Relational Competence

Relational Competence (Hansson and Carpenter, 1994)

"Characteristics of the individual that facilitate the acquisition, development, and maintenance of mutually satisfying relationships" (75)

Two Global Domains of Interpersonal Skills

Initiation--ability to develop relationships

Enhancement--ability to maintain and deepen relationships

Initiation Attributes (p. 77)

Self Confidence

Assertiveness

Social Interest

Communication skills

Likeability

Extraversion

Initiation Domain--Scale Items (p. 87)

Assertiveness

Dominance

Instrumental Competence

Shyness

Social Anxiety

Enhancement Attributes (p. 77)

Empathy

Altruism

Social Awareness

Listening skills

Flexibility

Enhancement Domain--Scale Items (p. 87-8)

Intimacy

Trust

Interpersonal Sensitivity

Altruism

Perspective taking

Some Advantages of Approach

Can see the complexity of relational competence as function of personality and behavior

Can understand and anticipate role of various attributes related to each domain

Can develop confidence and skills in initiating and developing relationships

Conceptualizing RC helps us better theorize relational challenges in old age

Interpersonal Relationships in the Context of Aging

(Hansson and Carpenter, 1994)

"Relationships, support networks, and their functions often become less predictable with age" (64)

Our needs become complex and more long-term.

Our friends are dealing with their own age-related challenges.

Care-giving becomes more formal; decision-making more removed from the individual

Social support systems take over what individual and intimates once took care of; support thus becomes more complex and problematic

Relational competencies of older person make a difference in accessing, develop-ing and maintaining social support network

Relational challenges from autonomy to dependency

(Hansson and Carpenter, 1994, Table 5.1)

Diminished occupational status, options

Maintaining commitment and contribution to family

Friendships lost to death, retirement, relocation, etc.

Isolating Consequences of unemployment, retirement

Unsafe, problem neighborhoods

First Interactions with Support Systems

Confronted with Ageist stereotypes

Bereavement

Living Alone

Increased Frailty

Onset of serious health problems

Complex support needs

Intervention by adult children

Dependent on caregivers, supporters, networks

Family conflict re: sharing duties

Confronted with health/home care staff

Caregiver strain; Caregiver "Hand-off"

Neglectful or abusive family caregivers

Threatened by guardianship proceedings

Entering Senior housing

Decision making re:institutionalization

Entering institutional Care

Relational/Caregiving Dynamics

(Hansson and Carpenter, 1994, Table 5.2)

Friendships

Convoys of Support

Role Contraction

Modernity

Stereotyping

Changing Families

Family decision making

Progressive Networks

Support "match"

Social Exchange