Long Lasting Relationships
Social Maintenance Behaviors in Relationships
In the episode The Wheel (I), we see several examples of social maintenance behaviors. Dainton, Stafford, and Canary's work shows that "positivity, assurances, and social networking all have particularly strong associations with relational satisfaction (21)." Betty asks Don to come to Thanksgiving with her family, but he says he has to stay home for business. Betty asks him about how this will affect Sally and Bobby's childhood memories, to which he responds that she could have hosted the meal herself.
Knowing that Don and Betty get divorced later on, it might have been beneficial for them to work on their social networking maintenance behavior, spending equal time with each other's networks. Betty has to spend a lot of time hosting business dinners with Don's coworkers, so he should be expected to come to family gatherings. It is hard for Betty to know that Don is choosing work over spending the holiday with her family. Betty says that she thinks he does not want to go, and that she does not understand why he cannot make her family his own. Don does not respond to this statement, also shutting down openness to talk about the problems in their relationship. Later on, Don does sit down with Betty to discuss her day and her feelings about Francine's husband's affair, which momentarily helps them feel closer. (Photo: see Notes, v) |
Maintenance Behavior in Friendships
We see examples of what characterizes long lasting friendships in the video at right. Francine comes to Betty, upset that she just found out that her husband is having an affair. She explains to Betty that she read the phone bill and called a number that was on it, and a woman answered the phone. She explains everything, showing the openness in their friendship. Betty talks to her, trying to be positive and supportive, disagreeing every time Francine says she is stupid and reassuring her that he could be calling anyone.
As seen in many friendships among women, Betty and Francine's relationship consists mainly of talking. According to Canary, Stafford, Hause, and Wallace's work, "several studies have shown that openness, which includes both routine talk and intimate self disclosure, is the cornerstone of all good friendships (22)." They also touch more, as seen when Betty pats Francine and hugs her to console her. (Video: see Notes, w) For more information on references; see Notes. |
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