Glossary

strategies that manage conflict in a way that harms the relationship and can have negative consequences for all parties involved

some people must navigate tensions between or face exaggerated societal oppressions due to overlaps in multiple identities; Crenshaw (who developed the concept of intersectionality) focused on Black women's experience of being Black, women, and Black+women.

Believing in your worth and right to happiness and equity.

Altman & Taylor (1973) argue that as relationships progress, they tend to evolve and deepen through increased disclosure

hen two or more individuals disagree on a matter, leading to a negative emotional state

Loss related to social interactions (or the absence thereof), losing a sense of character, feeling like something is now missing.

putting the needs of others before one's own needs in a conflict

giving one's full attention to the other person and seeking to understand their perspective

a sense of caring, fond feelings, and a generally positive sense of togetherness

communication that involves a delay between when a message is sent and when it is received and interpreted by the receiver

ignoring or sidestepping conflict altogether

When hurtful messages are delivered over and over with the intent to tear someone down (can also include physical hurt)

working together to find a solution that satisfies both parties' needs and interests

win-lose conflict mentality, where the individual focuses on their own needs and goals, often at the expense of others

statements that represent one’s discontent with their partner’s attitude about a situation, a particular behavior, or personal features/characteristics

finding a middle ground that satisfies both parties' needs and interests

preventing conflict from occurring, and de-escalating it when it does occur so no harm is caused

strategies that manage conflict in a way that promotes positive outcomes for all parties involved

statements that represent one’s discontent with the results of their evaluation of a situation or behavior; these exist within a power structure (one person is evaluating, the other is evaluated)

understanding and respecting the cultural differences among colleagues

Beyond being just a way of living, culture includes the ways one is taught to believe, behave, speak, relate, organize, and interact at the personal, professional, social, and political levels. Culture may include more concrete things like foods or holidays, but it can also be abstract—such as a cultural emphasis on "freedom" or "happiness."

the intentional manipulation of information to communicate something other than the truth for one’s own benefit

communication from managers or supervisors to their employees

the ability to work with and understand the drivers of the emotions of oneself and others

community-minded approach to communication and people caring for one another despite roles or identities

The conclusions made about a person in a first encounter.

the act of agreeing to reconcile and move forward following the occurrence of a relational transgression

structured, official communication that follows specific rules and procedures

ideas about what a relationships or situation could or should look like based on previous relational experiences

a manipulative tactic that involves making the other person doubt their own thoughts, feelings, and memories

A “vulnerable and painful state” triggered by loss.

communicators depend on the context in which the message is delivered (i.e., nonverbal signs and symbols, the time and place) to embed meaning in the message

casual, unstructured communication that occurs between colleagues in the workplace

who you are and how you see yourself.

how you share your identity with others through your verbal, nonverbal, and written interpersonal communication.

a breach of relational boundaries via the introduction of a third (or more) parties into an exclusive relationship emotionally, sexually, or affectionately without consent

a “liking for” or interest in another individual

assigning meaning to information.

The ways in which we speak to and think about ourselves internally.

communication between colleagues at the same level in the workplace

Charles Horton Cooley’s (1902) theory that argues that one person’s sense of self is likely shaped by how they think other people see them.

people tend to say what they mean, using words and linguistic details to convey a message.

emphasis on power hierarchies, competition, and assertiveness

any communication that does not involve spoken or written words

Expected behaviors or social responses that correspond to certain situations.

situating the information you select in the context of what you already know, such as what you have been taught or intuition.

The way that you attend to, organize, and interpret information in your environment, including messages from others and sensory indicators like smell or touch.

The loss of something that one can—or can no longer—touch or measure.

keeping information to oneself that no one else has a right to know

any positive action that fosters trust and intimacy between individuals in a relationship

ny behavior that allows one partner to exercise power over another partner, physically or mentally, that causes damage to their self-esteem and their sense of physical or psychological safety

range of actions taken by partners to uphold their relationship

less strategic everyday tasks that help to maintain a relationship

an individual keeping information from others who are directly connected to the information in some fashion

Attending to a piece of information in the environment.

The process of establishing behaviors that promote a comprehensive, lasting sense of wellbeing.

Attributes one perceives in the self without value-assessments (e.g., I play tennis, I spend a lot of time in school, I am part of a big family).

the process of revealing information about yourself to others in a relational context

The degree to which one believes they can perform a task or behavior successfully.

Perceptions of the self that are rooted in value assessments (e.g., I am not very athletic, I am very smart, I am usually good at providing support to others in times of need).

being in close relationships can actually increase one’s sense of efficacy; humans are naturally motivated to seek an increase in efficacy so they have more access to and opportunities to explore the world, and being connected to others helps them achieve that.

This theory explains that your sense of who you are is largely shaped by interpersonal encounters and the groups to which you belong (Tajfel & Turner, 1979)

actions that make us feel like we are not alone

Assumptions or generalizations made about a group of people or individuals in a group.

when someone shuts down emotionally and stops communicating with their partner

ctions that are carried out deliberately to help maintain the relationship

pockets of unique culture situated in the larger culture with which a specific group of people in a larger culture may identify.

communication in which messages are exchanged between the sender and receiver in real time

refusal to have a conversation about a specific topic

communication from employees to their managers or supervisors

exchanging information, ideas, and thoughts through spoken words

exchanging information, ideas, and thoughts through written words