1. Foundations of Interpersonal Communication
Chapter 8
Foundations of Interpersonal Communication

2. Interpersonal Climate
The overall feeling between people that arises largely out of the ways people communicate with each other

3. Self-disclosure
Revealing personal information about ourselves that others are unlikely to discover on their own

4. The Johari Window

5. Self-disclosure and Closeness
Should take place gradually and with caution
Disclosures are more frequent early in relationships
Fosters trust and comfort
When closeness declines, so do disclosures

6. Levels of Confirmation and Disconfirmation
Recognition
Acknowledgment
Endorsement

7. Defensive and Supportive Climates
evaluation
certainty
strategy
control
neutrality
superiority
Supportive
description
provisionalism
spontaneity
problem orientation
empathy
equality

8. Evaluation versus Description
describe behavior without judgment
“I” language
“This report doesn’t include background information.”
Evaluation
judgments, value terms
“You” language
“This report is poorly done.”

9. Certainty versus Provisionalism
absolute, dogmatic
ethnocentrism
“You’re making a big mistake by purchasing that boat.”
Provisionalism
tentativeness
open to other points of view
“Perhaps you should look a little more before you settle for a boat that expensive.”

10. Strategy versus Spontaneity
pre-planned goal, hidden agenda
manipulation
“Remember when I helped you with your math last term?”
Spontaneity
open, honest, uncontrived
“I really need your help with this computer glitch”

11. Control versus Problem Orientation
find answers that satisfy everyone
“Is there anything you can do differently so that you get home on time?”
Control
dominance
“If you come home late again, you’re grounded.”

12. Neutrality versus Empathy
lack of concern
detached, withdrawn
“I don't care what your problems are, get this job done by the end of the day.”
Empathy
involved
seeks understanding
“What difficulties would you encounter if you tried to complete this job today?”

13. Superiority versus Equality
“one up” attitude
“Eat everything on your plate because I’m the mom and I say so.”
Equality
respect
equivalent status
“Perhaps we have a problem here; can we work it out?”

14. Conflict
Conflict exits when people who depend on each other have different views, interests, or goals and perceive their differences as incompatible

15. Conflict in Relationships
Conflict may be overt or covert
overt
People express differences in a straightforward manner
covert
Partners deny or camouflage disagreement or anger and express it indirectly

16. Conflict in Relationships (cont’d)
Conflict may be managed well or poorly
Conflicts of interest
Conflict orientation
Conflict responses
Conflict outcomes

17. The Exit-Voice-Loyalty-Neglect Model

18. Conflict in Relationships (cont’d)
Conflict reflects and expresses cultures and social communities
Conflict may be good for individuals and relationships

19. Sustaining Healthy Climates
Actively use communication to shape climates
Accept and confirm others
Accept and confirm yourself
Self-disclose when appropriate
Respect diversity in relationships
closeness in dialogue
closeness in the doing

21. Websites Businessballs.com: The Johari Window
Interpersonal Communication Rubric
The Online Journal of Peace and Conflict Resolution
MentalHealth.net: Assertiveness Training

22. More Websites FAQS About Workplace Conflict
Centre for Conflict Resolution International
Communicating With and About People with Disabilities
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy

23. Video
Cloudy Climate
PLAY VIDEO