Running head: COMMUNICATION THEORY 1

Communication Theory
Name
Institution

Communication Theory
Introduction
Communication is the information transfer from one place to another using words, signs,

behaviors or sounds while expressing or exchanging the ideas, feeling, or thoughts from an

individual (Meyer, 2003). There have been many different theories about communication put

forward and how these theories play a pivotal role in everyday life. One such theory is the CPM

Theory, a methodological research hypothesis. Another theory of interest in this paper is the

Relational Dialectics theory, which refers to a relational communication hypothesis concerning a

close private relationship and ties that usually leads to struggles, interplay, and tension between

the contrary tendencies.

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These two theories explore communication using both nonverbal as well as verbal means

and are useful in helping individuals develop their individual and social connections. While

every correspondence hypothesis is altogether different from each other, every one of them offers

its favorable circumstances to your social associations and relationship administration (Petronio,

2002). In this paper, we review the two theories, the CPM theory and the Relational Dialectics

theory and combine the two to come up with my theory titled Relational Privacy Dialectic

theory (Petronio, 2002).

Literature Review of Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory

As indicated by Taylor and Altman's social infiltration hypothesis, a cozy relationship

must be created independently from anyone else disclosure (Margulis, 2003). Atman, Baxter, and

Montgomery concluded that openness and transparency are the main parts of the communication.

The CPM hypothesis was at first known as correspondence limit administration. In 2002,

nonetheless, the founder transformed it to CPM theory. As indicated by her, privacy is the

principle message of the hypothesis. Also, Altman and Petronio theories affirms that

acknowledgement of private info reinforces individual ties (Margulis, 2003). Likewise, the

researcher says revelation would give individuals a chance to enable you to recognize a strategy

and solace you. In like manner, Petronio sees Communication Privacy Management hypothesis

as a timetable of the way individuals explore privacy/protection (Petronio, 2010). In this manner,

the theorist aim is to instigate individuals' creative impulses of security limits that encompass

their info other individuals do not have.

CPM hypothesis flawlessly realizes five of the six guidelines of a decent interpretive

hypothesis. Petronio painstakingly plots different ways individuals oversee private info and

discovers why they settle on the choices they make. Theorist, Petronio (2002), lead a personal

research to expand their privacy info management knowledge. He carried out this research using
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the open-interview method.

In addition, Petronio convincingly expounds on how quick trust erodes whenever

privacy/protection rules are abused, and the significance of co-proprietor arrangements. In any

case, she neither gives knowledge on the best way to supervise those transactions nor depicts

answers for the doubt caused by limit turbulence. Along these lines, we trust Petronio should

additionally grow the hypothesis to propose how to effectively arrange shared limits and give

intends to determine the turbulence occurring when there is continued violations of individual

privacy (Petronio, 2002).

Literature Review of the Relational Dialectics Theory
The Dialectic theory is a personal communication hypothesis involving close individual

relationship and ties highlighting the tussles, interplay and the tensions among the contrary

tendencies. The relational dialectics theory put forward by Rawlins and Leslie views the

communications patterns in relationships from the prevalent dialectic tensions. According to

Baxter (2011), the contradictions experienced within common folk proverbs like birds of same

feathers flock together conforms to the individual's relationships experience of a person. With the

view of the Relational dialectic theory, while making choices, individuals give the voice diverse

viewpoints as well as the desires that usually contradict one another (Baxter, 2011). According to

Baxter (2011), the relational dialectic theory elaborates the Bakhtin’s idea that argued life to be

an open monologue. Bakhtin’s argued that humans experiences collisions among the conflicting

desires as well as the requirements within the relational communications dialect. The Baxter

theory encompasses the list of relational dialectic tensions. The list gives a reminder to

individuals that relationships are continually dynamic, and that a relationship, which is both

satisfying and successful, are constantly given attention (Baxter, 2011). Even though Baxter’s

thoroughly describe relational dialectics theory, the description is not all-inclusive and precise

since individuals encounter different tensions in different ways. However, correct application of
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relational dialectic theory could lead to prevention and solutions of numerous conflicts witnessed

amongst the married couples (Baxter, 2011).

The deteriorating physical health of married couples today had been attested to the increasing

levels of marital conflict. Research has proven that the disagreements affect functional

limitations as well as depressive symptoms. There is need to understand human behavior, most

especially the patterns involved in their conversations. In the recent times, researchers have

seized to credit the marital conflict issue with urgency by arguing that marriages have become

more intimate because couples can fight. Some scholars and individuals argue that conflict is

normal and a relationship with no signs of disagreement is a sign of trouble. Despite all the

scholarly assumptions made, the relational dialectic theory seeks to analyze the behavior changes

between couples by applying contradictions that balance a relationship so as a means of ensuring

healthy relationships are established, thereby increasing the physical health of married couples.
Findings, Reflections, and Integration of the Two Theories
Per the CPM theory, we discovered a constructive connection with age and IPM, implying

that individuals in their old age will probably make utilization of individual privacy information-

management procedures in Facebook. Following the findings of Meyer (2003), we also realized

that females are additionally more inclined to score higher on IPM in correlation to male

counterparts. The CPM theory demonstrates privacy and protection turbulence concerns as

indicators of privacy/security administration (Petronio, 2002).

On the other hand, the relational dialectic theory considers relationships as nonlinear and at

the same time do not move forward in a ranged manner or organized fashion. According to

Baxter (2011), relational life is characterized by changes. These changes are qualitative and

quantitative movements via time of the underlying contradictions. In Meyer (2003) view,

discourse is core to negotiating and organizing relational illogicalities. The major concepts

eluded in this theory are; motion- defined to be the organic process of the relationship.
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Contradiction, which refers to antagonistic elements in line with the relational theory, and

Totality- which means the acceptance of the mutual influence and ties that come with

relationship (Hosek, & Thompson, 2009).

Looking into the totality of the two theories, they have a lot in common concerning the

ideologies and concepts. The two theories relate in many conceptualized manner that could be

integrated together to formulate a single basic hypothesis housing the ideas of both theories.

Ideologically, my formulated hypothesis of these two theories is titled Relational Privacy

Dialectic theory. The Relational Dialectic theory dwells on two dogmas; the Monologic

contradiction and Dualistic approach (Hosek, & Thompson, 2009).

Relational Privacy Dialectic theory
As mentioned earlier, the relational privacy dialectic theory formulates on the concepts of

Monologic contradiction and the Dualistic approach. The Monologic contradiction refers to the

way individuals are viewing and thinking of contradictions to be mutually exclusive. In that line

of mutually exclusive, the two contradicting and opposing things or ideas are taken never to

relate at all. On the other hand, the dualistic approach would be thinking and arguing that the

different parts of a contradiction could be separate. It sounds unrealistic and unlikely to compare

the unicycles to relationships. However, the same way unicyclist continues striving to keep

balance against the opposing forces gives a perfect description of the relational privacy dialectic

theory (Hosek, & Thompson, 2009). Individual relationships has so many opposing forces that

unless the individuals entangled in this relationship finds a way to continually keep them at bay,

then they have no chance of maintaining healthy, realistic and successful relationship. In line

with Montgomery who described riding a bicycle as an antagonistic force that must be kept in

balance, keeping in balance one must keep changing movements, the same way human

relationship needs continued changes to keep it in check thereby not falling out.
The relational privacy dialectic theory agrees that social life is a dynamic knot of
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contradictions. However, it goes further to expand on the concept arguing that to keep

relationships healthy and successful, then continually striving for balance is the key component

(Hosek, & Thompson, 2009). In my view, the relational privacy dialectics theory will expose

tensions of the interpersonal ties. The theory also assumes constant repairs as well as the repair

of the existing tensions. This makes the RPD theory significantly useful for guiding how tensions

are managed with regards to individual relationships (Meyer, 2003). All-inclusive research has

been carried out concerning what role and the impact of the dialectic tension play in the

management of the relationship. After gaining a little understanding of some theories of

communication, self-application of these theories can aid in improving one’s communication

while avoiding harmful or distracting means of communicating in the future (De Wolf, Willaert

& Pierson, 2014). Through highlighting the concept of the RPD theory having real-world

applications, there can be a better understanding of ways communication takes place. It builds up

an educated comprehension of how individuals choose to cover private info. The hypothesis

recommends that individuals control the breaking points of what they wish to share (protection

limits) utilizing diverse correspondence designs chosen by the apparent expenses and advantages

of info exposue (Petronio, 2013).

The Basic Concepts and Assumptions of the Relational Privacy Dialectic Theory
Openness and privacy: the two concepts antagonized each other. Whenever privacy

demands to hold information, openness requires disclosure of more information. The new theory

harmonizes the concept to avoid conflict in relationships. Such that the parties know what to hold

back and when while in dialect (Hosek, & Thompson, 2009). The openness and privacy tension

deal with the desire to let out the secret while at the same time the other part argues for the

keeping them hidden. For instance, gossipers tell stories disclosing secrets about other while

keeping the parts they involved. Do avoid such scenarios those in relationships use withdrawal
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techniques, topic selection, probing, time alteration, deceptions, and anti-social strategies (De

Wolf, Willaert & Pierson, 2014).

Connectedness and Autonomy: These two concepts are the principle strains within the

setting of a relationship. Couples struggle to keep their individual identities which very vital to a

personality. For the connectedness and autonomy to work, certain personalities must be

sacrificed to enable the relation to work. The RPD theory identifies the personalities related to

security that can easily be sacrificed for the sake of the relationship working. It also notes that

the disclosure in a relationship will requires and needs proper management of private boundaries

as well as the public boundaries inversions (Metzger, 2007). However, the boundaries are

between those feelings that an individual wants to make known and the one he/she feels should

remain private. The theory though cautions that whenever what to disclose is too little and what

keep private makes a bigger chunk, the relationship is bound to fail. Individuals ought to observe

the balance.
Predictability and Novelty: The RPD theory goes in hand with what Berger’s theory

argument that uncertainty reduction argues arguably the idea that, individuals prefers

predictability in their relationship to certain levels. The RPD theory does not dispute that,

however, RPD theory further argues that it is improper to ignore your partner’s desire for

spontaneity, novelty, mystery and the occasional surprises the rekindles the relationship.
Relational Privacy Dialectic Theory Scheme
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Openness/Closedness: this
refers the tension arising
between being
closed/keeping to yourself
and exclusive versus having
an open relationship to see
other persons.
Connection/Autonomy: Predictability/Novelty:
This is the desire to remain This is the tension between
independent, having info newness, adventure and
privacy versus experiencing experience versus stability,
a closely connected sameness and
relationship predictability

Dialectic
Dynamic
Tension

The RPD theory Application

The RPD is applicable almost in all sectors of communication and across different contexts.

Primarily, RPD theory help solve issues in family communication and in particular focuses on

the parental to children as well as children to children information privacy inversions (Metzger,

2007). The RPD theory work also well for online social media which has recently become a

major source of conflicts among couples. The theory is also applicable in relational issues, health

issues, and the work environment related issues (De Wolf, Willaert & Pierson, 2014).
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Work Cited
Baxter, Leslie A. (2011). Voicing relationships: A dialogic perspective. Thousand Oaks, CA:

Sage.
De Wolf, R., Willaert, K., & Pierson, J. (2014). Managing privacy boundaries together:

Exploring individual and group privacy management strategies on Facebook. Computers

in Human Behavior, 35, 444-454.

Hosek, A. M., & Thompson, J. (2009). Communication privacy management and college

instruction: Exploring the rules and boundaries that frame instructor private

disclosures.Communication Education, 58(3), 327-349.

Margulis, S. T. (2003). On the status and contribution of Westin's and Altman's theories of

privacy. Journal of Social Issues, 59(2), 411-429.

Metzger, M. J. (2007). Communication privacy management in electronic commerce. Journal of

Computer‐Mediated Communication, 12(2), 335-361.

Meyer, M. E. (2003). ""It's me. I'm it.": Defining Adolescent Sexual Identity through Relational

Dialectics in Dawson's Creek". Communication Quarterly. 51 (3): 262–

276. doi:10.1080/01463370309370156
Petronio, S. (2002). Boundaries of Privacy: Dialectics of Disclosure. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.
Petronio, S. (2013). Brief status report on communication privacy management theory. Journal

of Family Communication, 13(1), 6-14.

Rawlins, William K. (1992). Friendship Matters: Communication, Dialectics, and the Life

Course. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine de Gruyter.