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Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication involves two-way interaction between people who are part of a close and irreplaceable relationship in which they treat each other as unique individuals.
Relational Messages Communicate...
- Affinity
- Respect
- Immediacy
- Control
Metacommunication...
- Looks below the surface.
- Can be used for more than solving problems.
- Brings relational issues out in the open, which can be risky.
Self-disclosure
Self-disclosure is the process of deliberately revealing information about oneself that is significant and that would not normally be known by others.
Social Penetration Model
This perspective holds that communication occurs within two dimensions: breadth, which represents the range of subjects being discussed; and depth, how in-depth and personal the information is.
Johari Window
This model proposes that everything about a person may be categorized as either:
- Open, known to self and to others
- Blind, known to others but not to self
- Hidden, known to self but not to others
- Unknown by both self and others.
Disclosure Decisions
In deciding whether to disclose, it's important to consider:
- How important and trustworthy the other person is
- How risky and how appropriate the disclosure is
- Whether disclosure will be reciprocated, constructive, and understandable.
Interpersonal Communication Online Can...
- Help people stay connected.
- Feel nonthreatening.
- Be validating.
- Lead people to neglect those around them.
- Be overwhelming.
Confirming and Disconfirming Messages
Confirming messages demonstrate respect and approval, whereas disconfirming messages deny the value of other people.
Levels of Confirming Messages
- Show recognition.
- Acknowledge thoughts and feelings.
- Show that you agree.
Avoid...
- Hurtful evaluations
- Manipulation
- Acting superior
- Behaving like a know-it-all
Relational Spirals
- A spiral is a reciprocating communication pattern in which each person's message reinforces the other's.
- Positive spirals occur when confirming messages lead to similar responses.
- Negative spirals may involve escalatory conflict or avoidance.
- Most relationships pass through both types of cycles, but a balance toward the positive is necessary for relational satisfaction.