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Relationships in home & community environments: A transactional and dialectic analysis

Barbara B.Brown, Carol M.Werner, & Irwin Altman

IAPS conference, July 7-10, 2004; Vienna, Austria

Version of a chapter to appear in:D. Perlman & A. Vangelisti, The Cambridge

handbook of personal relationships. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Barbara B.Brown, U of U, 225 S 1400 E Rm228 SLC, UT 84112-0080

Barbara.brown@fcs.utah.edu

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Transactional world view

Holistic: Environment has physical, social/cultural, psychological, & temporal aspects, not separable parts

Goal: Understand patterned & changing nature of these aspects Aristotelian “formal cause,” not just

“efficient cause”

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Dialectic approach

Relationships are fueled by dialectic Opposition Unity Change

Relationship dialectics include Engagement Affect Regulation

We focus today on engagement Change & coexistence of openness &

closedness forces 3 historical eras + projecting future changes

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Dialectics of Open-Closed (O/C)

Privacy regulation theory Openness and closedness forces exist:

O/C Simultaneously, holistically Changing over time

Multiple ways to achieve desired O/C Verbal & paraverbal Use of cultural rules for engagements Use of physical environment

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Our transactional model (Altman, Brown, & Werner)

Environments create & reflect opportunities,

constraints convey messages

Settings defined by Multiple domains & levels

Physical, policy, culture, psychology At macro & micro scale Exhibiting change & stability

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Early Colonial era: O/c

Households large & perhaps non-nuclear

Civil, church authorities highly engaged w. families

Shared labor, space, hi neighboring

Civil authority Church

Parents,

children,

boarders

Neighbors

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Sample Colonial homes

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Victorian era homes

Somewhat smaller families Many more barriers around family And between men, women, children At home, in public

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Openness: Mothers provide open, tranquil domestic settings & events

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Victorian estate allows o/C

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Divisions to maintain (1888 estate)

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Separate his and her fireplaces

Separate places by age, sex, status

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Separate Victorian chairs: His & hers

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Anti-separation sentiment ends era

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Early suburban era homes

Smaller families & homes Intimate, companionate, informal Men, women separate roles Child focused (Kids seen & heard)

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1950s “His” chair What does HE like to come home to? . .

The loving wife? The laughing kiddies? The pipe and slippers? Faithful Fido? YES . . . and his “care chasing” Clevelander.

Here’s the new addition for his family of affections! Another treasure to tuck in his favorite corner--the chair whose comfort chases cares away . . . the chair so comfortable that fatigue and tension flee in a flurry of pleasant dreams . . . the chair

designed to support every body line . . . and cushioned in resilient Blocksom Paratex rubberized hair! So watch him carefully, my fair lady. Watch as the back, seat and foot-rest automatically synchronize in motion . . . adjusting to his favorite position. Yes watch carefully, for comes tomorrow, you too can steal a few moments of heavenly bliss from the family favorite . . .

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Early suburban era problems

Nuclear family dominance Isolates women w/o paid jobs Or time starves those w. paid jobs Isolates non-drivers: kids, elders, poor

Sprawling landscapes & bigger homes Loss of community spaces

(neighborhood schools, porches) & addition of commute time

Attractions: TV, air conditioning, back patio

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Future predictions: O/C variations

Changes in society, technology, housing, communities

Openness & Closedness variations may include: More openness or closedness at home More openness or closedness

between home and community Changed regulatory mechanisms or

times

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More openness with community

Co-housing, neighborhood work centers

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More closedness from community

Escaping crime, traffic noise

Or drawn to large and comfortable interiors

Gated community ad: “Nurture yourself in this loving environment. Nature, peace, and tranquility can be yours.”

Testimonial: Julian has a friendly, safe and peaceful lifestyle not found in today's cities and suburbs. Beauty abounds everywhere

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More closedness within homes

For home workers, “refilled nests,” elders cared for by others, abuse victims

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More closedness within homes

Parents & children in separate or joined structures

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More openness within homes

Housing for singles, childfree couples, empty nesters, immigrant families

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Summary

Demographic, technological, cultural changes

Demonstrate a need for a variety of physical supports

For more and less openness & closedness

Within the home and between home & community