ABSTRACT
It is no secret that we form relationships with others. In fact, it has been argued that we have “a need to belong” (Baumeister and Leary, 1995, p. 497). Similarly, Schutz (1958) argued that we have three fundamental needs of inclusion, affection, and control. If we have basic needs of belongingness and inclusion, how do we meet those needs? It is argued that those needs of relationship formation and maintenance are achieved and managed through communication. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of relational communication by defining terms, applying theories, and providing a sample study.
