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Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (Dimensions of Interpersonal…
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Definition
"Inter" means between, among, mutually, or together
"Personal" refers to a specific individual or particular role that an individual may occupy.
Interpersonal communication
is when people treat one another as unique individuals, regardless of context in which interaction takes place or number of people involved.
Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships
Context
: where communication takes place, how you know the person (e.g. family, job and school)
Time
: measure the quality of the relationship by the length of time we spent together and the length of time we choose to spend together
Intimacy
: refers to the closeness of a relationship
Physical intimacy
: e.g. hugging, kissing
Intellectual intimacy
: idea exchange
Emotional intimacy
: when we share our feelings with another
Spiritual intimacy
: when we share a connection beyond ourselves
Affinity
: the degree to which we like each other or appreciate each other
Control
: the degree to which parties have power to influence each other
Complementary distribution
: 1 person more power and the other subordinate (e.g. doctor/patient)
Symmetrical distribution
: 2 people have same power
Relationship continuum
Impersonal
: those that we don't even know their name and the social role they are in is interchangeable
Interpersonal
: see the other as a unique person who we can address by name
Why do we form relationships?
Factors that influence our choice of relational partners
Appearance
Similarity
Complementarity
Reciprocal Attraction
Competence
Disclosure
Proximity
Rewards
Functional Aspects of Interpersonal Communication
Instrumental goals
Gaining compliance, getting information we need, or asking for support (e.g. you ask your friend to help you move this weekend (gaining/resisting compliance))
Relational goals
Striving to maintain a positive relationship (e.g. you organize an office party for a coworker who has just become a US citizen (celebrating/honoring accomplishments))
Self-presentation goals
Adapting our communication in order to be perceived in particular ways
Cultural Aspects of Interpersonal Communication
Communicating in relationships also helps establish relationship cultures
Relationship cultures
are the climates established through interpersonal communication that are unique to the relational partners but based on larger cultural and social norms.
Relationship schemata
: blueprints or plans that show the inner workings of a relationship, relationship schemata guide us in how we believe our interpersonal relationships should work and how to create them.