1. Chapter 1: A First Look at Interpersonal Relationships
PowerPoint Presentation to accompany Looking Out/Looking In, Tenth Edition
Chapter 1: A First Look at Interpersonal Relationships
Presentation prepared by Dr. Michael Pearson, Gretchen Gill, and Tim Scanlon of West Chester University
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2. A First Look at Interpersonal Relationships
CHAPTER 1
A First Look at Interpersonal Relationships
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3. A First Look at Interpersonal Relationships
Why We Communicate
The Process of Communication
Communication Principles and Misconceptions
The Nature of Interpersonal Communication
Communicating about Relationships
Communication Competence: What Makes an Effective Communicator?
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4. Physical Needs Identity Needs Social Needs Practical Goals
Why We Communicate
Physical Needs
Identity Needs
Social Needs
Practical Goals
Instrumental Goals - getting others to behave in
ways we want
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5. The Process of Communication
A Linear View
Linear Communication Model
Sender - encodes ideas and feelings
Message - organized ideas and feelings
Channel - means of conveying messages
Receiver - decodes the message
Noise - any forces that interfere with effective
communication
Environments - fields of experience that help
to understand others’ behavior
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6. The Process of Communication
A Transactional View
Transactional Communication Model
Feedback - response of a receiver
to a sender’s message
Behavior - replaces the term of encoding, describes both deliberate and unintentional actions that can be observed and interpreted 6

7. The Process of Communication
Definition of Communication - a continuous, transactional process involving participants who occupy different but overlapping environments and create relationships the exchange of messages. 7

8. Communication Principles and Misconceptions
Communication can be intentional or
unintentional
It’s impossible not to communicate
Communication is irreversible
Communication is unrepeatable 8

9. Communication Principles and Misconceptions
Meanings are not in words
More communication is not always better
No single person or event causes another’s
reaction
Communication will not solve all problems 9

10. The Nature of Interpersonal Communication
Two Views of Interpersonal Communication
1. Quantitative Definition - based on the
interaction between two people
Dyad - term used by social scientists to refer to two people interacting
2. Qualitative Definition - occurs when people
treat one another as unique individuals 10

11. The Nature of Interpersonal Communication
Several features distinguish qualitatively interpersonal communication from less personal communication
Uniqueness
Irreplaceability
Interdependence
Amount of disclosure
Intrinsic rewards

12. Technology and Interpersonal Communication
The Nature of Interpersonal Communication
Technology and Interpersonal Communication
Computer mediated communication (CMC)
Instant messaging
Online chat

13. Communicating About Relationships
Content and Relational Messages
Content - contains the subject being discussed
Relational - how the parties feel toward one another
Metacommunication
Metacommunication - describes messages
people exchange about their relationship 12

14. Communicating About Relationships
Types of Relational Messages
1. Affinity - the degree to which people like or
appreciate one another
2. Respect - to be held in esteem by others
3. Control - the degree to which the parties have the power to influence one another 13

15. Communicating About Relationships
Types of Control
Decision
Conversational
Distribution of Control
Complementary - when distribution of power
is equal
Symmetrical - partners seek same degree of
control
Parallel - power shifts from one to another,
according to situation 14

16. Communication Competence: What Makes An Effective Communicator?
Communication Competence Defined
Communication Competence – achieving one’s goals in a manner that, ideally, maintains or enhances the relationship in which it occurs
There is no “ideal” way to communicate.
Competence is situational.
Competence is relational.
Competence can be learned. 15

17. Communication Competence: What Makes An Effective Communicator?
Characteristics of Competent Communicators
A wide range of behaviors
Ability to choose the most appropriate
behavior
Skill at performing behaviors (Four stages)
. Beginning Awareness
. Awkwardness
. Skillfulness
. Integration 16

18. Communication Competence: What Makes An Effective Communicator?
Characteristics of Competent Communicators
Cognitive Complexity - ability to construct
a variety of different frameworks for viewing
an issue
Self-Monitoring - paying attention to one’s
behavior and using these observations to shape the way one behaves
Commitment - people who seem to care about relationships communicate better than those who don’t. 17