The communication event under study occurred between a teenage girl and her mother as the girl wanted to understand the physical and emotional changes she was experiencing. The conversation happened in the girl’s bedroom at night as the mother went to kiss her goodnight.
Description, Application, and Justification of Social Exchange Theory
This communication event can be best explained using George Casper Homan’s Social Exchange Theory, which is based on ‘give and take’ grounds. In this case, the participants have equal expectations from the relationship as the expectations make the relationship meaningful. The theory further states that the participants are obligated to reciprocate feelings and emotions to enhance its continuity. Furthermore, this theory establishes that participants of an interpersonal relationship ought to invest their energy and time if they are to get anything out of the relationship (Redmond, 2015).
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The girl is uncertain and overwhelmed by the changes while the mother is concerned and excited for her daughter who is now a young adult. In this case, the mother needs to help her daughter to get over her fears, while the mother expects the girl to be open and share her feelings. For the girl to open up about her emotional and physical changes to her mother, the mother must have invested her time and energy to show concern for her daughter. This social exchange aspect will help both participants to build an effective mother-daughter relationship long after the girl gets over the changes.
Evaluation of Social Exchange Theory’s Usefulness in Understanding the Communication Event
The Social Exchange Theory is useful in understanding the aforementioned communication event, as it is an effective framework for understanding interpersonal and organizational theories concepts. Some of the interpersonal communication concepts related to the theory include coalition, self-disclosure, and climate. In the communication event, the girl expresses her feelings through self-disclosure, which allows her mother to understand her condition. From here, the mother and the girl can then form a coalition, where they will be discussing all aspects of their relationship. The success of this relationship will be dependent on the prevailing social and cultural climate in which the relationship is based. If the participants create a favorable climate free of judgments and hostilities, the relationship is bound to thrive
Reference
Redmond, M. V. (2015). Social Exchange Theory. Iowa State University: English Technical Reports and White Papers. 5.
