Interpersonal Communication

2. Interpersonal Communication • Introduction to interpersonal communication: • verbal and non-verbal face-to-face interactions; • understanding messages sent and received; • awareness and resolutions of communication barriers.

3. There are two goals for this course: • To introduce interpersonal communication concepts and theories • To help you learn new communication skills

4. Upon successful completion of this class, you should be able to • Identify, describe, and explain major concepts involved in interpersonal communication, • Understand interdisciplinary character of the subject of Interpersonal Communication • Analyze interpersonal communication issues with the knowledge of a basic scientific methodology.

5. Upon successful completion of this class, you should be able to 4. Identify and provide solutions to some commonly encountered communication barriers. 5. Gain self-awareness of your ability as an interpersonal communicator.

6. Experiential Learning • This course combines theory and practice. For a student to benefit from the class beyond learning the basic interpersonal theories, the course requires active participation in the class and a serious attempt to integrate: • conceptualizations based on the reading, observations, lectures and • everyday experiences in interpersonal communication.

7. Why we communicate? • Physical Needs • Social Needs: Predicting behavior/ social participation • Identity Needs: Reinforcing/building identity • Practical Needs / Goals: Accomplishing something

8. The Interpersonal Imperative • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: • Physical needs • Safety needs • Belonging needs • Self-esteem needs • Self-actualization needs

9. Communication • The transmission of information, idea, emotion, skills, etc. by the use of symbols—words, pictures, figures, etc. • It involves source (sender), receiver, message, channel, context, etc. • It has a purpose (is intentional) • Is interactive (message elicits response)

10. Communication Objectives Primary: Inform, persuade, entertain, instruct, educate, inspire, undermine, refute, destroy. Secondary: Earn money, sell newspapers, attract advertisers, represent clients, etc.

11. Communication discipline / research • Communication research examines the processes by which meanings are created and managed • How people structure and interpret messages and use symbols (language) in several contexts

12. Communication contexts(areas of communication research) • Interpersonal communication • Intercultural / International • Group communication • Mass Communication • Organizational communication • Public communication

13. Communication Research: A Brief History • Foundations in Classical Greece and Rome—emphasis on Rhetoric. Aristotle, Plato, Isocrates, Cicero. • Early 20th Century • Emergence of Departments of “Speech” • Emphasis on Speech and Rhetoric • World War II and Post-War Era • Concerns with attitude formation and change • Emergence of social and behavioral science approaches • Late 20th Century • Concerns with mass communication, public policy, and media • Concerns with new communication technologies, cultural approaches

14. Significant areas of communication research: • Communication and public policy • Family communication • Health communication • Intercultural communication • Interpersonal communication • Media economics • Nonverbal communication • Organizational communication • Persuasion and social influence • Political and social rhetoric / Mass Communication • Media effects

15. Examples of research interests • Interpersonal communication: conflict in relationships, nature of love relationships • Political communication: political campaigns, First Amendment issues, ethics • Intercultural: the effect of culture on communication, understanding, relationships • Mass communication: public opinion, the effect of the media on the public

16. Interdisciplinary character of communication studies • Interpersonal communication:psychology, sociology, philosophy, ethics, biology etc. • Public communication:politics, economics, law, history, international relations, etc. • Intercultural: psychology, anthropology, politics, geography, etc. • Mass communication: sociology, politics, media studies, literature, art, etc.

17. How it works?

18. Communication Process Situation MES SAGE CHAN NEL Situation Situation FEED BACK Interference Situation

19. The key concepts:encoding / decoding • Encoding: ‘translating’ ideas and images into a code (e.g., language) that the audience can recognize • Decoding: understanding / deciphering received messages (encoded ideas and images) • Communication as: • Action, Interaction and Transaction

20. Message / Feedback • Positive / Negative • Person Focused / Message Focused • Immediate / Delayed • Low Monitoring / High Monitoring • Supportive / Critical

21. Feedforward Messages • To open channels of communication • To preview the message • To prevent negative understanding • To altercast: ask to approach from a specific perspective / role

22. Channels • Verbal Spoken/written words • Nonverbal cues Personal appearance Bodily action, Gestures Attitudes toward Time, Space Voice, Articulation / Dialect

23. Message overload Not enough time / resources to consider all messages

24. Noise • Physical • Physiological • Psychological • Semantic

25. Situation • Influences on the form and content of messages: • Physical setting • Cultural / social milieu

26. Communication principles • Inevitability: Everything communicates • Intentional vs. Unintentional • Irreversible • Unrepeatable

27. Communication competence • Achieving one’s goals: Effectiveness + Ethics • A Large Communication Repertoire • Ability to Choose the Right Approach • Self-Monitoring • Cognitive Complexity / Knowledge: “Well-developed person”

28. Definitions of Interpersonal Communication • Quantitative: • Interpersonal communication takes place between two persons who have an established relationship • Dyadic Primacy

29. Definitions of Interpersonal Com. • Qualitative (established relationship) • Uniqueness • Irreplaceability • Interdependence • Disclosure