Inter- Personal Relationships
Interpersonal relationship simply means relationship or interaction that exists between two or more persons.
Types of interpersonal relationships
Family Relationship Community Relationship Professional Association Love Relationship Friendship
Family Relationship
This can take two forms: Intra-family relationship: This exists within a family, either nuclear or extended family Inter- family relationship: This exists between two or more family units
Community Relationship
This type of relationship exists among members of a community or society
Professional Association:
Individuals working in the same organization share professional relationship. Also individuals belonging to the same profession eg National Union of Teachers (NUT) Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Medical Association {NMA} etc
Love Relationship
This is characterized by passion, intimacy, trust and respect. Individuals that are in love are deeply attached to each other and share a special bond.
Skills that promote inter-personal relationships.
Communication Honesty Compatibility Tolerance Forgiveness
Communication
Individuals should be able to communicate with each other effectively for better understanding. Feelings must be expressed and reciprocated in relationships
Honesty
Honesty is very important in a relationship. Lies and dishonesty can destroy relationships as it leads to breach of trust.
Compatibility
Individuals from similar background, with similar interests, goals and aspirations in life will do extremely well in relationships
Tolerance
Individuals in a relationship should tolerate each other. They accept each other’s weakness or mistakes
Forgiveness
Individuals in a relationship must be forgiving. They should not drag issues unnecessarily but learn to let go.
Inter communal relationships
Inter-communal Relationship is a relationship that exists among two or more communities
Importance of inter communal relationships
Development: Efforts will be contributed towards the development of the communities’ involved. Provision of social amenities will be more easily achieved through the combined efforts of the communities.
Provision of security: When such relationship exists peacefully, security is best granted through joint security network.
Cultural exchange: Inter communal relationship offer cultural exchange among communities. There may even be an organized platform where cultural activities can be showcased.
Business activities: Inter communal relationship can boost business activities and increase economic wellbeing of the people.
Peace: It leads to peaceful coexistence among the cooperating communities.
Inter-communal conflicts.
Inter-communal conflicts are disagreements or acts of violence between different communities.
Skills for resolving inter-communal conflicts.
1.)Dialogue: This means discussion. It is also means arriving at settlements through discussions. Today we communicate a lot by telephone, fax, e-mail, social media and by one on one direct discussions. 2.)Mediation: This involves the intervention of a third party who is considered impartial and neutral. The basic components are intervention, acceptability, impartiality, assistance to the parties and encouraging a voluntary process. 3.)Negotiation: This is a problem solving process in which two or more people voluntary discuss their differences. 4.)Arbitration: This is the hearing of a dispute by an impartial third party {chosen by the parties},whose judgment the parties to the dispute agree to accept.