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Social Penetration Theory: Sheldon opens up to Amy

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Social Penetration Theory: Sheldon opens up to Amy

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As many may know, Sheldon Cooper is a very introverted person, even with his girlfriend that he had been with for multiple years. The Social Penetration Theory states that "revealing the self to others involves peeling back or penetrating layers - much like an onion." He goes through many stages as the show advances; from the relationship just being an "experiment" to it actually being love. They start with the peripheral layers, they know where each other are from and what they do for a living, as a matter of fact it's what "sparks" the relationship, they move onto the intermediate layers; they get into debates over the things that Sheldon likes and why he thinks Amy views aren't as important as his, and they also talk about their leisure activities. Sheldon could be considered a "nerd," he watches Star Trek and reads comic books, and Amy plays the harp and likes to knit. They know these things about each other and they continue to learn more as the relationship continues. The clip that is included shows that final layer, the central layer. This scene takes place in season 9, six seasons after Amy had been introduced to the series. After Sheldon's computer breaks, Amy tells him to recycle it and get store credit, however for some reason Sheldon seems uncomfortable, which is strange considering he doesn't seem like someone to keep junk. While this may be something that would happen towards the beginning of the relationship, Sheldon possess different social skills than many others. He tells her that she is the only one that knows about his storage locker; showing her that he trusts more than he could ever trust anyone else since his isn't proud of it. In this short clip beginning at 2:15 you can see the interaction between the two of them.

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The Big Bang Theory - 9x19 - Sheldon's Big Secret #2 (All Scenes)

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have found the best possible ways to describe five different interpersonal communication theories. Throughout this padlet we will look at theories such as the Relational Dialects Theory, the Communication Accomodation Theory, the Argumentation Theory, the Expectancy Violations Theory, and the Social Penetration Theory. Big Bang Theory demonstrates many communication theories within varying relationships; but the biggest of all is the relationship between 

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he Argumentation Theory is basically the study of how conclusions can be reached through persuasion and dialogue, it can include debate and negotiation. Arguing is essential in a relationship, and it is especially well shown in this series between these two characters because they have completely different views on how the relationship should work.

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he Argumentation Theory is basically the study of how conclusions can be reached through persuasion and dialogue, it can include debate and negotiation. Arguing is essential in a relationship, and it is especially well shown in this series between these two characters because they have completely different views on how the relationship should work.

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he Argumentation Theory is basically the study of how conclusions can be reached through persuasion and dialogue, it can include debate and negotiation. Arguing is essential in a relationship, and it is especially well shown in this series between these two characters because they have completely different views on how the relationship should work.

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Lan, A. (2014, April 4). Please Pass the Butter [YouTube video].

Z. (2011, November 17). The Relationship Agreement [YouTube video].

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Lan, A. (2014, April 4). Please Pass the Butter [YouTube video].

Z. (2011, November 17). The Relationship Agreement [YouTube video].

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Lan, A. (2014, April 4). Please Pass the Butter [YouTube video].

Z. (2011, November 17). The Relationship Agreement [YouTube video].

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Lan, A. (2014, April 4). Please Pass the Butter [YouTube video].

Z. (2011, November 17). The Relationship Agreement [YouTube video].

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Below you will see how five different communication theories apply to the classic comedy The Big Bang Theory. Along with information regarding the theories, it will also link each of them to a different portion of Sheldon and Amy's complex but interesting relationship.

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Relational Dialects: The famous Relationship Agreement 

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Relational Dialects: The famous Relationship Agreement 

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The Relational Dialects Theory has many proponents. This theory basically states that "we often have experiences with competing impulses, or tensions, between our selves and our feelings toward others." Included in this theory there are multiple dialects including autonomy versus connection, novelty versus predictability, and openness versus protection. In a nutshell: autonomy versus connection is either when someone wants to be alone more often or if they would rather be together; in this, people can feel like they lose a sense of individuality. With openness versus protection it dictates whether people like to be open in their relationships or if they keep more to themselves; this can be done with the intent of protecting the other person or simply not wanting to lose the sense of privacy. Finally, what will be shown in the proceeding clip, is novelty versus predictability. We either want our relationship to be new and exciting or the same thing every day. Sheldon Cooper is definitely one who is in favor of a routine, he has a set schedule for every relationship that he has for every day of the week. Here, we'll see a scene that is pretty well known, the relationship agreement; the epitome of predictability.

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The Big Bang Theory - The Relationship Agreement

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Communication Accommodation Theory: "PLEASE PASS THE BUTTER!"

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Communication Accommodation Theory: "PLEASE PASS THE BUTTER!"

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What is the Communication Accommodation Theory? Basically this theory states that when we're having a conversation with someone, or a group, we may adapt the way that we are speaking to seek social approval from them. An example of this, not from the show, is something that most likely happens in a lot of our lives. We're all here at school and we may talk about things with our friends or use a certain language with them that we would never use in front of our family. So when we go home for the weekend we're most likely going to adapt the way we speak in order to keep peace in the household. This clip doesn't show that exact scenario, but it does show how Amy adapts the way she speaks to satisfy Sheldon. Sheldon is a very particular person, he wants people to listen to him when he's talking and he wants them to think that he is interesting no matter what they actually think. Here, you'll see the way Amy sarcastically, which Sheldon doesn't pick up on, reacts to his confusion on the new Xbox and PlayStation. However, at the end you can finally see that she was just trying to make him happy and that's when he finally understood she never really cared.

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The Big Bang Theory - Please pass the butter!!

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Expectancy Violations Theory: "Let's get me WAXED!"

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Expectancy Violations Theory: "Let's get me WAXED!"

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It's not very common that we want the unexpected to happen, I would like to say that it's human nature to have an idea of what our day will look like without any major breach in the routine. With the Expectancy Violations Theory, it goes against what we are used to happening in our every day lives, so it analyzes how we might respond in situations where social norms are broken. Where this might seem like a more "Sheldony" thing to do, this example is all about Amy. The girls tell Amy that Sheldon "is ready to be physical" so in turn, Amy doesn't know how to respond. The rest of these examples are with Sheldon and Amy both, but for this one it was easier to show how she reacts when she is alone. This event was definitely unexpected, however she had built it up in her head for so long that she was unsure on how to act about it.

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Argumentation Theory: "Do you want to go to our place and make out?"

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Argumentation Theory: "Do you want to go to our place and make out?"

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Okay, so this title might be a little confusing: "do you want to go to our lace and make-out?" this isn't of course how the argument started, this is how they resolved it. The Argumentation Theory is basically the study of how conclusions can be reached through persuasion and dialogue, it can include debate and negotiation. Arguing is essential in a relationship, and it is especially well shown in this series between these two characters because they have completely different views on how the relationship should work. This clip takes place in season 10, seven years after Amy had been introduced, at this point they have come to a point in their relationship where they are "spending the night together" as an experiment. This can cause turmoil in a relationship as it is shown in the clip. Amy and Sheldon are arguing about their sleeping arrangements even though it might not seem that way since they are arguing using a language that only they seem to understand. After a period of going back and forth they finally conclude with their "fine" "fine." "good." "good." sequence and leave to go back to their home to make-out; their way of resolving the situation.

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Social Penetration Theory: Sheldon opens up to Amy

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Social Penetration Theory: Sheldon opens up to Amy

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As many may know, Sheldon Cooper is a very introverted person, even with his girlfriend that he had been with for multiple years. The Social Penetration Theory states that "revealing the self to others involves peeling back or penetrating layers - much like an onion." He goes through many stages as the show advances; from the relationship just being an "experiment" to it actually being love. They start with the peripheral layers, they know where each other are from and what they do for a living, as a matter of fact it's what "sparks" the relationship, they move onto the intermediate layers; they get into debates over the things that Sheldon likes and why he thinks Amy views aren't as important as his, and they also talk about their leisure activities. Sheldon could be considered a "nerd," he watches Star Trek and reads comic books, and Amy plays the harp and likes to knit. They know these things about each other and they continue to learn more as the relationship continues. The clip that is included shows that final layer, the central layer. This scene takes place in season 9, six seasons after Amy had been introduced to the series. After Sheldon's computer breaks, Amy tells him to recycle it and get store credit, however for some reason Sheldon seems uncomfortable, which is strange considering he doesn't seem like someone to keep junk. While this may be something that would happen towards the beginning of the relationship, Sheldon possess different social skills than many others. He tells her that she is the only one that knows about his storage locker; showing her that he trusts more than he could ever trust anyone else since his isn't proud of it. In this short clip beginning at 2:15 you can see the interaction between the two of them.

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The Big Bang Theory - 9x19 - Sheldon's Big Secret #2 (All Scenes)

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McCornack, S. (2007). Reflect & relate: An introduction to interpersonal communication. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's.

E. (2015, December 17). Amy and Bernadette tell Amy [YouTube video].

E. (2016, October 10). Shamy Argument [YouTube video].

E. (2016, April 1). Sheldon's Big Secret [YouTube video].

Lan, A. (2014, April 4). Please Pass the Butter [YouTube video].

Z. (2011, November 17). The Relationship Agreement [YouTube video].