1. Kathleen S. Verderber Rudolph F. Verderber
Inter-act
Kathleen S. Verderber
Rudolph F. Verderber
2005 Wadsworth
11th Edition
True measure of success of this book is its applicability – whether or not you can use the info to improve your own communication and help others to do the same in relationships.

2. Definition of INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Interpersonal Communication is a process.
People exercise mutual responsibility in creating meaning.
We create and manage our relationships.

3. Why We Communicate Physical Needs Identity Needs Social Needs
Practical Needs

4. Components of Interpersonal communication
Participants (sender & receiver)
Context (physical, social, historical, psychological, & cultural)
Messages (meaning, symbols, encode, decode)
Channels
Noise (external, internal, semantic)
Feedback

5. Principles of Interpersonal communication
Purposeful
Continuous
Transactional
Relational (complimentary & symmetrical)
Irreversible

6. ethics of interpersonal communication
Ethics – A set of moral principles that are held by a society, a group, or an individual.
Truthfulness & honesty
Integrity
Fairness
Respect
Responsibility
Empathy

7. Diversity & interpersonal Communication
Diversity – the variations between and among people affect every aspect of the interpersonal communication process.
Culture – the system of beliefs, values, and attitudes shared by a particular segment of the population.

8. Communication Misconceptions
Meanings Are Not in Words
Successful Communication Doesn’t Always Involve Shared Understanding
More Communication Is Not Always Better
No Single Person or Event Causes Another’s Reaction
Communication Will Not Solve All Problems

9. What makes an effective communicator?
Communication Competence –the perception that communicative behavior is both effective and appropriate in a given relationship.
There Is No “Ideal” Way to Communicate
Competence is Situational
Competence Is Relational
Competence Can Be Learned

10. Characteristics of competent communicators
Possession of a Wide Range of Behaviors
Ability to Choose the Most Appropriate Behavior
Skill at Performing Behaviors
Cognitive Complexity
Behavioral Flexibility & Empathy
Self-Monitoring & Emotional Intelligence
Commitment & Motivation

11. Check your competence
Do you have a wide repertoire of response styles or do you always respond in the same way?
Are you able to choose the most effective way of behaving for the situation at hand?
Are you skillful at performing behaviors? (Note: Knowing how you want to behave isn’t the same as being able to behave.)
Do you communicate in a way that leaves you satisfied?