Interpersonal relationships are social bonds and affiliations that people develop. These social
connections are varied such as parent-child, siblings, friendships, romantic partners, etc. People
having interdependence and impact on each other are said to be in a
relationship. It is defined as an enduring association between two persons.
A number of
psychological theories and researches suggest how relationships play a
significant role in an individual’s life. Relationships have been found to be
one of the most powerful sources of support throughout the life span. Being
involved in satisfying relationships is associated with enhanced emotional and
physical health.
Relationships
involve varied social processes (forms of social interactions) that are powerful
psychological predictors of physical health. Social interactions play important
roles in both the development and exacerbation of physical health conditions.
Relationships
have been found to buffer people from pathogenic effects of stress. The buffering
model of stress suggests that social support promotes health and that it
diminishes the negative effects of stress in a person’s life. The buffering
model suggests that social relationships buffer or protects individuals
from the potentially pathogenic influence of stressful events.
The
perception of receiving social support from others alters the appraisal of the
situation as being highly stressful and works as a coping mechanism. The
perceived availability of social support buffers the effect of stress on
psychological distress, depression, and anxiety. Deprivation of social support
may lead to adverse effects on both physical and emotional health.
The
interpersonal approach to psychology emphasizes the importance of relationships
with others for psychological adjustment. Interpersonal theorists place special
emphasis on interpersonal processes in behavior. Interpersonal theorists
suggest that unfavorable interpersonal environments have adverse effects on
psychological wellbeing. A variety of psychological disorders such as substance
abuse, depression, personality disorders, and even schizophrenia have been
associated with inadequate interpersonal relationships and social networks.
The
pioneer of the interpersonal approach, Harry Stack Sullivan, suggests that
enduring patterns of human relationships form the essence of personality. Sullivan
locates psychological development in reactions of one’s relationships. Accordingly
he suggests that significant psychosocial threats to an individual’s wellbeing
are inherently social in nature. These threats are loneliness, isolation, and
rejection. Interpersonal loss contributes to clinical symptomatology.
The
object relations theories describe the process of developing a psyche as one
grows in relation to others in the environment. The term object relations is used in the context to refer to the mental
representation of significant others.
Margaret
Mahler, an object relations theorist, in her theory of symbiosis suggests that forming healthy ties with the
mother is of utmost importance to the psychological health of children. Children
who form normal ties with their mothers, according to Mahler, are referred to
as normal symbiotic children. Such children
develop empathy and a sense of being a separate but loving person.
The
object relations theorist, Heinz Kohut, suggests that empathic reactions from
significant others is important for healthy development of the individual. He further
suggests that people who have a lack of acceptance from parents are prone to
develop narcissistic personality disorder, which involves projection of
self-aggrandizement even though they actually feel powerless and dependent.
Kohut
also suggests that when a child is not reassured about his/her strengths and
unique qualities then it might lead to sensation seeking, substance abuse, low
self-esteem, and perception of the world as a hostile and dangerous place.
The
attachment theory, by John Bowlby,
suggests that attachment - the affectionate bond between the child and primary
caretaker - is the basic determinant of adult personality. The theory suggests
that to grow up mentally healthy individuals should experience a warm,
intimate, and continuous relationship with their caretaker, during the growing
up years.
The
theory further suggests that poor attachment or inadequate parental care may
lead to psychological disorders in adulthood. Inadequate parental care may lead
to the development of the anxious
attachment pattern, which involves insecurity and dependency, and makes the
individual prone to phobias, hypochondriasis, and eating disorders. Inadequate
parenting may also lead to the development of the pattern of emotional detachment in which the
individual feels serious deprivation of affection, and makes the person prone
to antisocial and hysterical personality disorders.
Poorly
functioning relationships (unsatisfying, unstable or heavily conflicted
relationships) have an increased likelihood of distress, illness, and poor
adjustment. Relationships that do not allow confiding, fail to provide
beneficial effects. People with inadequate relationships have higher risks for
developing psychological and physiological illnesses. They may develop
depressed immunology functioning, vulnerability to feelings of loneliness, and
a more likelihood to develop symptoms of psychological disturbance.
Theories and research, therefore,
indicate that relationships are highly impactful and very significant in the
healthy psychological development of an individual. Satisfying relationships
are associated with a wide range of aspects of positive wellbeing, whereas,
disturbed relationships are associated with a number of psychological problems.
No comments:
Post a Comment