Abstract
There is poor information regarding communication patterns among individuals under various naturalistic observations. This could become a problematic issue in assessing and understanding the significance of intimate relationships among dyadic groups. A total of 470 participants were selected that comprised 75 male- male, 77 male –female and 83 female -female combinations as dyadic pairs. Groups other than pairs were excluded. The study was conducted at a Michigan Ave Food court, University campus and the participants were randomly chosen when they were informed about the investigation and told to converse naturally. It was observed that male to male dyad was furthest with a distance of 22.2213 inches, female to female dyad was intermediate with14.8883 inches and male to female was closest with a distance of 13.800 inches. It can be concluded that dyadic conversations between the members of the opposite sex have potential to influence intimate relationships compared to other dyadic pairs. This has good implications for enhancing the counseling interventions.
Introduction
Relationships among the individuals vary under special circumstances where distance and observation were considered as important components. Places or areas like malls, library, park or lounges tend to influence the interactions between individuals like male to male, male to female and female to female. Acquaintance or friendships get strengthened through these forms of interactions/ communications which are more particularly known as Dyads. Communication patterns are often governed by outside settings.It is not known fully whether such atmosphere is facilitating pleasant interactions when observed at different distances. There is a need of determining naturalistic observation between individuals keeping in view of available studies documented. (Robert et al., 1980)
Robert et al (1980) previously described that interactions were mostly influenced by the members of the opposite sex when they were observed while sitting on benches in parks and sharing tables. This could indicate that naturalistic setting is playing vital role in enhancing better relationship. It can also be inferred that sex composition is having strong role in determining the patterns of interactions in dyads. Although place and /or sex is playing key role in determining an interaction, it is reasonable to connect this part of description with distance. This could be because the dyad groups when begin conserving from distances may experience a sort of psychological feeling which could turn out in the form of intimate relationship.
This factor could become altered when a delay caused due to the impact of long distances, such as number of empty spaces or seats, seating patterns overcomes the interference of sex composition. Therefore, it may indicate that communication patterns between the members of the opposite sex may get altered with spatial arrangements in a setting. Here, a delay in the communication patterns could also be anticipated between dyadic pairs because of indifference shown the members which could be due to mood alteration or stress. Recently, it was reported that stressful events largely influence the intimate relationships among the individuals who serve as providers and recipients (Lida et al., 2008).
Here factors such as mood, relationship emotions, support and the history of its exchanges were hypothesized to predict daily support for conditions suitable for communication (Lida et al., 2008). This could indicate that dyadic interactions between two individuals have strong psychological background. Here, it is reasonable to mention that the concept of sociopsychology has potential to determine the characteristics and relationships of individuals. Hence, social interactions/relationships could be considered to possess good implications for assessing the dyadic conversations (Lida et al., 2008). However, the mechanism that drives the dyadic communication patterns needs to be resolved.
For this purpose, it was described that the dynamics of interactions are largely dependant on autonomy, competence, and relatedness as they have potential to contribute to pleasant interpersonal experiences (Downie, Mageau, & Koestner, 2008). As reported, the study participants interacted in a dyadic pattern with the family members and friends. They experienced a feeling of sovereignty and relatedness. This may indicate that relationships under dyadic conditions are contributing to increased motivational dynamics of interpersonal relations (Downie, Mageau, & Koestner, 2008). Hence, it may be inferred that dyadic conversations induce a social well being when prompted to occur between related individuals under naturalistic settings. However, whether these interactions have an association with long or short distances is a matter of further investigation.
Therefore, the literature cited above is having limited information on dyadic conversation observed from distances with regard to sex composition. For this purpose, a study was undertaken between various dyads who were pairs of male-male, female-female, and male-female adults conversing with one another.
Method
Participants
A total of 470 participants categorized into three dyads such as male-male, female-female, and male-female adults were selected.There were 75 male- male, 77 male –female and 83 female -female combinations.
Materials
For recording the data, pens and specially designed collection sheets were used.
Procedure
The dyads were chosen randomly when they were found conversing with one another at the Food Court, University Campus. They were approached by the investigating team and informed about the study. Here it is not known whether relationships facilitate pleasant interactions under naturalistic observations. They may or may not influence dyadic conversation from distance. In order to validate this hypothesis the dyadic groups comprising male and female
were told to involve in a conversation. The distance at which the conversation occurred was recorded for all the groups such as male to male, male to female and female to female.
Results
The hypothesis that was focusing on the interactions between dyads was tested. Here ,the observations were done for a total period of three months from January 2009 to March 2009.The mean distance observed for male to male dyad was 22.2213 inches which was furthest, and female to female was 14.8883 inches the intermediate and the male to female was 13.800 inches the closest. Here the independent variables were three dyads and dependant variables constitute the closed distance at which the dyadic pairs were standing based on their sex.
Discussion
In the present study dyadic conversations have been largely influenced by relationships where gender differences have a major role. Firstly, male to female dyadic conversation was closest. This could be due to more liberty expressed by this dyadic pair that could have strengthened relationships among those members indicating a lengthy and pleasant interaction. This could support the study of Downie and his workers who described sovereignty and relatedness as the contributing factors to pleasant dyadic conversations. This could clearly indicate that a relationships in association with closed distance could play an important role in determining the continuity of dyadic conversations among members of the opposite sex.Secondly, male to male dyadic observation was high compared to that of female to female Here, a slight increase in the distance might be due to the common perception of ‘maleness’ among this dyadic pair who have shown some degree of relationship. Similar feelings might have contributed to increased distance among female to female dyads that was considered intermediate.
But, the members of this dyadic pair might have shown more intimate relationship in contrast to male to male dyadic pair. This could indicate a variation in autonomy that has potential to influence relationships between members of the same sex in a dyadic setting. This was also in agreement with variation in distances, previously observed (Robert et al., 1980). Further, there was no delay in the dyadic conversations among the present study participants. This could indicate that there were no confounding variables such as stressors that could have otherwise altered the mood and interest. It is reasonable to mention that this finding was in agreement with the investigations carried out by Lida and his co workers on the role of stressful events. Therefore, the observations of the present study have supported the hypothesis on the role intimate relationships. The present study has implications for enabling better counseling opportunities between members of the opposite sex with regard to their mutual relationships. This is because such dyadic relationships could help in better understanding the married life at the later stages. Therefore, there is a need to carry out good number of dyadic studies with the scope of understanding the psychological behavior under various settings.
References
Downie, M., Mageau, G.A., Koestner, R. (2008). What makes for a pleasant social interaction? Motivational dynamics of interpersonal relations. J Soc Psychol, 148,523-34.
Lida, M., Seidman, G., Shrout, P.E., Fujita, K., Bolger, N. (2008). Modeling support provision in intimate relationships. J Pers Soc Psychol, 94, 460-78.
Robert, M. Evans, Paul, D Cherulink et al (1980). J Soc Psychol, 110,139-140.