A first look at interpersonal communication

1
A first look at interpersonal communication

• Chapter topics

• Why We Communicate
• The Process of Communication
• Communication Principles and Misconceptions
• The Nature of Interpersonal Communication
• What Makes an Effective Communicator

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Why We Communicate

• Physical Needs
• Identity Needs
• Social Needs
• Practical Goals

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Why We Communicate

• Physical Needs
• Social isolation increases risk of
• Coronary disease
• Rivals cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and
  lack of physical activity
• Catching the common cold
• Premature death
• Positive communication and strong social ties
  lead to better health

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Why We Communicate

• Identity Needs
• Identity comes from how we interact with others
• Acting human is a learned process
• Messages influence our identity throughout our
  lives

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Why We Communicate

• Social Needs
• Communication is used to
• Obtain pleasure, affection, companionship,
  relaxation, escape and control
• Create happier relationships and social lives
• Theorists argue that positive relationships may
  be the most important source of human
  satisfaction and emotional well-being

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Why We Communicate

• Practical Goals
• Getting others to behave in ways we want
• Communication is the tool that
• Lets you explain your needs to the hair stylist
• Helps you negotiate household duties
• Is essential in virtually every career
• Abraham Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
• Physical, Safety, Social, Esteem and
  Self-Actualization

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The Process of Communication

• A Linear View
• Communication is done to a receiver

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The Process of Communication

• Linear Communication
• The model
• Suited to radio and television
• Created by scientists interested in electronic
  media
• Affected the way we think and talk about
  communication
• Is there really only one sender and one receiver?

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The Process of Communication

• A Transactional View
• Communication as a uniquely human process

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The Process of Communication

• Transactional Communication
• The model
• Messages are sent and received at the same time
• Sender/Receiver become communicators
• Environments
• Physical location
• Personal experiences and cultural backgrounds
• Noise
• Internal as well as external noise is represented
• Channels retain significant role

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Principles and Misconceptions

• Principles
• Some communication is clearly intentional
• Communication can be unintentional
• Overhearing another's conversation
• How does the meaning change?
• Nonverbal Communication
• Unaware of your expressions
• Sour face, restlessness, sighs of boredom
• Unknowingly being observed

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Principles and Misconceptions

• Principles
• Communication is irreversible
• It is impossible to unreceive a message
• Think about unsqueezing a tube of toothpaste
• Words said and deeds done are irretrievable
• Its impossible not to communicate
• Intentional and unintentional behaviors send a
  message
• People who decode your message may not interpret
  it accurately

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Principles and Misconceptions

• Principles
• Communication is unrepeatable
• Communication is an ongoing process
• It is impossible to repeat the same event
• If attempted, the act of repetition will change
  the intended meaning
• Both communicators have changed because they have
  lived longer
• The same words and behaviors are different each
  time they are spoken or performed

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Principles and Misconceptions

• Principles
• Content and relational dimension
• Content dimension
• Involves the information being explicitly
  discussed
• Relational dimension
• Involves how you feel about the other person
• Like or dislike
• In control or subordinate
• Comfortable or anxious

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Principles and Misconceptions

• Misconceptions
• More communication is not always better
• Excessive communication can be unproductive and
  can also backfire
• Pestering a potential employer about a job
  prospect
• Texting too many call me messages
• Meanings are not in the words
• Saying something is not the same as communicating
  it

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Principals and Misconceptions

• Misconceptions
• Communication and shared understanding
• Successful communication doesnt always involve
  shared understanding
• Being deliberately vague
• Sacrificing clarity to spare another's feelings
• More satisfying relationships can sometimes come
  from less-than-perfect understanding

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Principals and Misconceptions

• Misconceptions
• People/Events do not cause anothers reaction
• Communication is transactional, ongoing and
  collaborative
• Communication does not occur in a vacuum
• Communication will not solve all problems

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The Nature of Interpersonal Communication

• Two Views of Interpersonal Communication
• Quantitative Communication
• Any interaction between two people, usually face
  to face
• Can be considered routine or impersonal
• Qualitative Communication
• Occurs when we treat others as unique individuals
  regardless of context or the number of people
  involved

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The Nature of Interpersonal Communication

• Aspects of Qualitative Communication
• Uniqueness
• Irreplaceability
• Interdependence
• Disclosure
• Intrinsic Rewards
• The scarcity of quality interpersonal
  communication contributes to its value

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The Nature of Interpersonal Communication

• Mediated Interpersonal Communication
• Mediated Channels
• Instant Messaging, emailing, blogging, Twittering
• Social networks
• Facebook
• MySpace
• The difference between face-to-face and virtual
  relationships is eroding

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The Nature of Interpersonal Communication

• Mediated Interpersonal Communication
• Benefits
• Internet users have more social networks than
  nonusers
• Computer-based communication encourages offline
  interaction by keeping relationships active
• Text-only messages can
• Bring people closer by minimizing the perception
  of differences
• Stimulate both self-disclosure and direct
  questioning

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The Nature of Interpersonal Communication

• Mediated Interpersonal Communication
• Challenges
• Leaner Messages
• Face-to-face messages are rich with nonverbal
  cues
• Without nonverbal cues, online communicators can
  create idealized images of one another
• Disinhibition
• Sending messages without considering the
  consequence
• Messages tend to be more direct and often
  critical
• Permanence
• Messages can be archived virtually forever

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What Makes an Effective Communicator

• Communication Competence
• There is no ideal way to communicate
• A variety of communication styles can be
  effective
• You can always learn new styles of communication
• Competence is
• Situational
• Relational
• Competence varies from one situation and person
  to another

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What Makes an Effective Communicator

• Competent Communicator Characteristics
• Behaviors
• Possessing a wide range of behaviors
• Ability to chose appropriate behavior based on
• Context
• Goals
• Knowledge of the other person
• Skill at performing behaviors

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What Makes an Effective Communicator

• Competent Communicator Characteristics
• Cognitive Complexity
• The ability to construct a variety of frameworks
  for viewing an issue or situation
• Empathy
• Feeling and experiencing another's situation
• Self-Monitoring
• High Self-Monitoring
• Low Self-Monitoring

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What Makes an Effective Communicator

• Competent Communicator Characteristics
• Intercultural Communication
• National Differences
• Ethnic Differences
• Co-cultures
• Age
• Occupation
• Sexual orientation
• Religion
• Physical disability

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What Makes an Effective Communicator

• Competent Communicator Characteristics
• Motivation
• The desire to communicate successfully
• Tolerance and Open-mindedness
• Communicating across cultures can be confusing
• Knowledge and Skill
• Passive observation
• Active strategies
• Self-disclosure

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Chapter Review

• Why We Communicate
• The Process of Communication
• Communication Principles and Misconceptions
• The Nature of Interpersonal Communication
• What Makes an Effective Communicator