Interpersonal Communication

 Relationship with Friends Friendships are seen throughout everyone's life and in different ways. There are many different kinds of friendships, but all of these relationships can be described as voluntary, driven by shared interests, characterized by self-disclosure, volatile, and are rooted in liking. According to Reflect & Relate, "friendships are a voluntary interpersonal relationship characterized by intimacy and liking." Friendships are often used for emotional security, self-esteem, and overall happiness. We often choose companions to have relationships with based on shared interests and liking. These relationships are easier to break than other relationships.  My only friends consist of work friends. As I got older, my friends got smaller till eventually I did not have any anymore. I think my main obstacles in making friends is my confidence and ability to self-disclose. I feel vulnerable when talking about myself and I am not the first to start a conversation

Family Communication Patterns Families have various ways of communicating, whether that be with high conversation or low conversation, and high conformity or low conformity. Depending on your families form of communicating determines its family communication pattern. According to Reflect & Relate, "conversation and conformity dimensions give rise to four possible family communication patterns: consensual, pluralistic, protective, and laissez-faire."  My family's communication pattern is more protective. We experience low conversation with high conformity. I am often very busy with school and work, which makes it difficult to have a high conversation pattern. I try to call my mother on my way to work from school every day because I know it is important to her, but I sometimes forget, especially when I'm stressed. My mother sets a high conformity standard when it comes to religion. She feels as if we have to believe, or her babies are going to hell. She doesn't

 Relational Maintenance I have currently been in a romantic relationship with my significant other for over three years. To maintain a happy and healthy relationship, you must practice relational maintenances. According to Reflect & Relate, relational maintenance refers to using communication and supportive behaviors to sustain a desired relationship status and level of satisfaction. This can be seen through seven maintenance strategies such as, positivity, assurances, sharing tasks, acceptance, self-disclosure, relationship talks, and social networks. When practiced, these maintenance strategies can help prevent relationships from going downhill. A few maintenance strategies my partner and I need work on are self-disclosure, social networks, sharing tasks, and assurances. I feel as if I self-disclose very often but my partner has a hard time expressing his feelings or telling me certain things. I don't particularly understand it myself because I have no problem telling him eve