Interpersonal Communication

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Interpersonal Communication

• Chapter 6

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Interpersonal Communication

• Interpersonal Communication -
• The process of using messages to generate meaning
  between at least two people in a situation that
  allows mutual opportunities for both speaking and
  listening. (p. 136)
• Broad definition, very general.
• Includes everyone we talk to.

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Interpersonal Communication

• Interpersonal Relationships
• Associations between two people who are
  interdependent, who use some consistent patterns
  of interaction, and who have interacted for an
  extended period of time. (p. 137)
• More specific (pure) definition.
• Develops from interpersonal communication.

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Interpersonal Communication

• Which individuals below would you not consider as
  having an interpersonal relationship with?

Mother? Best friend? Cashier? Boss? Instructor?
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Interpersonal Communication

• Complementary relationships
• Where each person supplies something the other
  person lacks. (p. 139)
• Symmetrical relationships
• Where each individual mirror each other or are
  highly similar. (p. 139)

6
Activity

• How many friends do you have?
• How many are close friends?
• How many are best friends?
• Think of what you look for in a friend
• In other words, what characteristics should they
  have?
• Would you consider most of your friends
  complementary or symmetrical?

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Reasons for Relationships

• Proximity Location, distance, or range between
  persons.
• Attractiveness How desirable is this person?
  How much social value do they have? Would
  he/she make you look better?
• Similarity Like or dislike the same things.
• Complementarity strengths are our weaknesses.

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Interpersonal Relationships

• Self-disclosures
• The process of making intentional revelations
  about yourself that others would be unlikely to
  know that generally constitute private,
  sensitive, or confidential information. (p. 140)
• BUILDS AND MAINTAINS RELATIONSHIPS!!!
• Increases feelings of closeness or intimacy.
• Tends to be reciprocal. (back and forth)
• Helps others to see us as unique individuals.
• Varies across individuals, relationships, and
  cultures.

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Self-Disclosures
Curvilinear Relationship
high
?
Relational Satisfaction
?
?
low
low
high
Self-disclosure
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Relational Development
Bonding
Integrating
Intensifying
Experimenting
Initiating
TIME
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Relational Development

• Initiating Hello
• Experimenting Sharing information at a safe
  level.
• Intensifying Active participation, mutual
  concern, both acknowledge relationship is
  developing.
• Integrating Mirroring. Merge social circles.
  Common property. Shared interests/values.
• Bonding Commitment. Exchange personal items.
  Public rituals that display bond. (Marriage,
  birth of child, deaths, etc.)

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Relationship Maintenance

• Relationship maintenance
• Establishment of strategies for keeping the
  relationship together.
• Occurs throughout the development process, even
  though the book says it takes place after
  bonding.
• Frequency of contact keeps relationships going.
• Helps to predict how satisfied you are with your
  relationship.

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Relationship Maintenance

• What do you use to maintain your friendships?
• What works best?
• What are you most satisfied with?
• What would you rather not do?

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Relationship Deterioration
Differentiating
Circumscribing
Stagnating
Avoiding
Termination
TIME
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Relationship Deterioration

• Differentiating Emphasize differences. Do
  things separate from each other.
• Circumscribing Decreased interaction, less time
  spent together, less breadth and depth to
  disclosures.
• Stagnating Lack of activity together. Only
  together for convenience. Awkward conversations.
• Avoiding Active avoidance. Negative
  conversations (try to hurt each other).
• Terminating Divorce, ending of relationship.

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Relationship Stage Model
Bonding
Differentiating
Integrating
Circumscribing
Intensifying
Stagnating
Avoiding
Experimenting
Initiating
Termination
TIME
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Relational Dialectics

• Relational Dialectics the tension that exists
  between two conflicting or interacting forces,
  elements, or ideashaving two opposing ideas or
  desires/feelings for maintaining the
  relationship (p. 146)
• Both/And

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Relational Dialectics

• Separateness gt----------------lt Connectedness
• (Separation) (Integration)
• I need some alone time
  Why dont we do more things together?
• Certainty gt--------------------------lt
  Uncertainty
• (Stability)
  
  (Change)
• Im glad youll always be here
  Youre so boring and
  predictable
• Openness gt-------------------------lt Closedness
• (Expression)
  (Privacy)
• Why dont you tell me when youre mad
  Quit being such a cry-baby

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Relational Dialectics

• Which relational dialectic is apparent in this
  clip?
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vDOH0tRUqh1k

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Questions?