Those are great points, sranganayaki. It reminds me of the research of the psychologist John Gottman. Basically, he says that all human relationships are made up of individual transactions called "bids" which are represented by verbal or nonverbal actions. In this model, someone will make a "bid" and then the other person can choose to respond to or reject that bid. The most successful relationships (whether they are romantic relationships, friendships, or work groups) involve people making and responding to bids positively and on a regular basis.
Here's a further summary:
Simple Steps for Making Marriage Work - Lovegevity.com