Social exchange theory is based on the idea that people use rewards as motivators in different situations. In general, people hope to minimize costs and maximize rewards. They will be more willing to divulge a greater amount of information to another individual if they believe it will be worth their while. The more a person believes that forming a relationship with another person will benefit them, the more information they will reveal to the other person, hence attempting to strengthen their bond. It is assumed that people can understand and relate to one another's needs. For example, if someone lends their neighbor sugar, they would expect their neighbor to return the favor later on if they found themselves needing sugar in a pinch.
Social penetration theory is based on the idea that as we get to know someone better, we divulge more information about ourselves to that person. When you first meet someone, you generally do not reveal intimate details about your life, while you do give close friends that you have known for years meticulous accounts. This theory follows the idea that for a relationship to develop, there must be a certain level of disclosure from both parties. For example, a woman would not tell her friend a detailed account of a fight that she had with her husband if she did not know anything about her friend's relationship status.
Constructivism is based on the idea that people who are able to form a greater, more detailed perception of others are more successful communicators. The purpose of this theory is to try to explain the reason behind why some people are better at conveying specific messages when they communicate and achieving their desired outcomes. These people are able to deliver their messages in a more clear and direct manner than others can. For example, if a middle child was talking to her mother about a fight she had with her older sister, she might say, "That's not fair. You always take her side, she is your favorite."
Marital theory is based on the idea that there are three types of marriages: conventional, independents and separates. Conventional couples enjoy a traditional marriage with well-defined gender roles. They prefer a more stable lifestyle instead of focusing on spontaneity, are dependent upon one another, and serve as each other's close companion. Independent couples typically practice more of a non-traditional marriage where both partners are very self-reliant. These people do things together as a couple, but also make sure to take time for themselves as individuals. They might have their own rooms in the house and enjoy spending their time with separate sets of friends. Separate couples do not have very well-defined roles in their relationship. Although they might have a traditional view of what a marriage should consist of, they spend most of their time apart from one another. These couples are not very interdependent and have almost completely separate lives outside of the marriage.