CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Communication is to relationship what breathing is to maintaining life

-Virginia Satir-

INTERPERSONAL means
INVOLVING RELATIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE

Any examples?

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?

IT IS A PROCESS OF ACTING ON INFORMATION

Any examples?

Interpersonal Communication however is a mutual human communication to manage relationships.

Three basic elements of human communication

1. Interpersonal communication is a

distinctive form of communication.

2. Interpersonal communication involves

mutual influence between individuals.

3. Interpersonal communication is the

fundamental means we use to manage relationships.

1. Interpersonal communication is a distinctive form of communication

Interpersonal communication Impersonal communication

People are treated as unique individuals People communicate in an I thou relationship. There is true dialogue and honest sharing of self with others. Often involves someone you care about

People are treated as objects. People communicate in an I

it relationship. Each person has a role to perform.

Mechanical, stilted

communication rather than honest sharing of feelings. Communicate with people you have no history with and expect no future of them.

2. Interpersonal communication involves mutual influence between individuals

People are affected by a transaction (Discuss).

A smile may affect us differently if it comes from a
boyfriend than a stranger that we met by the roadside.

We are also affected by the nonverbal gestures by

our partner/friend.

3. Interpersonal communication is the fundamental means we use to manage our relationships

WHY?
EXAMPLES A relationship is an ongoing connection you make with others through interpersonal communication.

Other forms of communication:

Mass communication occurs when someone

communicates the same message to many people at once, but the creator of the message is not physically present. Listeners have no opportunity to respond immediately. Example: radio and TV.

Public communication occurs when a speaker addresses

an audience in person.

Small group communication occurs when a group of

from 3 to 15 meet to interact with a common purpose and mutually influence by one another. yourself.

Intrapersonal communication is communication with

Can you give some thoughts of why interpersonal communication is important in our lives?

The importance of interpersonal communication to our lives.

1) Can improve relationships with family. 2) Can improve relationships with friends and lovers. 3) Can improve relationships with colleagues. 4) Can improve physical and emotional health.

Let us understand these definitions

TERM Communication DEFINITION The process of acting on information.

Human communication

The process of making out of the world and sharing that sense with others by creating meaning through verbal and nonverbal messages.
The process of interacting with another and mutually influencing each other usually for purpose of managing relationships.

Interpersonal communication

Models of human and interpersonal communication

Human Communication as an action: Message Transfer

Key components of the process:

Source: Originator of a thought or emotion. Puts it into a code (encode) that can be understood by a receiver. Receiver: The person who interprets (decodes) the message. Message: Written, spoken or the unspoken elements of communication. Channel: Pathway through which messages are sent.

Models of human and interpersonal communication

Human Communication as Interaction: Message Exchange

Models of human and interpersonal communication.

Context: Physical and psychological environment (settings) for communication. For example: on a beach, at a funeral, etc.
Feedback: Verbal or nonverbal responses to messages. Noise: Literal or psychological interference of the reception of the message .

Models of human and interpersonal communication

Human Communication as Transaction

Source/ Receiver

Message/ Feedback

Source/ Receiver

The Communication Process:

TERM Human Communication as Action DEFINITION Human Comm. is linear, with meaning sent/ transferred from source to receiver

Human communication as Interaction

Human communication as Transaction

Human Comm. occurs as the receiver of the message responds to the source through feedback. This interactive model views comm. as a linear action-reaction sequence of events Human comm. is mutually interactive. Meaning is created based on a concurrent sharing ideas and feelings. This transaction model most accurately describes human comm.

Mediated Interpersonal Communication: A New Frontier

Mediated Interpersonal Communication
- Comm. with others established or maintained through media (such as e-mail, telephones, faxes, online chat/ blogs) rather than through face-to-face (FTF) encounters

Social Information-Processing Theory

- Theory that explains how people use information they receive from others via e-mail and other electronic media to develop relationships with others

Principles of interpersonal communication

1. Interpersonal communication connects us to others 2. Interpersonal communication is irreversible

3. Interpersonal communication is complicated

4. Interpersonal communication is governed by rules 5. Interpersonal communication involves both content
and relationship dimensions

How to improve your own interpersonal competence?

One has to become

a. Knowledgeable: components, principles and the rules.

b. Skilled translate knowledge into action.

c. Motivated use knowledge and skill. d. Flexible select the right behavior. e. Ethical offer choices, establish trust, and reduce barriers
to interpersonal communication.

f.

Other-oriented: other oriented communicator vs. egocentric communicators

Group work
Develop a five-minute lesson to teach one of the following concepts to your class:

1. How interpersonal relationship range from impersonal to

intimate.

2. Human communication as action 3. Human communication as interaction

4. How interpersonal relationship are governed by rules.

5. How to improve communication effectiveness

Group work
Develop your own model of interpersonal communication. Include all of the components that are necessary to describe how communication between people works.

Your model could be a drawing or an object that symbolizes the communication process. Share your model with the class.