e fun of eating outö (Brooks 1997).
As Wood (2003) maintains, ôàcommunication in its many forms is central to personal and social lifeö (p. 2). However, MelvinÆs gruff demeanor and insulting form of communication makes it difficult for him to build relationships that provide a fulfilling personal or social life. Though successful in his writing career, MelvinÆs communication style often is the source of relationship decay rather than development. When he asks Carol how old she is, the following exchange shows a distancing rather than intimacy in MelvinÆs communication style:
Melvin: Judging from your eyes, IÆd say you were fifty.
Carol: Judging from your eyes, IÆd say you were kind, so much for eyes.
The relationship development between Melvin and Carol moves through exploration and intensification of communication, as they begin to disclose information on a deeper level. Carol tells Melvin, ôWhen you first entered the restaurant, I thought you were handsomeàand then, of course, you spokeö (Brooks 1997). Melvin often insults Carol without being aware of the impact of his communication. This creates a communication climate that is filled with tension and threatens both CarolÆs and MelvinÆs ego. Wood (1982) argues that until partners achieve perceived similarity in the communication climate, they remain unable to ôshare a universe of discourse which fosters communication and effective understanding with a minimum of tension and ego threatö (p. 79). In many cases, communication must involve negative adm
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