Week 3

This week was insightful because we explored more of how peers, families, and couples interact and develop.  One of our assignments included exploring and identifying unspoken rules in our families. For example, my family has an unspoken rule that we all take responsibility for the family dog Max (who's the sweetest boy in the world). If you know that Max hasn't been outside in a while, take him for a walk. If he hasn't eaten that morning or that evening, feed him. This made me wonder what other, more significant, unspoken rules exist in my family?

During class we also discussed the difference between theory and law. A theory is something that is consistent, but can't be proven. A law is something that can be proven consistently. It reminded me of a BYU devotional I recently studied. This devotional took the stance that although God is consistent with His promises, He cannot be secularly proven. That is the need for faith. Just as we have faith in gravity but cannot prove the existence of gravity, so can we have faith in God.

We explored several theories in class, the ones that stood out to me the most was conflict theory, exchange theory, and symbolic interaction theory. Conflict theory suggests that differences in opinion does not necessarily insight contention. Similar to how trouble does not have to inflict despair if we take it with the right attitude. Conflict can even help a relationship become stronger, which is pretty cool.

Exchange theory, as I understand it, is the belief that we deserve something in return for our contributions in a relationship. This can be healthy, to have high standards for the people we associate with, but it can also be unhealthy if it leads to manipulating our friends down wrong paths.

Finally symbolic interaction theory is when we associate meaning to things that our peers say or do. For example, a hug can mean so much more to one person than it does another. If roommates were to hug each other, it's not a big deal, but if opposite genders were to hug each other it may suggest the pursuit of a relationship. I think people associate too much meaning to things like this, I'm an advocate for open and honest communication.

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