Josh Ward

CMN 435
Wednesday, March 7th 2018
Baxter and Erbert Reaction Paper
Leslie Baxter and Larry Erbert conducted a study to examine internal and external
contradictions, provide quantitative insight into intensity of contradictions during turning points,
insider-perspective research on dialectically-based turning points, and multiple contradictions at
once to help identify dialectically complex turning points. They took fifty heterosexual couples
and interviewed them in three ways: a modified Retrospective Interview Technique, a grid task
on perceived contradictions, and a questionnaire for background. The results of this study
showed most relationships had 8.8 turning points and resulted in quality time, external
competition, and network interactions appeared at the most common turning points. Baxter and
Erbert further listed their results for connections. The results suggest that the six contradictions
are not perceived as important to the turning points of relationship development. Overall, internal
contradictions were considered more important than external contradictions. In general, the
results of this study support an argument for a broad conceptualization of contradiction. These
findings also challenge over simplifying the contractions as the single cause for a turning point.
The claims made in Baxter and Erberts study supports my own thoughts on turning points
within a relationship. They avoid oversimplifying turning points by identifying multiple causes
and find that often multiple of the six contradictions are seen as important for different turning
point causes. This article builds on the turning point theory along with the stage model for
relationship changes and development. The idea that turning points were dictated by opposing
factors called relationship dialectics was meaningful to me because it gives a strong definite
reason for why relationships change. These dialectics also show different contradictions that
occur when making a decision about a relationship.
The ideas shown in this article relates to Turning points and commitment in post-divorce
relationships written by Elizabeth Graham. Graham’s article explains how turning points within
a relationship affect change in commitment in respect to divorced couples with a child. These
articles are very similar in the way they view turning points as a valuable way of looking at
relational development. Baxter and Erbert used the turning point theory as a basis for their study
and further adapted it to show different relationship dialectics. Graham used the turning point
theory as a basis of their study as well but used it instead to show how these turning points
affected the commitment in post-divorce relationships. The ideas from the Baxter and Erbert
reading relates to the turning point model of development and change along with the stage
model. The stage model shows how all relationships adapt and is mostly used when discussing
dating relationships. The turning point analyses considers how single events during a relationship
change how the relationships work. Finally, the relationship dialectics viewpoint from this article
shows that when making a decision, often opposing factors are taking place from within a
relationship.