READING RESPONSE 5

For this week’s reading response, answer two questions fully and completely (everyone will answer question 1, and then you may choose to answer question 2 or 3). To fully answer the question, tether your response to specific theory concepts from your chapter reading and use quotes from the chapter to help ground your argument (you do not need a full APA citation for quotes, just put which edition of the book you are using and a page number — (10th, p. 214), for example). Each question asks you to think in the specific (your personal experiences) and then tie it to the larger understanding of the theory. As we assess your responses, we will be looking to see that you understand the theory by being able to use the concepts from the theory to explain the specific examples.

Communication Privacy Management Theory (CPM)

Describe a specific instance where you shared private information with someone else, or where someone shared private information with you. In your description, address the following:

• What was your relationship with the other person?
• Did you feel you had a right to own or control that information?
• Was the other person a deliberate confidant (someone who sought the information) or a reluctant confidant (someone who didn’t necessarily want to hear it)?

Then discuss your experience using concepts from CPM. Here are some questions to guide your analysis:

• Once the information was shared, how did the personal privacy boundary morph into a collective boundary? Did the person you told become a shareholder (fully invested in your rules) or a stakeholder?
• Privacy Rules: Which of the five factorsculture, gender, motivation, context, or risk/benefit ratioplayed the largest role in your decision to reveal or conceal the information?
• Boundary Turbulence: Did any boundary turbulence occur? For example, was there an intentional breach, a confidentiality dilemma, or perhaps a simple mistake where the secret “slipped out”? If no turbulence occurred, explain what mutual privacy rules you negotiated to keep the boundary secure.

Social Exchange Theory (answer question 2 or 3)

2. Describe a recent decision you made to either enter a new social group (like a club or team) or leave a commitment. Using the minimax principle, identify at least three specific “rewards” and three “costs” you considered during your decision-making process. Discuss how the concepts from this theory are evident in this scenario. Based on your list, calculate the “outcome” of this interaction (Outcome = Rewards – Costs). Does a positive or negative number accurately reflect your level of attraction to that situation? Why or why not?

3. Think of a time when you were unhappy in a situation (a job, a relationship, or a living arrangement) but felt you could not leave, OR a time you were happy in a situation but chose to leave anyway. Use the concepts of Comparison Level (CL) and Comparison Level of Alternatives (CLalt) to explain your behavior.