Relational Culture

When developing a romantic relation sip(s), it is important to be aware of how to navigate the relationship, meaning to maintain a healthy relationship by having effective communication with your partner, and take care of any unresolved issues that may be taking place. Under navigation,an interesting and helpful concept I found is the concept relational culture which "is a private world of rules, understandings, meanings, and patterns of acting and interpreting that partners create for their relationship"(Bruess & Hoefs, 2006;Wood, 1982,2000a, pg.286). In other words relational culture has to do with unwritten rules that partners make in their relationship. It could include how a couple manages the way they speak to each other, for example they make sure they are open with each other on what is on their mind and going on in their life. It may also includes rules and rituals as well such as relating to how they communicate their anger, sexual interest, values, traditions, etc.

An example of relational culture reflecting in a relationship is with one of my good friends and her boyfriend. They both know what upsets each other, so they have their own ways of communicating when they are upset, bothered, or excited about something. Part of their relational culture is that neither of them have a social networking profile because that way, it lessens both their chances of being willing to talk to other people as far as opposite sex wise. They both also get suspicious of the other if one of them does not contact them at the certain time of the day like they do on a daily basis. I find their relational culture fascinating because I could and would never be able to have the same relational culture in my relationship. Relational culture depends on each relationship and it is different for every couple.