Relational Dialectics
1. How many different synonyms and equivalent phrases can you list that
come close to capturing what Baxter and Montgomery mean by the word
dialectic? What do these words have in common?
2. Which of the seven theories discussed in previous chapters would Baxter
and Montgomery consider simplistic or nondialogical?
3. What conlicting pulls place the most strain on your closest personal rela-
tionship? To what extent do you and your partner use spiraling inversion, seg-
mentation, and dialogue to deal with that tension?
4. Why wouldn’t typical scale items like the following reveal opposing dis-
courses in a close relationship, even if they exist?
