Interpersonal Communication – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes covering Chapters 1–6 on interpersonal communication, culture, self, perception, language, and nonverbal communication.

Richness (of a message)

Communication that carries many non-verbal cues, adding clarity to the verbal content.

Leanness (of a message)

Communication that lacks non-verbal cues, providing less contextual information (e.g., text messages).

Interpersonal Communication

Interaction marked by uniqueness, interdependence, self-disclosure, and intrinsic rewards.

Intentional vs. Unintentional Communication

Message sending can be deliberate or occur without the sender’s awareness (especially non-verbals).

Transactional Communication

Back-and-forth exchange in which all parties simultaneously send and receive messages.

Irreversibility (of communication)

Once expressed, a message cannot be taken back.

Unrepeatability (of communication)

No conversation can be duplicated in exactly the same way again.

Physical Needs (reason to communicate)

Communication supports health and physical well-being.

Social Needs (reason to communicate)

Interaction helps us form relationships and social bonds.

Identity Needs (reason to communicate)

We learn who we are through communicating with others.

Practical Needs (reason to communicate)

Day-to-day tasks are accomplished via communication.

Sender

Originator of a message in the transactional model.

Message

The content—verbal or non-verbal—being conveyed.

Channel

Medium used to transmit a message (voice, text, video, etc.).

Receiver

Person who interprets the message.

Feedback

Receiver’s observable response to a message.

Environment (context)

Physical and psychological setting that shapes message meaning.

Interference (noise)

Anything that impedes the flow or understanding of a message.

Communication Competence

Ability to achieve goals in ways that are both effective and appropriate.

Culture

Shared language, values, beliefs, traditions, and customs learned by a group.

Intercultural Communication

Interaction between people of differing cultures or co-cultures.

High-Context Culture

Relies heavily on non-verbal cues to maintain social harmony.

Low-Context Culture

Uses direct, explicit language to express ideas and feelings.

Individualism

Cultural orientation that prioritizes personal goals and independence.

Collectivism

Cultural orientation that stresses loyalty and obligations to the group.

Power Distance

Degree to which unequal power distribution is accepted within a culture.

Uncertainty Avoidance

Discomfort people feel in novel or ambiguous situations.

Achievement Culture

Places high value on material success and task accomplishment.

Intercultural Competence

Skills that enable effective, appropriate interaction across cultures.

Self-Concept

Overall perception you have of yourself.

Self-Esteem

Personal evaluation of your own worth or competence.

Reflected Appraisal

Self-image shaped by how we believe others view us.

Social Comparison

Evaluating ourselves by comparing to others.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Expectations that influence behavior, making the predicted outcome more likely.

Impression Management

Strategies used to control how others perceive us.

Perceived Self

Private, honest self-assessment held in moments of reflection.

Presenting Self

Public image we display to others.

Face Theory (Goffman)

We are actors using different ‘masks’ (faces) in various social contexts.

Self-Disclosure

Voluntary sharing of personal information with another person.

Catharsis (benefit of self-disclosure)

Emotional relief gained from expressing feelings.

Self-Clarification

Talking out thoughts to clarify beliefs and attitudes.

Self-Validation

Seeking listener agreement or affirmation through disclosure.

Reciprocity (in disclosure)

Tendency for others to share information after you disclose.

Impression Formation

Using disclosure to appear more attractive or trustworthy.

Risk of Rejection

Possibility that disclosure leads to disapproval.

Negative Impression Risk

Disclosure may cause others to think less of you.

Loss of Influence

Personal information could reduce your persuasive power.

Loss of Control

Shared information may spread beyond intended boundaries.

Perception

Active process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information.

Selection (perception)

Focusing on certain stimuli based on intensity, repetition, contrast, or change.

Halo Effect

Forming an overall positive impression based on one favorable trait.

Horns Effect

Forming an overall negative impression based on one unfavorable trait.

Confirmation Bias

Seeking information that confirms existing beliefs about a person.

Perception Checking

Describing behavior, offering two interpretations, and requesting clarification.

Language as Symbolic

Words are arbitrary symbols representing objects or ideas.

Rule-Governed Language

Grammar and syntax guide acceptable word use.

Subjective Language

Meaning of words depends on personal and cultural perspectives.

Language of Responsibility

Word choice shows willingness to own feelings, thoughts, and actions.

Assertiveness Steps

Describe behavior, express feelings, state consequences—order flexible.

Nonverbal Communication

Messages expressed without words; includes body language, voice, space, etc.

Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication

Inevitable, primarily relational, ambiguous, and culturally bound.

Functions of Nonverbal Communication

Repeating, complementing, substituting, accenting, regulating, contradicting verbal messages.

Territory

Stationary area a person claims as their own.

Chronemics

Study of how people structure and use time.

Monochronic Time

Orientation that values doing one task at a time and punctuality.

Polychronic Time

Orientation that tolerates multiple tasks and flexible schedules.

Physical Appearance

How grooming, dress, and attractiveness influence communication.

Oculesics

Study of eye behavior in communication.

Kinesics

Study of body movement, posture, and gestures.

Haptics

Study of touch as a means of communication.

Paralanguage

Vocal cues such as rate, tone, and pitch that accompany speech.

Proxemics

Use of space and distance to communicate meanings.

Personal Space

Invisible buffer zone we maintain around our bodies.

Intimate Distance

Closest spatial zone; for close relationships (0–18 inches).

Social Distance

Zone for business or casual interactions (4–12 feet).

Public Distance

Zone for formal presentations (12 feet and beyond).

pragmatic rules

describes rules that are appropriate in a given context

convergence

the process of adapting one’s speech style to match that of others with whom one wants to identify (communication accomodation theory)

it statements

statements that use this avoid ownership of a message

you language

this language expresses judgement of the other person

4 steps of perception process

selection, organization, interpretation, negotiation

4 stages of social penetration

orientation stage, exploratory stage, affective stage, stable stage

influences our perception

access to info, physological, pyschological, social, and cultural influences

3 steps in communicating assertive messages

behavior, feeling, consequences