By: Betiel Mussie
According to a study done by the University of Chicago,
couples in close relationships believe that they have strong communication
skills. In actuality these couples communicate no better than strangers. In a
University of Chicago’s closeness-communication bias study, 24 married couples
were asked to figure out the meaning behind vague phrases. The study was repeated with the couples being
separated, and placed with strangers. Initially, the couples were confident that
they understood their spouses. Ironically it was shown that the couples and
strangers results were statistically identical. Showing that the couples did
not know each other as well as they thought they did.
I definitely agree with the University of Chicago’s study of
“closeness-communication bias”. I think that when someone is in an intimate
relationship, they don’t feel the need to explain things in depth. They assume
the other will understand them due to their closeness. Some people don’t explain
things in depth to strangers, because there are no emotional ties and closeness
with that person. In the end we should all try to communicate as effectively as
possible without assumptions.
Reference
Close Relationships Sometimes Mask Poor Communication.
(2011, January 19). Retrieved October 20, 2014. Retrieved from
http://consumer.healthday.com/mental-health-information-25/behavior-health-news-56/close-relationships-sometimes-mask-poor-communication-649115.html
