I Need Some Space analysis

The case study that I am choosing to analyze is case study #6 “I Need Some Space: Friends through Good Times and Bad Times”. The case begins by introducing the two main characters of the case Ashley and Jacinta. Ashley and Jacinta were very good friends from the beginning and they decided that they would like to dorm together and start their college careers by one another’s side. At first they do everything together and they love every moment of it. They eat together, share the same friends, and attend many of the same events together. This was ongoing in the first four months. On month five, Ashley developed a need to experience college on her own. This is when the static of the two friends begin.

Their relationship required something called relational maintenance. Relational maintenance as defined by Dindia and Canary (1993) include four specific areas. The first area is relational maintenance involves keeping a relationship in existence (Dindia, Canary 1993). Ashley neglected this aspect of their relationship by moving on. She avoided Jacinta at times and when they tried to discuss their issues they would snap at one another. The second definition is that relational maintenance involves keeping a relationship in a specified state or condition, or at a stable level of intimacy, so that the status quo is maintained (Ayres, 1983). Ashley and Jacinta had their relationship in a healthy state in the beginning but the relationship required a lot of work to keep it in its current condition. Ashley was not willing to continue with this healthy state because she wanted to experience her own way through college. Even worse was when her boyfriend Steve came in to the picture. He seemed to fill all the gaps where Jacinta was in Ashley’s life. The third is relational maintenance can involve keeping a relationship in satisfactory condition (Guerrero, Anderson, Afifi, 2011). The loss of this condition was imminent from the beginning of month five when Ashley decided on her own that she wanted to go separate ways. She did not discuss this with Jacinta because she felt that Jacinta would take it the wrong way. This move ended up hurting them both very quickly because Jacinta did not know how Ashley felt. The fourth and final definition is that relational maintenance involves keeping a relationship in repair (Guerrero, Anderson, Afifi, 2011). No real attempt was made by either party to repair what was done when their relationship hit a steady decline. Jacinta made the first attempt by telling Ashley about her cheating boyfriend Steve. This was the first move forward for their relationship in a long time. Ashley realized at that moment that Jacinta was a good friend and she needs her by her side to watch over her and get her back in times such as these.

Although their relationship will never presume to be the same that it was at the beginning of their college experience it is on a fast track to repair. They can maintain a new found friendship that perhaps does not involve so much work on either party’s part. Ashley and Jacinta must put forth some effort in keeping their relationship healthy because friendship is not a one way street. Many relationships require the same amount of output than input. If they keep on this track they will be great friends again in no time and still be able to experience college at their own rate.