Topic Guide
What Is Interpersonal relationships?
Interpersonal relationships is a subject covered in depth across 3 podcast episodes in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.
Key Concepts in Interpersonal relationships
Alpha handshake
A specific type of aggressively firm handshake used by individuals to assert dominance or project an 'alpha male' persona. The episode uses this as a prime example of a social script that can be openly addressed.
Social scripts
Unspoken, often subconscious, behavioral patterns or expectations that guide social interactions. The episode argues that identifying and surfacing these scripts can diminish their power and increase one's own control over a situation.
Calling out the quiet part out loud
A communication strategy where one directly verbalizes the unspoken intention or hidden script behind another person's behavior. This act aims to disarm the individual, lessen the script's power, and increase awareness for both parties.
Relatability in reality tv
Lauren Conrad explains that the success of 'The Hills' stemmed from its relatability, portraying universal experiences like relationships and daily life that resonate with viewers, regardless of their own situation. This approach aimed to connect with a broad audience by showing that "everyone goes through the same things."
Reality tv performer's habits
Conrad describes unique habits developed from continuous filming, such as her unconscious gesture of touching her chest when she wants to keep something secret, even when not wearing a mic. This highlights the deep psychological impact of living under constant surveillance and the creation of subconscious coping mechanisms.
Saging a haunted house
After moving into a 1922-built home with her roommates, Conrad recounts their belief that the old, creaky house was haunted. Their solution was to 'sage' the house, which she humorously suggests helped resolve the creaks and their eerie feelings, presenting a non-traditional, spiritual approach to home maintenance.
What Experts Say About Interpersonal relationships
- 1.Openly calling out subtle social scripts, like an overly aggressive handshake, can disarm the person attempting to assert dominance.
- 2.Surfacing an unconscious 'social script' lessens its power in a situation, giving the person who calls it out more control.
- 3.Making both parties aware of a hidden script temporarily breaks the other person's intention, such as a 'desire to be the alpha male.'
- 4.Any script that is pushed down and left unaddressed will hold more power over individuals and interactions.
- 5.The strategy of 'saying the quiet part out loud' is presented as a tool for increasing awareness rather than a direct confrontational tactic.
- 6.Lauren Conrad states that 'The Hills' aimed for relatability, believing its depiction of universal experiences contributed to its popularity, despite its 'soap opera' appearance.