Chapter 1️⃣: A First Look at Interpersonal Communication

🧠 Why We Communicate: Identity Needs

Our sense of self develops through communication with others; interactions help us understand who we are.

🧠 Why We Communicate: Social Needs

Communication fulfills social functions like companionship, affection, and relaxation.

🧠 Why We Communicate: Physical Needs

Communication is essential for physical health; lack of social interaction can lead to health issues.

🧠 Why We Communicate: Practical Needs

Day-to-day tasks often require communication, such as instructing a hairstylist or coordinating with coworkers.

🔄 The Communication Process: Linear Model

A one-way communication process where a sender transmits a message to a receiver.

🔄 The Communication Process: Transactional Model

A dynamic process where communicators simultaneously send and receive messages, considering the context and environment.

📌 Communication Principles: Unavoidable

It’s impossible not to communicate; even silence conveys a message.

📌 Communication Principles: Irreversible

Once a message is sent, it cannot be taken back.

📌 Communication Principles: Unrepeatable

Each communication event is unique and cannot be exactly duplicated.

📌 Communication Principles: Content vs. Relational Dimensions

Messages have explicit content and convey relational information about the nature of the relationship.

💬 Social Media and Communication: Benefits

Social media can enhance interpersonal communication by connecting people across distances.

💬 Social Media and Communication: Challenges

Online communication may lack nonverbal cues, leading to misunderstandings.

✅ Communication Competence: Definition

The ability to achieve one’s communication goals in a manner that maintains or enhances the relationship.

✅ Communication Competence: Characteristics

Includes adaptability, empathy, cognitive complexity, and self-monitoring.