Communication Bias

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