IA 3131 Interpersonal Communication: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

Core Foundations of Communication

• Communication: The process of acting on information.
• Human Communication: The process of making sense out of the world and sharing that sense with others by creating meaning through the use of verbal and non-verbal messages.
• Other-Oriented Approach: To be aware of the thoughts, needs, experiences, personality, emotions, motives, desires, cultures, and goals of your communication partner(s) while still maintaining your own integrity.

Characteristics of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication (IC) is governed by two fundamental characteristics: it represents a distinctive form of communication, and it involves mutual influence between individuals.

• Distinctive Form of Communication: Interpersonal communication is a distinctive, transactional form of human communication involving mutual influence, usually for the purpose of managing relationships. This concept centers on the quality of communication.
• Impersonal Communication: A process that occurs when we treat others as objects or respond to their roles, rather than to who they are as unique persons.
  • Example: Interacting with a server when ordering food/drink (e.g., ordering teh tarik from a mamak staff member), where interaction occurs strictly with the role rather than the unique individual.

Philosophical Orientations: I-Thou vs. I-It Relationships

• "I-It" Relationship: An impersonal communication relationship in which the other person is viewed as an "It" rather than as an authentic, genuine person.
• "I-Thou" Relationship: Occurs when you interact with another person as a unique, authentic individual (the hallmark of interpersonal communication).

Comparative Taxonomy of Communication Forms

Communication occurs across several modalities distinguished by group size, presence, and purpose:

• Intrapersonal Communication: Communication with yourself—personal thinking.
• Small Group Communication: A process that occurs when a group of three to fifteen ($3$ to $15$) people meet to interact with a common purpose and mutually influence one another.
• Public Communication: A process that occurs when a speaker addresses an audience.
• Mass Communication: A process that occurs when one person issues the same message to many people at once.
  • The creator of the message is usually not physically present.
  • Listeners have virtually no opportunity to respond immediately to the speaker.

Dynamics of Mutual Influence and Relationship Management

• Mutual Influence in IC:

  • All partners in the communication are affected by a transaction—whether verbal or nonverbal.
  • Influence varies from transaction to transaction.
  • Requires the quality of being fully "present" when communicating with another person.
  • When two individuals are in a relationship, what one person says or does influences the other person.
  • People in relationships are affected by the situation in which they are communicating, the personal skills they possess, and the moves and counter-moves of their relationship partner.

• Lifecycle of Relationships through Interpersonal Communication:

  • A relationship is defined as a connection established when we communicate with another person.
  • A relationship is neither "you" nor "I", but always "you and I".
  • Initiation: You initiate and form relationships by communicating with others whom you find attractive in some way.
  • Maintenance: You seek to increase your interactions with people with whom you wish to develop relationships, and you continually communicate interpersonally to maintain the relationship.
  • Termination or Redefinition: You use interpersonal communication to end or redefine relationships that you have decided are no longer viable or need to be changed.

Questions & Discussion

• Session open for questions, review, and discussion regarding the core distinctions between interpersonal, impersonal, intrapersonal, group, public, and mass communication forms.