselves. Especially for me who experience it with my friend.

This topic also interests me because it shows that we want to reveal ourselves to intimates because we feel closer when others understand and accept our innermost selves. We want the intimacy of sharing private information. Thus, we desire openness. Yet we also know that self-disclosures make us vulnerable, and we want to avoid the potential that personal information could be turned against us. In addition, many people prefer to preserve parts of themselves as completely private: they are just for us and not shared with anyone(Wood, 1995b).

Communication Theories in Action, Julia T. Wood.

the following are my sources and guides for my study:

http://www2.edutech.nodak.edu/ndsta/pawlowski.htm

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory53.htm

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~nw583098/rd.htm

Griffin, Em. A First Look at Communication Theory. 6th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill, 2006.

Littlejohn, Stephen W. Theories of Human Communication. 4th and 5th eds. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1992, 1996.

West, Richard and Lynn H. Turner. Introducing Communication Theory: Analysis and Application. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co., 2000.

Wood, Julia T. Communication Theories in Action. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1997.


I have already identified and developed my topic. I've found background information, guides and sources.
before the month of January ends, hopefully, i could already interview people with romantic partners and close friends. so that on February, i would be ready for my data analysis and interpretation.=D