1. Interpersonal Communication
An Introduction

2. Interpersonal Communication
The (transactional) process through
which people create and manage their
relationships, exercising mutual
responsibility in creating meaning.

3. Functions of Interpersonal Communication
Meet our social needs
Maintain our sense of self
Fulfill social obligations
Exchange information
Influence others
Get and improve our jobs

4. Message Formation
Message – a person’s verbal utterances and nonverbal behaviors to which meaning is attributed during communication
Meaning – the substance of messages that you send – the ideas and feelings in your mind
Symbols – words, sounds, and actions that are generally understood to represent meaning

5. Values Beliefs Attitudes Experiences
Past events or activities that give knowledge.
Values
Beliefs
Attitudes
Experiences

6. Sender Receiver Channel Encoder Decoder Both the route
traveled by the
message and
the means of
transportation
Encoder
Decoder
Transforming ideas
and feelings into
words, sounds, and
actions
Transforming
messages back
into ideas and
feelings
Sender
Receiver

7. Encoder Decoder Meaning Encoder
Sending Channel
Encoder
Decoder
Meaning
Encoder
Sender
Verbal and/or
nonverbal
responses
to a message
Receiver
Feedback

8. Noise Sending Channel Encoder Decoder Stimuli that get in the way of
sharing meaning
Meaning
Meaning
Decoder
Encoder
Sender
Receiver
Feedback Channel

9. Noise
External noise – the sights, sounds, and other stimuli that draw people’s attention away from intended message
Internal noise – the thoughts and feelings that interfere with meaning
Semantic noise – unintended meanings aroused by a speaker’s symbols

10. Context Context Context Context Noise Encoder Decoder Noise Meaning
Sending Channel
Noise
Encoder
Decoder
Noise
Meaning
Meaning
Decoder
Encoder
Noise
Sender
Receiver
Context
Context
Feedback Channel
V/ V, p 9.

11. Context – the setting
Physical – where communication takes place, the environment, the distance between participants, seating, time of day
Social – the nature of the relationship
Historical – the background of previous communication
Psychological – the moods and feelings
Cultural – the set of beliefs, values, and norms that are shared by a large group of people

12. Principles of Interpersonal Communication (pps., 9-12)
Is purposeful
Is continuous
Is Transactional (Messages vary in conscious encoding)
Is relational
Symmetrical or Complementary
Is Irreversible
Has ethical implications
Is learned

13. Communication has Purpose
All communication is goal-directed
Goal may be serious or trivial
Successful communication achieves its goals
People are not always aware of their goal in any particular act of communication.

14. Communication is Continuous
Interpersonal communication can be verbal or nonverbal. Therefore, we are always sending messages to others--whether we are aware of it or not!

15. Messages Vary in Encoding
Encoding process may be spontaneous or scripted
Spontaneous expression means that messages are encoded without conscious thought
Scripted communication uses conversation phrases that we have learned from past encounters.

16. Communication is Relational
Affect – feelings of affection that the participants have for one another
Control – the extent to which one person dominates the other
Complementary relationship – one person lets the other define who is to have greater power
Symmetrical relationship – one in which people do not agree about who is in control

17. Communication is Learned
Communication about communication
When you develop skill in communicating about your and others’ messages, you can increase the chance of creating shared understanding.

18. Ethics
A set of moral principles that may be held by a society, a group, or an individual

19. Key Ethical Issues
Truthfulness and honesty – refraining from lying, cheating, stealing, or deceiving
Moral dilemma – choice involving unsatisfactory alternatives
Integrity – having a consistency of belief and action (keeping promises)

20. Key Ethical Issues (continued)
Fairness – achieving the right balance of interests without regard to one’s own feelings and without showing favor to any side in a conflict
Respect – showing regard or consideration for a person and for that person’s rights
Responsibility – being accountable for one’s actions

21. Diversity – variations between and among people
Age
Gender
Race
Religion
Class
Ability
Country of origin
Sexual orientation
Physical characteristics

22. Culture – systems of knowledge
shared by a relatively large group
of people
Culture is a critical concept to communication because every communicator is a product of his or her culture.
-Anderson 2000

23. Communication Competence
Competence is the perception by others
that our communication was appropriate
as well as effective. Competence can be
enhanced by:
Increasing communication knowledge
Identifying and attaining goals
Being able to use skills to achieve goals

24. Developing Competence Skills
1. Message-formation skills increase accuracy and clarity of the messages you send. 2. Conversational-climate skills increase the opportunities to develop a supportive relationship.

25. Developing Competence (continued)
3. Listening-for-understanding increases your ability to understand meaning.
4. Empathic-response skills increase the likelihood that you will be able to understand and respond to the emotional experiences of another.
5. Disclosure skills increase the likelihood that you will share your ideas and feelings in an honest and sensitive manner.

26. Developing Communication Improvement Plans
Describe the problem
Describe the specific goal
Outline procedure for reaching the goal
Devise a method of assessment