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5 - Uncertainty Perspectives on Relationship Maintenance

from Part II - Theories of Relationship Maintenance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2019

By
Jennifer A. Theiss
Edited by
Brian G. Ogolsky  and
J. Kale Monk
Brian G. Ogolsky
Affiliation:
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
J. Kale Monk
Affiliation:
University of Missouri
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Summary

This chapter focuses on the ways that relational uncertainty can both shape and reflect relationship maintenance behaviors. Relational uncertainty reflects questions about the nature or degree of involvement in close relationships. Relational uncertainty can shape relationship maintenance because, under these conditions, people lack a sufficient framework to guide their own behavior or properly interpret the actions of a partner, which could prevent people from taking actions to maintain or bolster the relationship. When people fail to enact relationship maintenance, the interpersonal climate in the relationship can also give rise to increased questions and uncertainty about relational involvement. This chapter begins by reviewing the different types of uncertainty that can exist in close relationships and describes theory that explicates the role of uncertainty in interpersonal relations. Then, the chapter discusses the ways in which relational uncertainty can be an antecedent to relationship maintenance or an outcome of relationships that are not sufficiently maintained. Finally, the chapter concludes by exploring opportunities for future research on relational uncertainty and relationship maintenance.

Keywords

interdependenceinterference from partnersrelational turbulencerelational uncertaintyrelationship maintenance
Type
Chapter
Information
Relationship Maintenance
Theory, Process, and Context
 , pp. 69 - 85
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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