1. Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Chapter 1
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
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2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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

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

25. 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.

26. 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