1. Interpersonal Process
Chapter 1

2. Why We Communicate Why study Interpersonal Communication?
Something you have done your entire life?
1. Get a new look at a familiar topic
2. Learn to communicate more effectively

3. Why We Communicate Communication helps to fulfill human needs?
Physical needs
It’s presence or absence can affect physical health
(Pg 6)
Identity needs
How we learn who we are
Are we smart, stupid, attractive, ugly, skillful, etc.
We learn through interactions with others
It gives us that sense of identity

4. Why We Communicate Social needs How relationships are created
Do you have any relationships that don’t involve communication?
Link between
Quality of communication & relationship success
U.S. social ties are weakening
As people disconnect from friends, neighbors & family

5. Why We Communicate Practical needs
An essential part of effectiveness in a variety of everyday settings
Telling a Dr. Where it hurts,
Talking to a service worker
The ability to speak & listen effectively
Important in helping students gain employment

6. The Communication Process
Insights from the communication model
Sending/receiving of messages is usually simultaneously?
Meanings exist in & among people?
We interpret what messages mean
Verbal/Non-verbal messages have no meaning in themselves
“Environment” in the model refers to
Physical location,
Personal experiences,
Audience backgrounds

7. The Communication Process
3 types of noise that effect communication?
External noise
Physiological noise
Psychological noise

8. The Communication Process
Channel
Medium through which messages are exchanged
Choice of channel can affect communication
Typewritten love letter vs handwritten love letter
Being fired in person vs being fired by
What is the best way to say I'm sorry?
Best channel for expressing anger?

9. The Communication Process
Discussion Activity:
Imagine you want to end a romantic relationship. You can communicate this to your partner face-to-face or through . Explain how the choice of channel potentially changes the message for the receiver.

10. Communication Principles
Transactional communication
Process participants create through their interactions
If one person is talking and the other is not listening…
Are they communicating? Is it transactional?
Communication can be intentional or unintentional
Well planned messages
Unintentional behavior is communicative
Expressions, body language, sighs, etc

11. Communication Principles
Content dimensions of messages
Info being explicitly discussed
“Please pass the salt” , “I’m really tired”
Relational dimensions of messages
Expresses how you feel about the person
Would you say “Thanks you” the same to a person you liked vs disliked?
Tone difference expresses the relational message communication

12. Communication Principles
Communication irreversible
Similar to the first impression belief
If you say something you don’t mean you can’t uncommunicate it
What is an examples to illustrate this concept?
Communication unrepeatable
Each communication experience is unique
You can repeat the action
But the communication is different

13. Communication Misconceptions
Are each of the following statements true or false?
All communication seeks understanding
More communication is always better
Communication solves all problems
Effective communication is natural ability

14. Communication Misconceptions
All communication seeks understanding
Causal greetings “How’s it going”
More of an acknowledgement than actually wanting to know
More communication is always better
When issues are over discussed
Angry people talking back & forth
Has anyone ever abandoned an idea because they talked or thought about it too much?

15. Communication Misconceptions
The following statements may not be true?
Communication solves all problems.
Even the best planned communication won’t solve all problems
Effective communication is natural ability.
Most people operate at effectiveness far below their potential,
All of us can learn to be more effective with training & practice.

16. Interpersonal Communication Defined
Characteristics of interpersonal communication.
Uniqueness
Distinguishes interaction w/different individuals (friends vs strangers)
Interdependence
Where the other persons life affects you (Ex-spouse w/kids)
Self-Disclosure
Where you reveal things you wouldn’t tell just anybody
Intrinsic Rewards
The reward of talking with someone close to you
Regardless of the topic
Who has someone you can talk with for hours about whatever?
Can you tell them anything? (I mean…ANYTHING???) - Why/why not?

17. Interpersonal Communication Defined
Personal and Impersonal: A Matter of Balance
Hard to classify interactions as only personal or impersonal
Better to consider all interactions have varying degrees of impersonal or personal elements.
Most relationships aren’t either personal or impersonal
But somewhere in between
Impersonal
Personal

18. Communication Competence
Competence Defined
What do you think these two statements mean?
A competent communicator is an effective communicator?
A competent communicator is an appropriate communicator?

19. Communication Competence
There’s no single ideal/effective way to communicate.
Your experiences should show a variety of communication styles can be effective. (Serious, Humorous, Gregarious, Quiet)
Competence is situational .
A person can be a competent communicator in one situation but lack the competence to be effective in a different one
Your communicating skills
When are you most competent?
When do you have trouble?

20. Communication Competence
Competence can be learned.
This is a set of communication skills that anyone can learn
Even modest training can produce good results

21. Communication Competence
Characteristics (Pg )
A large repertoire of skills
Adaptability
Ability to perform skillfully
Involvement

22. Communication Competence
Empathy/perspective taking
Cognitive complexity
Self-monitoring

23. Social Media

24. Interpersonal Communication and Technology
Discussion Activity:
How often do you use computer mediated communication
( , social media, wireless forms such as text messaging)?
How do you feel this impacts the quality and quantity of communication in your personal relationships?

25. Characteristics of Social Media
Leanness
Messages missing nonverbal info
s, text, etc.
Asynchronicity
Delayed communication
Permanence
Screenshots, sharing, etc.

26. Social Media and Relational Quality
Social media might seem to
Lack richness
Discourage community
Be Superficial
If one well it can
Increase amount & quality of interpersonal communication
What (if any) rules would help improve interpersonal communication through social media?