Modern Social Science Research

One of the core objectives of interpersonal communication is to establish harmonious personal and social relationships. However, in common triadic communication scenarios, discursive conflicts frequently emerge. This is because the inherent asymmetry in participants’ power positions leads to conflicts, that is, absolute equality in relationships rarely exists in reality, while imbalance remains the norm. This structural characteristic makes coalition formation the most distinctive feature of triadic communication. The harmony-oriented Rapport Management Theory focuses on how people coordinate face management and social rights management through verbal and nonverbal behaviors during interactions, thereby establishing and maintaining positive interpersonal relationships. Based on this theory, this paper examines coalition formation in triadic communication, analyzing how strategies facilitate the achievement of interpersonal harmony.

Rapport management theory; Triadic communication; Coalition