1. University of Northern IA
Presentation prepared by:
Marilyn Shaw
University of Northern IA
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2. Chapter 13 Interpersonal Communication: A Theoretical Foundation
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3. This Chapter Will Help You:
Explain what it means to connect with others through interpersonal communication.
Compare and contrast seven theories related to relationships and interpersonal communication.
Outline the roles of self-disclosure, privacy, gender, culture, and rhetorical sensitivity in interpersonal relationships.
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4. Connecting with Others via Interpersonal Communication
Relationships—an association between at least two people.
Interpersonal communication occurs in a variety of contexts and situations and may be characterized in different ways, such as being impersonal versus personal.
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5. Theories of Interpersonal Communication
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Uncertainty Management Theory
Social Information Processing Theory
Social Penetration Theory
Social Exchange Theory
Interpersonal Needs Theory
Dialectical Theory: Push and Pull
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6. Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Uncertainty reduction theory suggests that when we meet others, our need to know about them tends to make us draw inferences from observable physical data.
Berger’s three prior conditions
Anticipation of future contact
Incentive value or reward
Deviance
My granddaughters
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7. Uncertainty Management Theory
This theory takes into account the different ways people respond both psychologically and communicatively to uncertainty.
The theory has three main features:
The interpretation and experience with uncertainty.
The effect of emotion related to uncertainty.
The ways communication and emotion are managed when uncertainty exists.
Photo taken from Chapter 13, p. 351
© oliveromg/Shutterstock
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8. Social Information Processing Theory
Joe Walther states that social information processing theory suggests that electronically mediated relationships grow only to the extent that people gain information about each other and use it to form impressions.
Photo from chapter 13, page 352
© CAM Ottawa Citizen/caglecartoons.com/synidicam.com
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9. Social Penetration Theory
A theory suggesting that disclosures in relationships become increasingly intimate as the relationship develops.
DEPTH of information shared/deepness
BREADTH of information shared/topics
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10. Social Exchange Theory
Why do you form relationships with others?
Social exchange theory is based on the assumption that people weigh the costs and benefits associated with entering a relationship and seek out relationships that benefit them, while avoiding those that don’t.
Benefits
Costs
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11. Interpersonal Needs Theory
This is a theory that provides insight into our motivation to communicate. The theory consists of three needs:
Affection
The need to feel likeable or loveable. We need to belong and be loved.
Inclusion
Encompasses our need to feel significant and worthwhile.
Control
Our motivation for power or influence in our relationship.
Picture sent to me by a former student teaching now in Japan. Has given me permission to use it in any way I see fit
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12. Dialectical Theory: Push and Pull
Connection-Autonomy
Openness-Closedness
Novelty-Predictability
Managing Relational Tensions
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13. Self-Disclosure in Relationships
Self-disclosure is voluntarily sharing information about ourselves that another person is not likely to know.
Self-presentation
Relationship building
Catharsis
Why do we voluntarily share information about ourselves with others?
Photo from chapter 13 page 361
© Denkou Images/Alamy
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14. Things to Consider Too much self-disclosure
Can be harmful, risky, unwise, or insensitive
Too much self-disclosure
When does self-disclosure begin to invade or affect our privacy?
Self-disclosure and privacy
Disclosure is culturally regulated.
Self-disclosure and culture
We must be careful about stereotyping.
Self-disclosure and gender
Situation and factors about the other person are considered before communication begins.
Self-disclosure and rhetorical sensitivity
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15. Chapter 13
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