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. 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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4. 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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5. 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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6. 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
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

7. 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
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

8. 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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9. 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
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

10. 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
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

11. Need for Affection Underpersonal Overpersonal Personal
Avoid emotional commitments with others
Fear others will not like them as they are
Overpersonal
Can be possessive and jealous
Go to extremes to get acceptance
Personal
Are at ease and poised with others
Are happy without being liked by everyone

12. Need for Inclusion Undersocial Oversocial Social
Do not like to draw attention to themselves
Find talking with others threatening
Oversocial
Dominate conversation
Fear being ignored by others
Social
Are assertive about speaking up
Feel comfortable in most situations

13. Need for Control Abdicrats Autocrats Democrats
Submit to others, show little self-confidence
Need reinforcement and encouragement
Autocrats
Show little respect for others
Have strong need for control and power
Democrats
Feel comfortable as leaders or followers
Accept other’s suggestions, are open minded

14. Dialectical Theory: Push and Pull
Connection-Autonomy
Openness-Closedness
Novelty-Predictability
Managing Relational Tensions
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15. Relationships: Getting to Know Others and Ourselves
Face-to-face relationships
Small talk
Connecting with others online
Advantages and disadvantages

16. Face-to-Face Relationships What role does small talk play?
Nonthreatening, impersonal
Get to know another person
Maintain community
Interpersonal buffer

17. Connecting with Others Online
Pros and cons?
Limitations?
Interactions via technology can never replace face-to- face or fulfill interpersonal needs.

18. 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
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

19. Theories of Self-Disclosure
Johari’s Window: Developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham (1970)
Depicts the four levels of knowledge in relationships and how they interact during self-disclosure – Open area, Blind Area, Hidden Area, and Unknown Area

20. Variation on Johari Window
As self-disclosure increases in relationships, the open area becomes larger.
The open area represents what is known about the self and others in a relationship.

22. 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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