In building a relationship, we tend to share information so that people can have truthful insights on who we are, and at the same time we seek information about them so that we can decide if we want to start a relationship with them (Verdeber, 1999).
Communication is the starter for a relationship. Effective communication is the determinant of the quality of a relationship (Matthews, 1997). As defined by Tubbs and Moss (2000), interpersonal communication is the basic unit of communication and its defining element is the level of intimacy between the parties. As a result, effective communication possibly results to improved relationships. Verderber (1999) discussed that interpersonal communication “involves …show more content…
Pearson and Nelson (2000) emphasized that communication and relationship development are interdependent. What happens to the communication affects the state of the relationship. It was highlighted that there are five stages that are included in relational development:
1. Initiating -the start of the social interaction.
2. Experimenting- the stage wherein the two parties decide to get to know more about each other.
3. Intensifying- the developing stage of the relationship wherein mutual concern and active participation takes place.
4. Integrating- the stage wherein both parties tend to reflect each other’s behavior, interests, etc.
5. Bonding- the final stage wherein they both commit themselves to each other.
Relational maintenance, strategies for keeping the relationship, was also given emphasis. The strategies that were suggested are: couple-time rituals, daily routines and tasks, intimacy rituals, communication rituals, patterns and habits, and spiritual rituals. Verdeber (1999) said that when two people experience a satisfactory relationship, they look for relationship stabilization, wherein they seek to maintain their relationship at that level for some …show more content…
The surest sign and greatest factor of an unhappy marriage is poor communication (Matthews, 1997).
The satisfaction of a couple can be measured by the effectiveness of their communication (Pelt, 2009). Good communication of the couple allow them resolve and avoid conflicts, satisfy needs, and improve their intimacy. It was also mentioned in the module Communication in Marriage of the Apostolic Christian Ministries Counseling and Family Services (n.d.) that communication affects the couple’s relationship by strengthening or weakening it and that active listening on each other is a way of showing love, honor, and respect to the spouse. Communication is a way of expressing love and affection of the couples. Gary Chapman (2007) gave five kinds of love languages on how to express genuine commitment of married couples:
1. Words of affirmation- these are words of compliment and encouragement to the