Briefly explain the various types of relationships.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

How we communicate varies based on relationship type. Moving on a scale of continuum from impersonal to personal, relationships can be classified as acquaintances, friends, and intimates.
I. Acquaintances: Acquaintances are people we know by name, but with whom our interactions are limited. For example, we may be acquaintances with those living in the same neighborhood, apartment building, or residence hall. We may also be acquaintances with classmates or co-workers. They make no effort to share personal ideas or to see each other outside of class. Most conversations with acquaintances can be defined as impersonal communication, which is essentially interchangeable chit-chat. In other words, they may talk about the same thing. The goals when communicating with acquaintances are usually to reduce uncertainty and maintain face. Uncertainty can be reduced by seeking information that may reveal similar beliefs, attitudes, and values. Saving face is the process of attempting to maintain a positive self-image in a relational situation.
II. Friends: Friends are people with whom we have voluntarily negotiated more personal relationships. People often refer to friends according to the context in which we interact with them. These context friendships may fade if the context changes. For instance, friendship with a person at an office may fade if one of the friends takes a job with a different company.
III. Intimates: Intimates are close, personal friends with whom we share a high degree of interdependence, commitment, disclosure, understanding, affection, and trust. We may have countless acquaintances and many friends, but we are likely to have only a few truly intimate relationships. Intimate relationships can be platonic or romantic. A platonic relationship is one in which partners are not sexually attracted to each other or do not act on an attraction they feel. A romantic relationship is one in which partners acknowledge their sexual attraction to one another.
Regardless of whether the relationship is platonic or romantic, both partners must trust each other for it to become and remain intimate. Trust is placing confidence in another in a way that almost always involves some risk.