Interpersonal relationship
An interpersonal relationship is a social association between people, shaped by their interactions, emotions, expectations, and degree of closeness.
Interpersonal communication: The exchange of messages, meanings, and signals between people. Relationships develop through the messages and signals people exchange.
Self-disclosure: The act of revealing personal information, thoughts, or feelings to another person. Reciprocal disclosure can deepen familiarity and emotional closeness.
Friendship: A voluntary, typically affectionate bond between people who value one another’s companionship. Friendship is a close relationship usually formed outside kinship or formal obligation.
Social network: A structure of people or groups connected by social ties. A relationship is one tie within the wider network of social connections.
Attachment theory: A psychological framework explaining how bonds with caregivers shape patterns of closeness and security. Attachment patterns influence trust, dependence, and comfort with intimacy.
Active listening: A communication practice involving attentive listening and responses that show understanding. Attentive responses help people feel understood during interaction.
Romantic relationship: A relationship involving romantic attraction and often emotional or physical intimacy. Romantic bonds combine attraction with forms of intimacy and commitment.
Social interaction: An exchange in which people influence one another’s actions or responses. An interaction can be brief, while a relationship usually extends across encounters.
Social exchange theory: A theory that explains social behavior through perceived rewards, costs, and alternatives. People may assess relationships through their perceived benefits and costs.
Conflict resolution: Methods for addressing disagreements and reaching decisions or agreements. How disagreements are handled can shape a relationship’s stability.