Relationships are central to our lives, and communication plays a central role in them. In addition, relationship matters may even be the most common topic of our everyday conversations. This module analyses the theories and interdisciplinary research on relational aspects of interpersonal communication. Our primary focus is on communication in close relationships: e.g. relationships with friends, family members, and, in particular, romantic partners. We will analyse the communication processes involved in the dynamics of relationships (e.g. initiation, development, maintenance, conflict, repair, de-escalation, termination), including both the ‘bright’ and ‘dark’ sides of relational communication.   

• Summarise and critically evaluate various theories, ideas, arguments and empirical research relating to communication in the development, maintenance, decline and loss of relationships 

• Identify and analyse relevant communication behaviour and relate it appropriately to the theoretical and empirical content of the module 

• Select and use effectively appropriate written/spoken conventions and tools to respond to different assessment tasks and types 

• Demonstrate self-reflection skills and self-regulated learning through self and peer assessment processes  

The module will be delivered through a mix of large group and small group sessions, including, where relevant, asynchronous materials such as lecture recordings. 

This module encourages students to assess theories and arguments through reference to their own experience and knowledge. This itself involves understanding and applying different approaches to a range of interpersonal relational matters (such as development, conflict, termination), as well as critically evaluating theories, and appropriately presenting work stemming from this. Discipline-specific skills can be seen very much in terms of personal and social skills that enhance the quality of personal and professional lives. Such skills are transferrable to a range of professions such as teaching, counselling, personnel management and any other contexts where effective interpersonal communication regarding human relationships is an important factor.  

There are two summative elements to the assessment for this module: 

1) PORTFOLIO (worth 80%) 

The Communicating in Relationships portfolio is made up of: 

Two mini-assignments, worth 40% each (1250 words per piece; 80% in total), one on each of the following themes:  

i) Communicating relational closeness (weeks 4-7) (self-assessment and peer feedback week 9)  

ii) Communicating relational difficulties (weeks 8-10) (self-assessment and lecturer formative feedback week 11)  

Within the themes of relational closeness and relational difficulties, you will draw on the theoretical content discussed in weeks 1-3.  

2)GROUPWORK TASKS (worth 20%)  

There will be four tasks, worth 5% each, that you are required to complete in your Study Group  

Tasks include:  

Evidence of group discussions; brief analyses of texts/videos/TV programmes; self-reflective tasks; self-assessment tasks; peer review/feedback tasks.  

These tasks require collaborative group work. They are to be carried out in your Study Groups and submitted to your groupwork task portal by the relevant deadline. Your lecturer will mark the tasks within a week and indicate one strength and one area to work on. 

Condonements: If you have valid reasons (e.g., illness; personal/family emergency; job interview) for missing up to two groupwork tasks, there will be the opportunity for you to submit an individual task for those two occasions. You need to email the lecturer by the end of the relevant week(s) to arrange for that to happen. If you miss more than two groupwork tasks for valid reasons, it is up to you to decide if you would like to apply for extenuating circumstances. 

FORMATIVE FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITIES:  

You will receive and give peer-feedback on mini-assignment 1 and will have the opportunity for lecturer formative feedback on mini-assignment 2.  

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE: 

Opportunities for re-assessment are only permitted provided you have not failed more credit than in the resit rule adopted by your programme.  If the amount of credit you have failed is more than permitted by the relevant resit rule, you may be permitted to repeat study if you are within the threshold set for the Repeat rule adopted by your programme.  You will be notified of your eligibility to resit/repeat any modules after the Examining Board in the Summer period. 

All resit assessments will be held in the Resit Examination period, prior to the start of the following academic session. All resits will be available in the same format as the original assessment. 

The module will cover material regarding definitions of relational communication; relational cultures and perspectives; an overview of relational theories; stage theories of relational development; uncertainty reduction; social exchange; aspects of computer-mediated relationships; dialectics; turning points; relational problems and challenges; repairing damaged relationships; terminating and dissolving relationships.