Interpersonal Communication- A Mindful Approach to Relationships, 2020a

Relational Dimensions
One of the earliest projects undertaken by Mary Anne Fitzpatrick was the creation of the Relational
Dimensions Instrument. The creation of the measure started as part of her dissertation work in 1976, 59
and was originally fleshed-out in a series of articles. 60,61 The RDI originally consisted of 200 items
based on different ideas expressed in the literature about marriage at the time. Through her research,
Fitzpatrick was able to fine-tune the measure to identify eight dimensions of marriage measured by 77
items. These eight dimensions fall into three larger categories: conventional versus nonconventional
ideology, interdependence/autonomy, and conflict engagement/avoidance. The RDI can be seen in its
entirety in a couple of different locations. 62
Conventional vs. Nonconventional Ideology
The first large category of relational dimensions is what Fitzpatrick called ideologies. In this category,
Fitzpatrick recognized two different ideologies traditionalism and uncertainty and change.
Ideology of Traditionalism
The first dimension is referred to as the . Traditionalism is the idea that a
couple has a very historically grounded and conservative perspective of marriage. For example, couples
who see themselves as more traditional are more likely to believe that a wife should take her husband’s
name when they get married. They are also more likely to think that the family should adhere to specific
religious traditions and that children should be taught those traditions when growing up. Generally
speaking, people with a traditional ideology are going to believe in a more rigid understanding of both
the male and female roles within a marriage. As for specific communication issues associated with this
ideology, there is a strong belief that families should look composed and keep their secrets to themselves.
In other words, families should strive to keep up appearances and not talk about any of the issues going
on within the family itself.
Ideology of Uncertainty and Change
The underlying idea of the ideology of uncertainty and change is basically the notion that people should
be open to uncertainty. “Indeed, the ideal relationship, from this point-of-view, is one marked by the
novel, the spontaneous, or the humorous. The individuals who score highly on this factor seem open to
change. They believe that each should develop their potential, and that relationships should not constrain
an individual in any way.” 63
Interdependence vs. Autonomy
The second large category of relational dimensions is what Fitzpatrick called the struggle of
interdependence versus autonomy. In every relationship, as people grow closer, there is the intertwining
of people’s lives as they become more interdependent. At the same time, some people prefer a certain
amount of individuality and autonomy outside of the relationship itself. “To figure out how connected
spouses are, one has to look at the amount of sharing and companionship in the marriage as well as at
the couple’s organization of time and space. The more interdependent the couple, the higher the level of
companionship, the more time they spend together, and the more they organize their space to promote
togetherness and interaction.” 64
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