Interpersonal Communication

Prepared by: Karla Maolen Visbal MA in Speech Communication University of the Philippines Diliman

What is Interpersonal Communication?

Interpersonal

Communication came from the Latin word inter, meaning between.

It

pertains to relations between persons. [dictionary.com]

dyad [or communication between two people] is the building block of human social interaction. [Zimmerman, Owen and Seibert, 1986]

The

What is Interpersonal Communication?

Interpersonal

Communication is a selective, systemic, unique and on-going process of interaction between people, who reflect and build personal knowledge of one another and create shared meanings.[Wood, 2002]

Why do we communicate to form relationships?

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

There

are many reasons why we seek interaction, and we meet many human needs by communicating. [Maslow, 1968] Communication is a primary means of meeting our needs at each level in the hierarchy. [Wood, 2002]

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

Selfactualization

Most Abstract

Self-Esteem Needs

Belonging Needs

Safety and Protection Needs Most Basic Physical Needs for Survival

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

Physical Needs for Survival

At

the most basic level, human needs air, food and water in order to survive. We rely on communication to communicate what we need (e.g. a baby crying for milk) or if something is amiss (e.g. when we are in pain)

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

Safety and Protection Needs

We

meet safety needs by communicating what we need (e.g. fix a leaking roof, report threats to police or authority, etc.) News announcements are also made if food threats or natural calamities are taking place.

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

Belonging Needs

This

may also refer to social needs. We want other peoples acceptance and affirmation. We want to be included in groups. Our fear of rejection prevents us from disclosing information about ourselves [Powell, 1969]

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

Self-Esteem Needs

Value

that we give ourselves and value other people gives us. Derived from positive evaluation of other people.

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

SelfActualization

The

most abstract human need. It is defined as the fully using and developing our unique talents, capacities and potentials. [Maslow, 1970]

Adler and Towne, 1987

We

like people who are similar to us. We like people who are different from us. We like people who like us. We are attracted to people who can help us. We like competent people. We like people who discloses themselves to us. We feel strongly towards people we encounter often.

A Communication Continuum

Interpersonal vs. Impersonal

All

communication happens between people yet many interactions dont involve us personally [Wood, 2002]

When

we talk about interpersonal communication, we are referring to the quality of interaction between individuals [Adler & Towne, 1987]

Interpersonal vs. Impersonal

In

impersonal interactions, we tend to classify the other person by using labels. [Adler & Towne, 1987]

I-IT

relationship

We do not acknowledge the humanity of other people, sometimes not even their existence. [Buber, 1970].

Interpersonal vs. Impersonal

The degree to which the communicators rely socially constructed rules to interact with other people determine the degree of our relationship with other people. [Adler & Towne, 1987]

I-You

relationships

We dont look at other people as objects, but we dont see them as unique individuals either. [Buber, 1970].

Interpersonal vs. Impersonal

The

amount of information the communicators have about each other also determines the level of their relationship with one another. [Adler & Towne, 1987]
relationships

I-Thou

The rarest kind of relationshipthe highest form of human dialogue because each person affirms the other as cherished and unique. [Buber, 1970]

Self-Disclosure in Relationships

Self-Disclosure
It

is the process of deliberately revealing information about oneself that is significant and that would not normally be known by others [Adler & Towne, 1987]

Levels of Self-Disclosure
Clich

Facts
Opinions

Feelings

Stages of Interpersonal Relationships

Stages of Interpersonal Relationships

Initiating
To

show that you are interested in making contact and to show that you are a person worth talking to.

Experimenting
Initially,

people tend to look for a common ground. hallmark of this stage is small talk. Small talk is like Listerine: we dont like it but we get a doze of it everyday Mark Knapp

The

Intensifying
The

amount of personal information disclosed increases. Forms of addresses become more informal.

Integrating
As

the relationship strengthens, the parties begin to take on an identity as a social unit. [Adler & Towne, 1987]

Bonding
At

this stage, parties make symbolic public gestures to show the world of the relationship.

Differentiating
After

both parties have established their commonality, they now seek to re-establish their individual identities.

The

key to successful differentiation is the need to maintain commitment to a relationship while creating the space for members to be individuals as well. [Adler & Towne, 1987]

Circumscribing
The

communication concentrates more on superficial and public topics with less breadth or depth

Communication

decreases in amount and becomes more restricted to certain "safe" topics

Stagnating
Communication

ceases Participants may sit in each other's presence for long periods without communicating There is a great amount of tension in the relationship and it is evident the relationship is in jeopardy. [Thomlison, 2000]

about the relationship

Avoiding
Parties

in the relationship begin to put distance between each other, sometimes in guises of excuses or more direct I dont want to be with/see you today. [Adler & Towne, 1987] avoidance of physical contact as well as ignoring the other nonverbally and verbally when they are in the same physical space [Thomlison, 2000]

Includes

Terminating
This

final stage may include dialogues of where the relationship has gone and the desire to disassociate [Adler & Towne, 1987]

Open

access ceases and it is clear the relationship, in its current form, no longer exists [Thomlison, 2000]

Four Principles of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal Communication is in-escapable

We

constantly communicate with others.

Gestures,

posture, facial expressions, clothing, etc. play a role in substituting spoken language in its absence

People

intent.

are judged by behaviour, not by

Interpersonal Communication is irreversible

Messages

cannot be taken back once uttered or shown. and spoken messages make an impression that cannot be erased.

Actions

Interpersonal Communication is complicated

No

form of communication is simple.

The

number of variables involved can make the simplest requests complex

Interpersonal Communication is complicated

There

are 6 people involved when we communicate:

Who you think you are Who you think the other person is Who you think the other person thinks you are Who the other person thinks he/she is Who the other person thinks you are Who the other person thinks you think he is

Interpersonal Communication is contextual

Communication

does not happen in isolation; it occurs in different contexts at the same time.

Psychological Context Relational Context Situational Context Environmental Context Cultural Context

Models of Interpersonal Communication

Linear Models
Laswells

Communication Model

Who? Says what? To whom? In what channel? With what effect?

Linear Models

Interactive Models

Adopted from Schramms Model, 1955

Transactional Model

Theories on Interpersonal Communication

Confucianism
A

study and theory of relationship within hierarchies. each person within a society plays his or her part well in the social order, social harmony will be achieved.

When

Social Exchange Theory

Relationships

grow, develop and deteriorate and dissolve as a consequence of an unfolding social-exchange process [Huston & Burgess, 1979] known as the Theory of Interdependence [Thibaut and Kelley,1959]

Also

Social Penetration Theory

It

is customary for the individuals within the relationship to undergo the process of selfdisclosure [Ledbetter, 2012]

Example:

A facebook users profile

The

users level of self-disclosure is directly related to the level of interdependence with other people.

Questions?

Thank you!

References
Looking

Out/Looking In, by Ronal Adler and Neil Towne, Rinehart and Winston Inc., 1987, p. 16-19, p. 278-2-97 Interpersonal Communication: An Everyday Encounter, by Julia Wood, Wadsworth Group, 2002, p. 12-18, p. 28-33 Speech Communication: A Contemporary Introduction, by Gordon Zimmerman, James Owen & David Seibert, West Publishing Company, 1986, p. 205-207

References
An

interpersonal primer with implications for public relations by T. Dean Thomlison 2000 Social Intercourse: From Greeting to Goodbye, by Mark L. Knapp, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1978, p. 33 Social Behavior as Exchange, by George Homans, 1958, p. 4 "Attitudes Toward Online Social Connection And Self-Disclosure As Predictors Of Facebook Communication And Relational Closeness. by Andrew M. Ledbetter, 2012

References:
"Confucius".

iep.utm.edu. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved July 25, 2012. http://www.pstcc.edu/facstaff/dking/interp r.htm. Retrieved July 27, 2012