Critique on Relational Dialectics

Relational Dialectics concerns itself with trying to explain the intricacies of close interpersonal relationships such as those with a lover, close friend, or family. Written by two women, Leslie Baxter and Barbara Montgomery, it comes across a little more "touchy-feely" than other theories. This Humanist quality in the way it iw presented allows myself to critique Relational Dialectics in the following fashion. According to Griffin, there are five standards that are reliable to the critique of Humanist theories, and they are: New understanding of people; clarification of values; aestetic appeal; community agreement; reform society. Taking a closer look.

New Understanding of People

This standard looks at whether or not the theory opens up a new perspective that is uniquely human. When trying to understand the laws that govern relationships, Baxter and Montgomery looked at many relationships and found that there were contradictions, different expectations, and several other misconceptions. This led them to believe that there is only one real truth about close interpersonal ties. That truth is that "personal relationships are indeterminate processes of ongoing flux" (Griffin 179). This basic claim about a uniquely human characteristic is the very cornerstone that Relational Dialectics builds off.

Clarification of Values

Any good Humanistic theory brings out the values of people into the open. Baxter and Montgomery, merely by writing this theory, have made a stance that explains their feelings about personal interactions. They draw much of their theory from the idea of contradiction. Since they found most people wanted to embrace their desires for unity with another, but on the other hand have differentiation from them, it led Baxter and Montgomery to one thing. Their basic claim of "pushmi-pullyu", an idea taken from the animal concept in Dr. Doolittle's chronicles. Whereas the animals were fairly rare, relational contradiction seems to be more frequent.

Aestetic Appeal

This part of the critique plays on how well the theorist(s) paint a picture in the head of the reader. I happen to like the example that Baxter and Montgomery give while referring to contradiction, but the rest of the theory actually comes across bland to myself. I almost think that these dialectics seem pretty self explanatory. However, what I did like about Relational Dialectics from reading it was its easy-to-follow form. It definitely goes from point-to-point in a manner that is easy for the reader to understand.

Community Agreement

According to many other rhetoricians, (including William Rollins, Art Bochner, and Mikhail Bakhtin) there seems to be much assention with Baxter and Montgomery's theory of Relational Dialectics. They all have in some way contributed to the research of or added on to Relational Dialectics. Since many of our movies such as When Harry Met Sally or Children of a Lessor God display this behavior, it could be hypothesized that this theory plays a role in our culture. This only being the case because movies are a form of art. Notioning that art copies culture. This leads me to believe that there is a community agreement about Relational Dialectics.

Reform of Society

According to Griffin, many of his students agree with the form and function of Relational Dialectics. In the eyes of many social scientists first person appreciation doesn't fit the bill as a means of justification as to how relative a theory is, however, Baxter and Montgomery believe the opposite. While not to discount empirical data when present, Baxter and Montgomery state that much can be learned from everyday conversations, diary entries, television and movies, etc. While there may be dissention from scholars about this thoery, there must also be an appreciation for those who put effort in and sustain a relationship.

For another critique on Relational Dialectics click here for another site by a student from Dr. Lee's, Inco 234 course.

For a research report click on Kathleen. For an application click on Shannon. To go back to the Title Page.

Works Cited

Griffin, Em. A First Look at Communication Theory. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.

This page created on October 17, 1999.