Interpersonal Relationship Analysis: The Break-Up

Superior Essays
The Breakup

Every relationship is a one of a kind. Couples communicate differently, they go through different stages, and they have different expectations of each other. As communication is a big part of how relationships are, it is important for couples to focus on how they do it. Scholars have developed some theories that could be applied in the way communication is done in relationships. These theories could talk about couples coming together, their expectations of each other, or maybe about couples breaking up. The movie The Break-Up shows one kind of how relationships could go. The interpersonal relationship between Gary Grobowski (Vince Vaughn) and Brooke Meyers (Jennifer Aniston) was mostly showing breaking up stages. Many interpersonal
…show more content…
Brooke worked at an art gallery. One night, they were having some family over for dinner. Brooke was doing all of the cooking and cleaning while Gary would not help in anything. After the guests left, they were arguing about the dishes and how Gary does not offer to help. Arguments and tension developed, and many problems were brought up, until Brooke broke up with Gary. Both Brooke and Gary were talking to their friends about what happened and their friends were telling them that they made the right decision by breaking up. Afterwards, they were both doing indirect actions to upset each other. What Brooke wanted was for Gary to apologize, she did not want to breakup with him. Gary did not know that and thought Brooke really wanted to break up with him. They were avoiding being around each other, until they once had to because they were having friends over. They started fighting in front of their friends, so their friends decided to get involved ad solve the problem. They suggested selling the condo and moving out. After Brooke was trying very hard to get Gary to want her back, he was still not getting what she wanted. They finally talked and she told him what she really wanted, after she invited him to a concert and he did not show up. Brooke decided to finally move on and face the truth, while Gary finally realized he wanted her back. When he told her so, it was too late. They moved out, and saw each …show more content…
According to Schutz, it consists of three basic needs, which are inclusion, control, and affection. The need of inclusion is our need to belong, feel worthwhile and connected. Inclusion suggests the need of acceptance from others, and it is expressed by showing interest or seeking recognition and responsibility. Control is the level of our effect in the relationship. It is the need for one to control or be controlled. Some actions that one could take to show this type of need is by asking help from others or telling others about issues to be considered. The last one is the need for affection, which is the need of feeling loved and liked. Closeness is what is wanted from others, and it is expressed by listening and sharing feelings with

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    At which time she spills the beans that Tom is leaving her for another women. Karen and Gabe are brokenhearted as they thought they would grow old as couples. Karen gets upset and sides with beth. Meanwhile Gabe keeps an open mind that there may be more to the story after all Tom is their friend too. Later that night Beth is getting ready for bed when Tom returns home.…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This is now the middle of the book and She is putting relationship drama aside to focus on college and her future. She decides to take the RA position at one of the dorm halls. Then she has to quit her waitressing job, and it just causes more drift from Rick. But she still maintains contact with Rick. After taking the RA position, Katie makes some new friends, including Nicole, the other RA, and Julia the head of the dorm.…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Charecter Is Inhumane

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the begining, Melinda was silent. She had only one friend. Heather. Heather wanted in on a different group and didn't really want to be freinds with Melinda…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Traditional or not… Relationships are based on the trust we have on our partner, the equality we have between ourselves and the way we communicate. Having a traditional relationship means that men have dominance. Nowadays, this no longer exist in majority of the households. Relationships are molded based on how well one understands the other. Not being able to communicate can cause barriers in expressing one’s feelings.…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Conversation is a key component in everyone 's lives. Without the importance of conversation people wouldn’t really understand how to read people. We need to have good conversation skills to be able to adjust ourselves depending on the situation. In a relationship between two people it’s important for the couple to be on the same level on the conversation scale. If there is just the slightest difference, a conflict will begin to form.…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Analysis of Relational Communication Portrayed in Film Name Institution Course Instructor Date Introduction Relational communication entails the process of communication in personal relationships. Personal relationships, according to this theory include romantic relationships, relationships related to the family and friendships. The research of the movie ‘When Harry met Sally’ examines the romantic and friendship, relationships existing between the two main characters in the movie. The role of communication in this movie is used in developing, maintaining and dissolving relationships.…

    • 1281 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Arnold Friend

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the end, Connie chose to leave with Arnold Friend for the sake of her…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I chose the song "Break Up In A Small Town" because it accurately describes my life. About 6 months ago, my boyfriend and I broke up. Once we broke up I started talking to one of his friends, but not out of spite. We seemed very compatible and liked each other very much. I actually started listening to this song during the mess, and told everyone that the song described my life perfectly.…

    • 85 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Then there come the stages of relationship termination. It started from conflicts and misunderstanding. As the termination stage starts from differentiating and circumscribing, they started thinking individually and limit their conversation and set up boundaries. Differentiating occurred in the movie when Brook do not agree with Gary to buy pool table. Similarly, example of circumscribing can be related with complaining to their work of cleaning and cooking.…

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The article, Close Relationships Sometimes Mask Poor Communication, describes concerns for how couples interpret themselves. The paper will support ideas and focus on how to handle communication when misunderstood. It will also show how we can build our relationships and to make them healthier rather than unhealthy.…

    • 760 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The relationship I chose to analyze for my interpersonal communication paper was the relationship I had with my ex-girlfriend Laura. We met in high school through mutual friends and we dated throughout my junior and senior years. Communication problems and trust issues eventually were too big of a barrier to knock down and our relationship ended there. The main concepts I chose to analyze about my previous relationship were Personal Language, Nonverbal Communication, Proximity, the Social Penetration Theory, and lastly Relationship Threats. Personal Language shows your true self and is how you express your individuality and it is also more common in a private setting.…

    • 1120 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I really hate having disagreements within my marriage, and find that life is far too short to be at a constant disagreement with my husband. I got married for a purpose and I know it’s not to sit around and constantly bicker with him. Communications within a relationship can either make or break your relationship if you let it. I find that those that communicate well, most often have a successful relationship and those that withdraw from discussing issues, tend to fail, however, there are always a few exceptions.…

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What Motivates Me

    • 1111 Words
    • 4 Pages

    What is motivation and what motivates you in your life? This is what this paper is going to be going over. There are several different things that motivate people. One person may be motivated to do something based off of something different than another person. People can be motivated by different things and the things that motivate some may not motivate others.…

    • 1111 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is a theory in which people use to motivate themselves to moving a step up in their life. Using this can make a person achieve certain needs. Sometimes making a list of things you think you need to achieve these goals and sticking with it. The list will consist of five steps physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. Each of these play a great part in what is most important when it comes to living a life in which you want the best for yourself.…

    • 1214 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mark Knapp (Glavin 152) states that relationships go through ten stages, five stages of development and five stages of decline. The model helps map out the growth and progress in interpersonal relationships. One part of the model is the five stages of coming together or escalation model The second part of the model is the five stages of coming apart or termination model ((Fox, Warber and Makstaller 2013). Using the escalation model I will explain the development of the interpersonal relationship between Roland and I. Roland and I have been dating for five years and our relationship has gone through multiple stages of the escalation model. Through analyses of the stages of relationship development I will to identify the different stages and…

    • 1844 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays