Relationship Building
Relationship Building
In the episode The Mountain King (G), we are introduced to changes in relationships over time through relational turning points. Don visits an old friend in California. A flashback shows the beginning of Don and Anna's relationship. It was originally a role relationship that escalated into a close relationship. In the flashback, Anna comes to Don with the purpose of finding answers regarding her husband's whereabouts. Don explains that her husband had died, saying that the two men had been mistaken for one another. This also reveals how Don took the name "Don Draper." Don begins to self-disclose, telling her that his real name is Dick Whitman. He also tells Anna that he has Don's dog tags and medals and that she can have them.
Don visits occasionally over the years and has a special bond with Anna because she is the only one who knows the secrets about his past. While Don and Anna are discussing life on her porch, she lets him know that they do not have to talk about the past, but she will listen if he chooses to do so. See the video at right for a clip of this conversation. According to Guerrero (2011), "quality communication focuses on special times when two people have high-quality interactions, such as an especially long and intimate conversation (14)." This bond, emotional attachment, and Don's commitment to Anna transform their role relationship into a close relationship. To speak of their relationship in terms of relational turning points, it began with the crisis and conflict of Anna's husband dying and Don taking his identity. Instead of ruining their relationship, this event was the initiating event. They spent time getting to know each other and had communication based turning points through quality communication when they lived together and when he visited. Through flashbacks, we see Don and Anna participate in activities and special occasions together. They spend Christmas together and Don tells Anna about wanting to ask Betty to marry him. She is so special to him that he wants her to meet Betty. Changes in family occur once Don marries Betty. Proximity and distance affected how much he could see Anna once Don moved to New York. Don committed to supporting Anna for the rest of her life, so they maintained a bond. (Video: see Notes, l) |
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Goals in Relationships
In this episode, we are introduced to the relationship between Joan and her boyfriend, Greg. She introduced Greg to the office as her fiancé, a doctor. This makes it seem as though Joan's goal in this relationship is self presentational. She uses her relationship with a doctor to impress others. Greg uses Joan's beauty to improve his image to others as well. Joan brags about how difficult Greg's job is to impress Peggy. Joan and Greg both project an image of happiness and pride in their relationship, but Greg is actually very insecure about Joan's past relationships. He rapes her in the office and she continues to speak highly of him, creating a good image of him and of their relationship, despite her true feelings.
They are also in a relationship for instrumental reasons. Joan will be married to a successful doctor who makes enough money that she will no longer have to work. Greg will have someone to run his home and entertain guests. Their instrumental goal is directly related to the relational goal of getting married. According to Guerrero (2011), "at every stage in a relationship, we have goals and plans for the future of that relationship (15)." (Photo: see Notes, m) For more information on references; see Notes. |