Contemporary interpersonal relations that demand dialogue (original) (raw)

THE AGE OF RELATIONSHIPS IN CRISIS. Conflicts, paradoxes and opportunities in the interpersonal revolution. - Summary and Introduction

Cheli E., L'epoca delle relazioni in crisi (e come uscirne). Franco Angeli Publishing, Milano, Italy, 2013

Although we are in the midst of an authentic revolution in interpersonal relationships only a few people seem to have grasped its scope, and only some of the aspects of the phenomenon have as yet been highlighted, especially the emotional ones. This book focuses also on other contributing aspects of such phenomenon - from the motivations inspiring the relationship to the rules and ways of communicating which concretise it - aspects relating to the socio-anthropological and psychosocial field and which have as yet been insufficiently explored. At present there is no global analysis of the phenomenon, highlighting causes and consequences, on the contrary, there is indeed no agreement about the fact that this phenomenon can be considered an interpersonal revolution and not, instead, an “emotional revolution” or even only a singular aspect of a more general process of “social and cultural change”. This book aims to help to fill this gap, linking up some of the different and until now separate approaches and studies on the subject, in the belief that only a holistic vision of the phenomenon will enable us to understand its complex dynamics and thus tackle its deep-rooted, spreading negative repercussions, which involve not only the private sphere but also the other spheres of social life, from schools and teacher-pupil relations to work and its organisation; from relations between citizens and institutions to relations among peoples and among nations. The book starts by focusing on the main causes and the general aspects of the interpersonal revolution (Ch. 1), then examining some of the spheres most deeply affected by this phenomenon in more detail: relationships between couples, between parents and their children, relations in the scholastic, work and health contexts (Ch. 2-6). Finally it shall identify possible measures of personal education and growth to help individuals, groups and organisations to constructively manage the change which is taking place, (Ch. 7), so as to reduce to a minimum the conflicts and unease caused by the interpersonal revolution and benefit from the many interesting opportunities it reveals.