Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 (Piano: Krystian Zimerman)

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 (Piano: Aimi Kobayashi)

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 (Piano: Daniil Trifonov)

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 (Piano: Li Yundi)

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 (Piano by Lang Lang)

COM 250 / Week 7 Discussion: Authenticity in Close Relationships: My Story

Authentic communication is very important in close relationships.  Have you ever experienced inauthentic communication behavior in your close relationships? What can we do to ensure that our interaction with close others are authentic?

COM 250 / Week 7 Discussion: Commitment: Too Much, Or Too Little: What’s Wrong with Today’s Dating?

    Some scholars, journalists, and college students suggest traditional dating has been replaced by group dates, hook-ups, friends with benefits, and celibacy. Young generation becomes frustrated with both “too much” commitment and “too little” commitment as in He Is Just Not That into You.  It becomes more and more difficult for us to commit to and invest in long term relationships.  Traditional dating is dead. Hooking up without hanging out becomes prevalent.  According to one survey, young generation of women “felt they couldn’t date around to find a suitable partner before falling into an exclusive relationship with one man.”  What’s your take on today’s dating scene?    

COM 250 / Week 7 Discussion: Self-Disclosure in Close Relationships: How Much Is Too Much?

     Close relationships demands certain degree of openness.  Self-disclosure, such as confession, between close relationship pairs can help reduce uncertainty and enhance trust and commitment.  Yet, we need some autonomy even in close relationships.  Do you have problem with too much or too little disclosure in your close relationships?  Based on relational dialectic theory, how can we find the right proportion between disclosure and autonomy?  

COM 250 / Week 7 Discussion: Romantic Partner and Friendship Partner: We Need Both?

    What is the similarity between our romantic partner and our friendship partner?  Why is it that we need both marriage and friendship as in “I Love You, Man”?  Have you ever realized that the two relationships actually can enrich and reinforce each other rather than being always in an either-or type conflict? 

COM 250 / Week 7 Discussion: Friendship: How Does It Relate to the Maturity Our Character?

   In modern society, we often treat friendship like something pragmatic – “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”  To most of us, friendship is means rather than end.  It is optional: we may want friendship or we can get rid of friendship.  But, have you ever realized that true friendship is not merely about meeting our needs, emotional and material?  Do you have a moment that you find your friend has made you grow in character and virtue, which is not on a par with any gratification of your “needs”?