Introduction to Interpersonal Communication Chapter 1 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, you should be able to: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and interpersonal communication. 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication. 1.3 Describe the key components of the communication process, including communication as action, interaction, and transaction. 1.4 Discuss five principles of interpersonal communication. 1.5 Discuss the role of electronically mediated communication in developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships. 1.6 Identify strategies that can improve your communication competence.

Interpersonal Communication Defined (1 of 6) 1 Interpersonal Communication Defined (1 of 6) 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and interpersonal communication. Interpersonal Communication Is a Distinctive Form of Communication Other-oriented Communication Human communication Other-oriented: to be aware of the thoughts, needs, experiences, personality, emotions, motives, desires, culture, and goals of your communication partners while still maintaining your own integrity Communication: process of acting on information Human communication: process of making sense out of the world and sharing that sense with others by creating meaning through the use of verbal and non-verbal messages

Interpersonal Communication Defined (2 of 6) Interpersonal Communication Is a Distinctive Form of Communication (continued) Interpersonal versus impersonal communication Interpersonal communication includes electronic communication. I-It and I-Though relationships “I-It” is an impersonal communication relationship, in which the other person is viewed as an “It” rather than as an authentic, genuine person. “I-Thou” relationship occurs when you interact with another person as a unique, authentic individual. Interpersonal communication: a distinctive, transactional form of human communication involving mutual influence, usually for the purpose of managing relationships Impersonal communication: process that occurs when we treat others as objects or respond to their roles rather to who they are as unique persons

Interpersonal Communication Defined (3 of 6) Interpersonal Communication Is a Distinctive Form of Communication (continued) Interpersonal versus other forms of communication Mass communication Public communication Small group communication Intrapersonal communication Mass communication: process that occurs when one person issues the same message to many people at once; the creator of the message is usually not physically present, and listeners have virtually no opportunity to respond immediately to the speaker Public communication: process that occurs when a speaker addresses an audience. Small group communication: process that occurs when a group of three to fifteen people meet to interact with a common purpose and mutually influence one another. Intrapersonal communication: communication with yourself; thinking.

Interpersonal Communication Defined (4 of 6) Interpersonal Communication Involves Mutual Influence Between Individuals All partners in the communication are affected by a transaction, verbal or nonverbal. Influence varies from transaction to transaction.

Interpersonal Communication Defined (6 of 6) Interpersonal Communication Helps Individuals Manage Their Relationships Verbal, nonverbal, and online In face-to-face encounters, we simultaneously exchange both verbal and nonverbal messages that result in shared meanings. Through this kind of interrelation, we build relationships with each other. Relationship: connection established when one person communicates with another

Interpersonal Communication’s Importance to Your Life (1 of 4) 1 Interpersonal Communication’s Importance to Your Life (1 of 4) 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication. Improved Relationships with Family Interpersonal communication provides more options for responding to communication challenges within families. Family communication is the single factor in determining kinds of relationships with others.

Interpersonal Communication’s Importance to Your Life (2 of 4) Improved Relationships with Friends and Romantic Partners Understanding interpersonal relationships offers insight into relational behaviors. Improved Relationships with Colleagues Understanding interpersonal relationships in the workplace can help you avoid conflict and stress, and increase your sense of satisfaction.

Interpersonal Communication’s Importance to Your Life (4 of 4) Improved Physical and Emotional Health Positive interpersonal relationships is a major source of personal happiness. Lack of interpersonal relationships leads to illness and even death.

Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process (1 of 4) 1 Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process (1 of 4) 1.3 Describe the key components of the communication process, including communication as action, interaction and transaction. Elements of the Communication Process Source Encode Decode Message Channel Receiver Noise Feedback Context Source: originator of a thought or emotion, who puts it into a code that can be understood by a receiver Encode: to translate ideas, feelings, and thoughts into code Decode: to interpret ideas, feelings, and thoughts that have been translated into a code Message: written, spoken, and unspoken elements of communication to which people assign meaning Channel: Pathway through which messages are sent Receiver: Person who decodes a message and attempts to make sense of what the source has encoded Noise: anything literal or psychological that interferes with accurate reception of a message Feedback: response to a message

Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process (2 of 4) Models of the Communication Process Communication as action: message transfer Figure 1.1 A Simple Model of Human Communication as Action

Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process (3 of 4) Models of the Communication Process Communication as interaction Figure 1.2 A Model of Communication as Interaction

Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process (4 of 4) Models of the Communication Process Communication as transaction Figure 1.3 A Model of Communication as Transaction

Interpersonal Communication Principles (1of 5) 1 Interpersonal Communication Principles (1of 5) 1.4 Discuss five principles of interpersonal communication. Interpersonal Communication Connects Us to Others Quality of interpersonal relationships stem from quality of communication. It is a myth that all interpersonal relationship problems are communication problems.

Interpersonal Communication Principles (2 of 5) Figure 1.4 Interpersonal Communication is Irreversible Interpersonal Communication Is Irreversible The principle that messages are irreversible applies to all forms of communication. Messages never loop back, instead continue to be shaped by events, experiences, and thoughts of communication partners.

Interpersonal Communication Principles (3 of 5) Interpersonal Communication Is Complicated Communication reduces uncertainty. We interpret information through symbols. Interpersonal Communication Is Governed by Rules Symbol: word, sound, or visual image that represents something else, such as a thought, concept, or object Rule: followable prescription that indicates what behavior is obligated, preferred, or prohibited in certain contexts

Interpersonal Communication Principles (4 of 5) For many of us, friendships are vital to our personal well-being. By improving our interpersonal communication skills, we can learn how to improve our friendships. Symbol: word, sound, or visual image that represents something else, such as a thought, concept, or object Rule: followable prescription that indicates what behavior is obligated, preferred, or prohibited in certain contexts

Interpersonal Communication Principles (5 of 5) Interpersonal Communication Involves Both Content and Relationship Dimensions What you say and how you say it reveal much about the true meaning of your message. Content Relationship dimension Metacommunication Content: information, ideas, or suggested actions that a speaker wishes to share Relationship dimension: the implied aspect of a communication message, which conveys information about emotions, attitudes, power, and control Metacommunication: verbal or nonverbal communication about communication

Interpersonal Communication and Social Media Interpersonal Communication and Social Media (1 of 4) 1.5 Discuss the role of electronically mediated communication in developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal Communication and Social Media Social media Electronically mediated communication (EMC) Emotional contagion Hyperpersonal relationships Social media: variety of technological applications such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram that serve as channels to help people connect to one another Electronically mediated communication (EMC): communication via a medium such as the internet Emotional contagion: process whereby people mimic the emotions of others after watching and hearing their emotional expressions Hyperpersonal relationships: a relationship formed primarily through electronically mediated communication that becomes more personal

Interpersonal Communication and Social Media (2 of 4) Differences Between EMC and Face-to-Face Communication Time shifting: Asynchronous messages and synchronous messages Social presence Varying degrees of anonymity Potential for deception Nonverbal cues Role of written word Distance Asynchronous: a message that is not read, heard, or seen exactly when it is sent; there is a time delay between the sending of a message and its receipt Synchronous: a message that is sent and received simultaneously Social presence: the feeling that communicators have of engaging in unmediated, face-to-face interactions even though messages are being sent electronically

Interpersonal Communication and Social Media (3 of 4) People use electronically mediated communication (EMC) to share information that ranges fro the dramatic to the routine. EMC can create a shared sense of social or psychological presence between two people, giving them the feeling of being instantly connected to each other.

Interpersonal Communication and Social Media (4 of 4) Understanding EMC Cues-filtered-out theory Media richness theory Social information-processing theory Cues-filtered-out theory: suggests that communication of emotions is restricted when people send messages to others via text messages because nonverbal cues such as facial expression, gestures, and tone of voice are filtered out Media richness theory: identifies the richness of a communication medium based on the amount of feedback it allows, the number of cues receivers can interpret, the variety of language it allows, and the potential for emotional expression Social information processing theory: suggests that people can communicate relational and emotional messages via the Internet, although such messages take longer to express without nonverbal cues

Figure 1.5 A Continuum of Communication-Rich and Communication-Lean Channels

Interpersonal Communication Competence (1 of 2) 1 Interpersonal Communication Competence (1 of 2) 1.6 Identify strategies that can improve your communication competence. Become Knowledgeable, Skilled, and Motivated Become knowledgeable: understand how communication works. Become skilled: learn how to translate knowledge into action. Become motivated: you need to be motivated to use your knowledge and skills.

Interpersonal Communication Competence (2 of 2) Become Other-Oriented Consider the interests of others Egocentric communicator Empathize Adapt Be ethical Ethics Egocentric communicator: person who creates messages without giving much though to the person who is listening; a communicator who is self- focused and self-absorbed Ethics: the beliefs, values, and moral principles by which a person determines what is right and wrong