So why do we teach I-Statements and communication? Here are some reasons from The Journal of Youth and Adolescence (Caldwell, et. al.) and girlshealth.gov
- Adolescents' willingness to share information with parents is a central process through which parents gain knowledge of their adolescents' lives.
- Adolescents whose parents know relatively more about their day-to-day lives show lower levels of drug and alcohol use, delinquency, school problems, and depressed mood.
- Adolescents who communicate effectively with parents show both higher self-esteem and better school performance.
- Communication is the most important part of any relationship. When both parties in a relationship communicate everyone feels calm and safe.
- Everyone will deal with conflict in a relationship, saying "I" instead of "You" allows the speaker to take responsibility for their emotions rather than placing blame.
I-Statements give our partner information about us, and they do it in a way that's far less threatening than the alternative: You-Statements. They form the bedrock for cooperation because they connect people, build trust, and create healthier, more open and honest relationships. (http://www.humanpotentialcenter.org/Articles/IStatements.html)
To create an I-Statement, all we need to do is start a sentence with an "I." As simple as that may sound, there is an art to creating really effective I-Statements. Here are some suggestions:
- Be specific.
- Avoid "oughts" and "shoulds."
- Avoid labels.
- Avoid the phrases "I feel like…" and "I feel that…."
- Include our feelings, not merely our thoughts.
Going back to the "why" of teaching I statements, I want to share something that Sally* wrote to her mother.
Mom,
I feel ___angry__________
when you ____don't answer your cell phone when I call ______
because ____I could be dying!! _________________
Clearly Sally is dealing with intense frustration, the root of which is obviously not Sally's mother not answering her cell phone but rather a consistent lack of communication in the parent-child relationship. Sally expressed other feelings and shared additional incidents when I asked her about her I statement. Normally I grade the I statements, give feedback, and return the papers to the students. In this case, I encouraged Sally to share this and her other thoughts with her mother. Research shows positive outcomes for parents who listen to their children. Parents, "Listen UP!" Kids "Speak!!"
Sources
Caldwell, L. L., et. al. (2006). "Predictors of adolescents' disclosure to parents and percieved parental knowledge: between- and within-person differences." Journal of Youth and Adolescence 35(4) pp 667+.
"Dealing with Conflict." (2009) www.girlshealth.gov/relationships/conflict/index.cfm. 12 March 2012.
Santrock, J. (2011). Lifespan development (13th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
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