N.
Burgoon and Hale Fundamental Relational Themes (Dominance)
In Alfalfa’s efforts to win back Darla’s heart, he writes her a love letter and then has his two friends deliver it to her. His attempt seemed full proof, until the two rascals cannot find the letter, and recite the mean letter Alfalfa told them. They started the letter by saying, “Dear Darla, I hate your stinking guts…” You can imagine how it went from there.
While listening to the letter, Darla stood at the top of her porch stairs at her house, in her ballerina costume. Hearing the words she thought Alfalfa wrote, she was shocked. Once the two rascals were finished telling her the ‘love’ letter, she made a nasty face and squeezed her pop can. That was a sure indicator Darla had the dominant position compared to the two boys.
Guerrero defines dominance as, “The actual degree to which a person influences someone.” “Dominance is communicated verbally and non-verbally in a variety of ways.”[9] Darla groaning is an example of verbal dominance, while her position on her porch and squeezing the can are examples of nonverbal dominance. The two rascals fled to see Alfalfa and told him their encounter with Darla.
In Alfalfa’s efforts to win back Darla’s heart, he writes her a love letter and then has his two friends deliver it to her. His attempt seemed full proof, until the two rascals cannot find the letter, and recite the mean letter Alfalfa told them. They started the letter by saying, “Dear Darla, I hate your stinking guts…” You can imagine how it went from there.
While listening to the letter, Darla stood at the top of her porch stairs at her house, in her ballerina costume. Hearing the words she thought Alfalfa wrote, she was shocked. Once the two rascals were finished telling her the ‘love’ letter, she made a nasty face and squeezed her pop can. That was a sure indicator Darla had the dominant position compared to the two boys.
Guerrero defines dominance as, “The actual degree to which a person influences someone.” “Dominance is communicated verbally and non-verbally in a variety of ways.”[9] Darla groaning is an example of verbal dominance, while her position on her porch and squeezing the can are examples of nonverbal dominance. The two rascals fled to see Alfalfa and told him their encounter with Darla.
O.
Motivation to Reduce Uncertainty
Waldo, the rich and charming character in Little Rascals, swoons Darla with his great looks, big house, pool, limo, and an amazing go cart at the race. All Waldo has to offer makes Alfalfa inferior to him. When Waldo pulls up in a limo, Darla and Alfalfa immediately stop. Darla’s friends are off to the side giggling and smiling at him. All this is an example of Darla reducing uncertainty about Waldo because there is high incentive value with him. All the material items Waldo has to offer, grabs Darla’s attention and later they become a couple. According to the text, “The theory focused on understanding what happens during initial interactions.”[10] Waldo’s initial influence on Darla was quite clear, and it made Alfalfa insecure and angry.
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Waldo, the rich and charming character in Little Rascals, swoons Darla with his great looks, big house, pool, limo, and an amazing go cart at the race. All Waldo has to offer makes Alfalfa inferior to him. When Waldo pulls up in a limo, Darla and Alfalfa immediately stop. Darla’s friends are off to the side giggling and smiling at him. All this is an example of Darla reducing uncertainty about Waldo because there is high incentive value with him. All the material items Waldo has to offer, grabs Darla’s attention and later they become a couple. According to the text, “The theory focused on understanding what happens during initial interactions.”[10] Waldo’s initial influence on Darla was quite clear, and it made Alfalfa insecure and angry.
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