The Dark Side of Personal Relationships

Catalog description

This particular course focuses on "the dark side" of interpersonal and family communication. Although much of communication research orients us to the value of open, honest, effective, and competent communication, this course acknowledges that an examination of the "brighter" sides of communication only provide part of the picture in everyday communication. Certainly, many of you have experienced lying, ambiguity, gossip, jealousy, loneliness, conflict, rejections, over sharing, criticism, shame, etc. in your interpersonal and family relationships. The goal of this course is to explore research, concepts, and theories that illuminate "the dark side" of relationships and provide orientation for understanding the dark side as inseparable from the bright side in understanding interpersonal and family communication. Satisfies Magis Core Doing Social Science. P: Understanding Social Science course.