Instructor: Dr. Roy Ambrester 104 McClung Tower 4-7070
This course is designed to introduce the student to the pitfalls, pratfalls, permutations, and perplexities of interpersonal relationships in our modern complex social setting. The perpetual search for identity and authentic relationships constitute major concerns for most of us in our ever-changing environment. We will attempt to examine many of the issues involved in that quest.
The course is unabashedly phenomenological/rhetorical in its approach. The readings are designed to offer human insights into human problems. Nevertheless, all readings are well-grounded in legitimate research and all "quick-fix" materials have been avoided. The large body of technically-oriented research has been incorporated in some of the readings but for the most part technical studies have been eliminated. The overall thrust is aimed at facilitating self discovery.
Issues surrounding human relationships in the latter half of the twentieth century.
Jeff Giles, "Generalizations X" - handout
James Patterson and Peter Kim, The Day America Told the Truth, "Fifty Four Revelations," pp. 9-11
What is the nature of the "self" and how is it affected and manifested in our society?
Theodore Roszak, "Technocracies Children"
R.D. Laing, The Politics of Experience, "The Mystification of Experience," pp. 1-8
E. Babad et.al., The Social Self, "The Challenge of Differences," pp. 13-23
Rather than a set role pattern, most persons in this society are constantly searching for an identity which matches the demands of the setting.
R. Bellah et.al., Habits of the Heart, "Finding Oneself," pp. 25-40
F. Perls, Gestalt Therapy Verbatim, "Talk." pp. 41-71
David R. Simon and Stanley Eitzer, Elite Deviance, "The Nature of . . ." pp. 78-101
T. Roszak, Person/Planet, "The Third Tradition," pp. 102-118
Camille Paglia, Sex, Art, and American Culture, "The M.I.T. Lecture," pp. 118-136
The strange and wonderful experience of friendship is often marred by social mystification and taboos.
J.D. Block, Friendship, "Sisterhood," pp. 138-150
L.B. Rubin, Just Friends, "Women and Men as Friends," pp. 152-166
J.D. Block, Friendship, "Men and Friendships," pp. 166-178
The worlds of intimacy pose the most challenging threat to modern human beings.
Deborah Tannen, You Just Don't Understand, "Different Words, Different Worlds," pp. 180-193
J. Lair, I Ain't Well but I Sure Am Better, "Mutual Need Therapy," pp. 194-202
Mark Clements, Parade, "Sex in America Today," pp. 203-206
S.S. and C. Hendricks, Romantic Love, "The Love Styles," pp. 207-218
Scott Peck, The Different Drum, "Stages of Community Making," pp. 222-229
Babad, E.Y., M. Birnbaum, & K.D. Benne. The Social Self. Beverly Hills: Sage Books, 1983.
Bach, G.R. & Peter Wyden. The Intimate Enemy. NY: Avon Books, 1968.
Bell, R.R. Worlds of Friendship. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications, 1981.
Bellah, R.N. et. al. Habits of the Heart. NY: Harper & Row, 1985.
Block, J.D. Friendship. NY: Collier Books, 1980.
Burke, K. Language as Symbolic Action. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966.
Burke, K. A Grammar of Motives. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1945.
Burke, K. A Rhetoric of Motives. NY: Prentice-Hall, 1950.
Clements, M. "Sex in America Today." Parade. August 7, 1994.
Derber, C. The Pursuit of Attention: Power and Individualism. Boston: G.K. Hall and Co., 1979.
Duck, S. & R. Gilmour. Personal Relationships 1. London: Academic Press, 1981.
Duck, S. & R. Gilmour. Personal Relationships 2. 1981.
Duck, S. & R. Gilmour. Personal Relationships 3. 1981.
Duck, S. Personal Relationships 4. 1982.
Giles, Jeff. "Generalizations X." Newsweek, June 6, 1994.
Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Garden City NY: Doubleday & Co., 1959.
Goffman, E. Behavior in Public Places. NY: The Free Press, 1963.
Hendricks, S.S. & C. Romantic Love. Newbury Park: Sage, 1992.
Hite, S. Women and Love. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.
Hochschild, A.R. The Managed Heart. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1983.
Kelley, H.H. et. al. Close Relationships. NY: W.H. Freeman & Co., 1983.
Laing, R.D. Politics of Experience. NY: Ballantine Books, 1967.
Laing, R.D. Self and Others. NY: Pantheon Books, 1961.
Laing, R.D. The Divided Self. NY: Pantheon Books, 1960.
Lair, J. Ain't I a Wonder and Ain't You a Wonder Too!. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1977.
Lair, J. I Ain't Well But I Sure Am Better. NY: Fawcett Crest, 1975.
Mead, G.H. Mind, Self & Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1938.
Paglia, C. Sex, Art, and American Culture. New York: Vintage Books, 1992.
Patterson, J. and P. Kim. The Day America Told the Truth. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1991.
Peck, M.S. The Different Drum. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1987.
Perls, F. Gestalt Therapy Verbatim. Moab, Utah: Real People Press, 1969.
Perls, F. In and Out of the Garbage Pail. NY: Bantam, 1972.
Perls, F. The Gestalt Approach. NY: Bantam, 1976.
Roszak, T. The Making of a Counter Culture. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press, 1969.
Roszak, T. Person/Planet. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press, 1979.
Rubin, B.R. Intimate Strangers. NY: Harper & Row, 1983.
Rubin, B.R. Just Friends. NY: Harper & Row, 1985.
Sheehy, G. Passages. NY: F.P. Dutton and Co., 1974.
Sheehy, G. Pathfinders. NY: William Morrow and Co., 1981.
Simon, D. & S. Eitzer. Elite Deviance. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1993.
Tannen, D. You Just Don't Understand. New York: Ballantine Books, 1990.
Watzlawick, P. The Language of Change. NY: Basic Books, 1978.
1. Ego Aphorisms - a journal of quotations from all readings to be turned in at various times during the semester.
2. Expert Source - students will be asked to serve as expert sources on one article. They will be graded on their ability to interpret and articulate concepts.
3. Participation - all readings from the reader and other sources must be completed on the assigned class period. Participation will be judged on the evidence of knowledge of reading discussed.
4. Research paper - a final research paper involving rhetorical or qualitative analysis of a critical issue involved in relationship. Paper will be due the last regular class meeting.
5. Involvement - all students are required to attend all sessions and evidence a genuine degree of involvement in the discussion.
6. Mid-Term and Final Examinations - comprehensive essay exams designed to discover the degree of assimilation of the concepts covered in the course.
1. Myers-Briggs
2. Love Style Indicator