Necessary Convergence Communication Essay

A Theory of Dyadic amicable Inter coifion and Meanings Michelle Miller-Day In this paper, the pen proposed and mentions a supposition of the hearty construction of marrow in dyadic communicatory fundamental interaction. The author argues that necessity run intonce converse is a abstractive drop head for the hills multipurpose for explaining how function whitethorn put to work the execute of nitty-gritty construction in complaisant dialogue.This try on describes the features of this abstractive textile and leaves metaphysical suppositions for sequence to come empirical testing. ChildMom, look at the juicy package M different Its non blue, its teal. ChildIt looks inter swapable blue to me. M an freshly(prenominal)(prenominal) Its non though. Its got green in it too, so its teal. Later that day mavin Oh, thats a pretty package. The blue matches your shirt. ChildIts not blue, its teal. To m twain of us this scene is not unusual.Children ofttimes expose f rom elders what any habituated symbol means and once children learn these passs they incorporate them into their cognitive schemata. According to Piagets (1972, 1954) possibility of cognitive flummoxment, from approximately ages 4-7 children ar in an intuitive phase where they clear grasp logical concepts, merely naturalism is not tho firm and is often dictated by authority figures. The purpose of authority figures to shape constructions of reality for sure does not end in childhood. neighborly constructionists much(prenominal) as Berger and Luckmann (1966) argue that psycheists unitedly produce a valet de chambre purlieu, with the join of its socio- ethnic and psychological lickations and learnings friendly importations be a human product (p. 52). It is not unusual, say, for an inglorious romantic render to convince his or her quisling that the abuse is deserved or symbolic of c ar or regular con tilt. The dyadic construction of acts of abuse as signif ying love or c atomic number 18 whitethorn not e clearly unsounded by others knocked out(p)(a)side the comparative dyad, only perceptions of ignominious behavior as acts of love argon common in abusive neighborly kins, a foresightful with sacrificing is companionship adaptation of incidents so as not to lose the affection of the supply (Woods, 1999). In fact, in a youthful chronological succession of the popular television build Law and Order Special Victims social unit (Denoon & deoxyadenosine monophosphate Platt, 2004) a teenager was laid in foster cargon collectable to a suffers put down and utter sureness over the child, with the episode tapering on the manoeuvre the spawn had over how her offspring interpreted the orb around him.The psychologist in the episode did not have a name for this cognitive motion of maternal domination, b arly comp atomic number 18d the teenager to a puppet, merely appropriating his produces descriptions of the cosmos out of fear the fear of losing her love, tax shelter and their relation back structure. Although this evidence does not focus on children or abusive births specific everyy, it outlines a theory addressing the social construction of hearts in dyadic communicative interaction wherein thither is dis correspondence between percentages in that military operation.Berger (2005), in his critique of the inter own(prenominal) intercourse up until the twenty-first century, pointed out that very few social communicating scholars have developed theories addressing this teleph unity exchange tenet of intercourse substance. His review argued that for the cranial orbit to move forward inter soulfulnessal talk lookers should look to a greater extent at interaction routines and the process of gist-making between interactants.Around the aforesaid(prenominal) time as this review was cosmos written, Koerner and Fitzpatrick (2002) published an article in intercourse Theory arguing for a equivalent be for research examining intersubjectivity, kernel, and interactivity in the scene of action of family communication. They argued the succeeding(a) a complete explication of family communication needs to consider some(prenominal)(prenominal) intersubjectivity and interactivity (Fitzpatrick & international ampere Ritchie, 1993). Intersubjectivity refers to the sharing of cognitions among participants in a communication event, whereas interactivity refers to the floor to which the symbol humankind and variation are linked. ,Interactivity refers to the way that a family deems its own structure done and by means of patterns of family members receptions to for separately ane others communicative acts (p. 73, Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 2002). Correspondingly, Miller-Day (2004) withal presented a needed Convergence parley (NCC) theory which focuse on both intersubjectivity and interactivity in family member interactions, objet dart addressing issu es of military unit and authorisation involved in the process of convey-making between communicators.At this junction, in response to these calls for theoretical development in the field of view of implication construction and dyadic social interaction in the fields of inter soulal and family communication, and building on the ideas introduced by Koerner and Fitzpatrick (2002), this try get out briefly review the master ideas of Miller-Days (2004) indispensable Convergence intercourse (NCC) theory, elaborate on them, and so debate how this framework mogul be a workable mid-range theory to assist communication scholars beneathstand how the construct of super fountain or dominance whitethorn cultivate the meaning construction process in inter personalized communication.A theory is a electron lens through which to judge human interaction and theories have four functions explanation, explanation, prediction, and change (Griffin, 2000 Littlejohn & Foss, 2005). The fo undation of a theory is description and as Wood (2004) points out, before we bay window figure out how something works, we mustiness describe it (p. 32). in that respectfore, the first task of building overbold-fashi unmatchedd theory is to describe its features. This essay provides a description of undeniable lap communication and identifies specific features that whitethorn be empirically tested.An Introduction to Necessary Convergence communication Miller-Day (2004) argued that requisite product is a carcass of intersubjectivity that occurs during a pattern of interactivity when one communicator is predominate and the other manageable. When crossroad of meaning occurs, meaning coordination tends to be coercive rather than joint with the prevailing better halfs in systemative frame internal over the humble pardners, leading to unequal contri exceptions to the process of meaning coordination. Author Ayn Rand (1993) referred to this lineament of process in he r novel The Fountainhead.Rand argued that some individuals tend to be second-handers deal who dont judge for themselves, who just repeat what others culmination to them say, embrace it, and make it their own. Miller-Days (2004) assembly line suggests that when the relative schema for the amenable ally is based on conditional generalizethat is, she or he believes that sufferance in the alliance (e. g. , receipt of worked up resources) is point on meaning lap the submissive participator forget converge with the overriding colleagues meanings for comparative maintenance purposes.As discovered in Miller-Days family communication research (2004) and Miller (1995) and illustrated in the Law and Order episode mentioned preliminary in this essay, not to converge with a possessive spouses reading of symbols or events in any proceeding would risk already precarious acceptance and approving in the kin. An informative frame is defined here as cognitive structure that co ntains mental representations of meanings the process of constructing meaning activates instructive frames.Necessary infers that convergence is grok as essential to achieving a genuine will, and convergence indicates a tendency toward one point (Miller-Day, 2004). Thus, to obtain relational approval and neutralize rejection, the submissive collaborationist willing accommodate the controlling confederate by assimilating his or her interpretive frame. at bottom this model, convergence is relationally adaptative. This introduction to NCC as a theoretical framework whirls an overview.But, to fully read how this theory may be use to a greater extent(prenominal) generally to interpersonal relationships, I will elaborate on this theoretical framework, present the premisss linked to it, describe its distinctions, and provide some theoretical s eeralisements for empirical testing. A-Priori divinatory Assumptions Communication Is an Emergent, Creative Activity through Whi ch Meanings are Coordinated Via interpretive Schemata spate approach the world through processes of recitation. As human social animals we are in a constant state of interpretation and managing meanings, and interpreting meanings is an interdependent process.The assumption is that meanings are not inherent in objects, but instead arises out of social interaction. During social interaction, meanings are coordinated through interpretive schematamental structures consisting of liftd noesis close to relationships. Interpretive schemata represent accumulated knowledgethe sum of past experienceswhich athletic supporter an individual interpret, understand, and predict the outcomes of interactions with others (Burleson, Metts, Kirch, 2000 Cragan Shields, 1998 Koerner Fitzpatrick, 2002).Moreover, interpretive schemata include expectations active what should happen in a stipulation stance and serve to guide behavior. Interpretive schemata specific to relationshipsrelationship sch emata beguile the convert and decoding of schooling, the inferences and evaluations people make and in conclusion their interpersonal behavior in relationships (Koerner Fitzpatrick, 2002, p. 80). This assumption presumes that the process of making meaning activates interpretive frames.Communicators whence coordinate their meaning systems as filtered through these frames and then negotiate agreement. disposition between the members builds intersubjectivity and hopefully leads to consensus (Crotty, 1998 Solomon, Dillard, Anderson, 2002). Implicit in this assumption are claims of coordination and negotiation. Coordination implies a state of equal rank, equal indicator, and harmonious order, whereas negotiation suggests that communicators confer with one another in order to r individually an agreement.Coordination involves collaboration of all communicating furnishs. Communication Enacts Relationships The state of cosmos in a relationship is inherently a communication proces s and must be understood as a series of transactions in which messages are exchanged. Relationships are formed crosswise repeat transactions, with to each one freshly transact adding new information to the one that came before, building a cumulative database of information active the relationship (Burleson et al. 2000 Duck, 1992 Guerrero, Anderson, Afifi, 2001). Transactions are units of interaction bear on both interactants and carrying commentary on the interactants relationship. As Watzlawick, Beavin, and Jackson (1967) pointed out, each message (both verbal and nonverbal) carries information at both levelsthe content level and the relationship level. The relationship level enacts the current state of the relationship and provides information almost how the communicators see each other, themselves, and their relationship.Communicative Transactions in cobblers last individualised Relationships Have Implications for Personal and relational Identities relational members enc ode and decode information about themselves as well as for their partner, extrapolating this information to the relational unit (Aron Aron, 1986). at bottom this framework, the self is conceptualized as inseparable from high-voltage interaction, with each transaction contributing to both self- and relational knowledge. Early work by Mead (1934) identified the centrality of essage exchange in personal identity management. More recent work in relational communication points out that both personal and relational identities are cocreated communicatively within the context of relationship (Wilmot, 1995). Personal identity development is really the florescence of the self while retaining relational ties identities are constituted and managed through relationships, not to their forcing out (Adams Marshall, 1996). relative Culture Shapes Interpretive/Relational SchemataRelational socialisations consist of divided meaning systems, routinized patterns of interaction, and norms that s tructure members roles and behaviors (Wood, 2000). These cultural norms shape relational schemata (Koerner Fitzpatrick, 2002), and these schemata are socialised across the developmental trajectory of the relationship. Socialization involves the social and communicative processes through which cultural knowledge, resources and utilizes are make available and internalized by cultural members (Burleson et al. , 2000, p. 35).As Entman (1993) demonstrated, culture is the stock of commonly evoked interpretive schemata and culture part be defined as the empirically certain set of common interpretive frames exhibited in the discourse and debateing of most people in a relationship (p. 53). Relational schemata are the mental structures that are socialized within a relational culture, organize knowledge about relationships, and are used to process information relevant to these relationships. Therefore, relational cultures will share common schemata and should be reflected in the communica tion practices of relational members.interpersonal Scripts Emerge From Relational Schemata Scripts are one form of communication practice enacted within relationships that emerge from relational schemata (Koerner Fitzpatrick, 2002). Relational scripts trail interaction, exemplify relational work, and dictate prescriptive ways of issuing directives and responses. Scripted interactions are often routine, habituated, and overlearned through repetitive practice in the family culture (Sillars, 1995) however, these scripts are useful in directing the typical ways in which an interaction should be handled accustomed the particular relational schema.When relational members dumbfound practiced in these roles and memorize their lines, these enactments plump scripted. That is, partners may not think about their day-to-day ways of interacting with each other on a conscious level, but they may still tend to excrete in patterned ways with decipherable scripts that enact appropriate relati onal behavior. These a-priori assumptions are implicit in the theoretical framework of NCC.In summary, they presuppose that relational culture shapes partners knowledge of relationships each partners accumulated knowledge of relationships helps her or him to coordinate meanings patterned or scripted communication behavior emerges from relationship schemata and this communication behavior is consequential for interpersonal relationships. Characteristics of Necessary Convergence Communication Necessary convergence communication tolerate be captured by describing its three separate characteristics, equilibrium, burthen proportion of meaningfulness, and motivation, and ii process dimensions, pointedness and chronicity (Miller-Day, 2004).These characteristics are illustrated in Fig. 1 and can be assessed in terms of their valence and intensity in any addicted interpersonal relationship. Insert Figure 1 about here chemical equilibrium When inevitable convergence occurs, thither te nds to be disequilibrium in the relational coordination of meanings. Equilibrium refers to an equality of distribution however when disequilibrium occurs, in that respect is unequal power to determine meanings in interpersonal interaction. Power is a persons ability to catch valuable resources and is often tied to spatial relation.Any type of power such as practiced power, legitimate power, or coercive power is relevant to equilibrium as long as the person is in control of resources considered valuable. Control of resources provide the potency for the movement of power in most relationships, with resources being all knowledge, skills, emotions, words, actions, and materials that are at the organisation of the person. Given the distribution of resources within any specific interpersonal relationship, power powerfulness be evaluated by its outcome, which is dominance.Dominance refers to the phase to which a person can influence and impose their will on the other its counter term, submission, refers to the percentage point to which a person gives up influence or yields to the wishes of the other. I think it is important to keep in mastermind that dominance itself is determined by the submissive response of others. Moreover, as Burgoon, Johnson, and Koch (1998) pointed out, While power enables the display of dominance, and rife behavior may solidify powerthough gibedominance and power are not interchangeable concepts (p. 10). According to Miller-Day (2004), when NCC occurs the relational member who has higher status or more power in the relationship (e. g. , parent, teacher, boss, or romantic partner) would be dominant in im constitute, rather than cooperatively negotiating, meaning in the relationship. Moreover, as one persons power to determine meanings increases, the other persons decreases, this then leads to an unstable situation in which the importance of one partners interpretive frame outweighs the partners. Weighted Proportion of Meaningfuln essThe second characteristic of necessary convergence occurs when one partner submits to the unequal distribution in the power to construct meanings in interaction. Dominance requires submission. Consequently, when a lower-status partner submits, she or he affords the dominant partners meanings more burthenmore significancein the transaction. Developmentally, as most individuals begin to acquire personal authority they naturally flummox separate from parents and others in their life, even as they ride out emotionally connected (Nadien Denmark, 1999).However, as large(p)s form unique relational cultures, they will develop new conjunctives with others. Some times these relationships are purely social and require allowance of meanings for social management purposes for example, in the schoolroom where a professor does not set ahead critical thinking but mandates rote learning memorization and resists any challenge of information. In this case, students are required to accom modate the professors meanings into his or her own brain (and repeat that on the exam ).Anyone who has ever been in a classroom with one of these instructors may empathize with students hardened in a setting where on that point is a low tolerance for differentiation in thinking among members. But the case of relational partners where one partner is dominant in most realms of the relationships and the other submissive, there is both a social and emotional connection between partners. In this case, the dominant partner will typically tight monitoring device any behaviors that signify the submissive partners movement toward differentiation (uniqueness impertinent the relationship), regard slight(prenominal) if emotional ties remain undisturbed.If the less powerful partner resists the imposition of meaning and challenges her partners construction of meaning in the dyadic interaction, then necessary convergence communication has not occurred. It is the absence seizure of resistance the convergencethat is a differentiate feature of this kind of communication. According to NCC, the less powerful partner will be motivated to converge because he or she feels it is necessary. Motivation Motivation is a motive for action, an incentive.This theory argues that when there is a get reason for convergence, such as is to avoid undermining the relationship or to secure relational acceptance, there is change magnitude motivation to converge with the higher-status partner. When acceptance in the relationship is comprehend to be conditional on that convergence, then convergence is perceive as relationally adaptive and the lower-status partner is more likely to perceive convergence as necessary. Necessary convergence, then, might be viewed as a form of secondary control.According to Rosenberg (1990), Secondary control is an attempt to accommodate to objective conditions in order to affect a more satisfying fit with those conditions (p. 147). Although convergence tends not to be explicitly demanded, lower-status partners will perceive it as a condition for relational acceptance. Manipulation of resources in a relationship, such as support, regard, or inclusion, emerged as a significant contributor to asserting dominance in the family relationships observed by Miller-Day (2004).As a form of psychological control, higher-status family members offered and withheld these resources item on the convergence of the lower-status member. The manipulation of emotional resources, therefore, was used to assert psychological dominance with the provision or withdrawal of resources providing a compelling motivation for lower-status partners convergence. According to NCC, once convergence is perceived to be necessary, and one accommodates the dominant partners interpretive frame at the expense of ones own, two additional characteristics become important when assessing necessary convergence floor and chronicity.Process Dimensions Degree. The relative intensity or amount of convergence in any disposed(p) dyadic interaction is important to the process of NCC. The following illustration captures different degrees of convergence. Example An adult charr and a friend are talking. The friend comments that she likes the charwomans new pilusmodal treasure, pulled up on her head with a hair clip. The woman comments that she likes the style too. concisely the adult womans mother walks into the room, looks at her adult daughter, and with a spectre of disapproval says, What have you done to your hair? It looks fearsome on a lower floor conditions of high convergence, the lower-status woman would change her hairstyle extensively as a result of her mothers comment, meet with her mothers interpretation that the style was indeed horrible and altering her schoolmaster interpretation to fit more closely with her mothers. If asked by another, she would explain that the hairstyle looked awful so she altered it. low conditions of clean high convergen ce, the lower-status woman would significantly change her hairstyle as a result of her mothers comment, but just to beguile her mother or to reduce conflict.The lower-status woman would not alter her own interpretation to fit with her mothers interpretation she would merely accommodate the alternative interpretation. Under conditions of moderately low convergence, the lower-status woman might make minor alterations in the hairstyle to integrate both perceptions of what was attractive into one style. Finally, under conditions of low convergence, the lower-status woman might listen to her mothers comment but keep the style anyway because she likes it.As Miller-Day (2004) comments, there are times when we all perceive that it is just easier, necessary, or politically astute to adjust our interpretations to others view of the world. However, when there is extensive adaption and convergence, obliterating personal instructive frames constitutive of self, this might negatively influenc e personal identity. Chronicity. Convergence may be chronic or the pattern of convergence may occur across time and contexts. When lower-status individuals experience repeated failures in negotiating meanings in transactions with a partner across time (e. . , across the life course) and contexts (e. g. , attitudes, values, behaviors), this may instill a reason out expectation of learned impuissance and giving in. Miller-Days (2004) data revealed that women who chronically engaged in necessary convergence had an undefined sense datum of self and lower self-esteem than women who did not engage in convergence. When boundaries between individuals blear in personal relationships, identities may become undefined and convergence communication becomes the modus operandi.Piagets (1972) theory of cognitive development points out that in normal development, both concentration and appointment processes are used concurrently and alternately throughout life. Assimilation being the process of using or transforming the environment so that it can be placed in pre come throughing cognitive structures and accommodation being the process of changing cognitive structures in order to accept something from the environment. Necessary convergence communication offers an explanation for those interactions where accommodation becomes the primary means of making sense of the world.Theoretical conjectures of Necessary Convergence Whereas theoretical assumptions are claims already supported in the research literature, suppositions are considered true or existing but not yet proved. Miller-Day (2004) provided the groundwork for this theory development and I seek to build on that by offering the following suppositions about NCC. I believe these suppositions may provide the necessary building blocks for theory development and offer future directions for empirical testing. Supposition 1 Interactants with more power (e. g. expert, legitimate, reward) in a dyadic social interaction will exert more influence in the construction of meaning than interactants with less power. Coordination of meaning involves power and control and according to this theory meanings can be hijacked. When both partners share moderate levels of power in the relationship, it would be predicted that they would enjoy the equilibrium and co-construction of meaningshared cognitions with a relatively high degree of match between symbol creation and interpretation. But most theories assume co-construction and equilibrium in sharing cognitions.According to NCC, we need to factor in power status of the interactants in the dyadic construction of meaning. Although studies exist that explore social stratification and power in terms of race, gender, and larger cultural hierarchies (see, e. g. , Altheide, 1995 Lyman, 1994), rarely do scholars explore interpersonal dominance and perceptions of status in their attempts to understand meaning construction. Supposition 2 Under conditions where there is diseq uilibriumunequal powerin determining meanings in dyadic social interaction, both partners will afford the dominant partners meanings more significance.If one participant in the communication event is dominant in the dyad then it is predicted that connections between symbol and interpretations can be coerced, and the interpretations of the dominant partner are privileged in that communication event. Supposition 3 Converging with a higher-status partners assigned meanings will function to produce the relational identity. The act of convergence is relationally adaptive. The act of convergence in any given interaction will serve to harbor the entangled identity of the participants and function to maintain the relational status quo.Partners in dominant-submissive relationships will maintains their relational culture through this patterns of responding to each others communicative actsby one requiring convergence and the other converging. Supposition 4 Among submissive partners, necessa ry convergence communication will be positively related to an undifferentiated self. Relationships demonstrate alter degrees of tolerance for intimacy and autonomy through interactions. In differentiated relationships partners are provided with autonomy, while maintaining respect and intimacy.In undifferentiated relationships boundaries are regulated, with high demands for connectedness, and ultimately impeding individual identity (Skowron Schmitt, 2003 Skowron, 2005). Supposition 5 The manipulation of emotional resources by the dominant partner in relationship with an undifferentiated partner will positively predict necessary convergence communication. It is posited that a communication partner who encourages emotional and psychological dependence through the manipulation of emotional resources (e. g. , love, acceptance) will also coerce a high degree of convergence in the communicative interaction.Respectively, a communication partner who is undifferentiated and submits to the d ominant partner will perceive that convergenceor a shared interpretationis necessary to maintain the relationship. Supposition 6 The more chronic and the greater the degree of convergence, the more likely the submissive partner will have a generalized expectancy of learned helplessness predicting increased risk for depression. The theory of learned helplessness (Seligman, 1975) offers a model to explain human depression in which apathy and submitting to more dominant others prevails, causing the person to fully rely on others.This can result when life experiences cause the individual to understand that their own cognitions are irrelevant. Summary This essay introduced necessary convergence communication as a theoretical framework to help explain how meanings can be hijacked by others in interpersonal relationships. Under certain conditions it is predicted that dominant members in interpersonal relationships may be able to control the coordination of meaning in the relationship, subv erting the interpretations of the submissive communication partner.Outlining characteristics of NCC (equilibrium, burden proportion of meaningfulness, and motivation), two process dimensions (degree and chronicity), and posing 6 testable suppositions about NCC, this essay argues that this mid-range theory may be useful in understanding intersubjectivity and interactivity in dyadic social interaction where one partner is dominant and the other submissive. Whether that partnership is interpersonal or relational, there are implications for this kind of communication in understanding interpersonal influence and possibly even mental health outcomes such as depression.Future Directions There are criteria by which theories are judged to be effective. According to Shaw and Costanzo (1970) and Wright (1998), the following criteria may be used for evaluating theories and future research should examine this theoretical framework to assess if it meets these criteria. First, there is explanato ry powerdo the suppositions of the NCC theoretical framework enable scholars to explain as much of the communication phenomenon as likely? Next, is the theoretical model parsimoniousdoes it contain as few suppositions as possible, is it as simple as it can be?Is NCC internally consistent, that is, do the suppositions contradict each other? Does NCC have heuristic potential does it suggest hypotheses to be tested through additional research? Finally, does NCC promote new understanding and have societal value? This essay outlines the features of NCC and proposes suppositions for empirical testing. Future research should test these suppositions with the potential to falsify and/or delimit this theoretical framework.