Theories of Interpersonal Communication

M I C H A E L C A M P - N A U S H A K H A N - J A C O B D Y B E D A H L

Theories of Interpersonal Communication

- D AV I D L E E R O T H

“It doesn't matter if you win or loose, it's how good you looked”

Roth, David Lee. Interview with Martha Quinn. MTV Video Music Awards. 1984

Theories of Interpersonal Communication: Face Management

Face: Our public self-image

Facework: The maintenance of our presented self-image.

Preventative Facework Corrective Facework

Avoiding face loss

“I don’t know about that, but how bout the weather?”

Restoring lost face

“Oh, I’m sorry”

Face Management

Politeness Theory

Positive face need – the desire to be valued and included by others whom we care about.

Negative face need – desire to be free from imposition, constraint, or intrusion.

Assumptions that guide politeness theory

Threats to both positive and negative face need are a natural, daily occurrence in everyday human interaction.

Face-threatening acts are complex, and speech acts that threaten face may proceed in a variety of ways

Presumes that any rational agent will seek to avoid face threatening acts, or will employ strategies to minimize threat

Staircase model of interaction stages

Coming Together

Coming Apart

Staircase model of interaction stages

Bonding

Integrating

Intensifying

Circumscribing

Stagnating

Avoiding

Staircase model of interaction stages

Uncertainty Strategies

Passive strategy – observe the person from afar

Active strategy – manipulate the environment

Interactive strategy – engaging in direct, face-to-face interaction

WE TRY TO MINIMIZE OUR COSTS AND MAXIMZE OUR REWARDS IN

RELATIONSHIPS.

Social Penetration Theory

Accentuate Positives Hide Negatives

In SPT, we tell them what they want to hear. In URT, we tell them what we think they want to hear.

As we get closer to someone, we disclose more, like the layers of an onion.

From basic info to specific personality traits.

• Conventionality/Uniqueness

Baxter and Montgomery’s Relational Dialectics

•Connection/Autonomy

Internal Form

•Inclusion/Seclusion

External Form

• Predictability/Novelty

• Revelation/Concealment

• Openness/Closedness

Integration/Separation

Expression/Privacy Stability/Change

Based on L.A Baxter & B.M Montgomery (1996), Relating: Dialogues and dialectics.

Responses to dialectics

Selection: selecting and satisfying one opposite while disregarding the other

Alternation: alternating between the opposites, choosing to meet the needs of one opposite at a time

Segmentation: the choice to satisfy y one need in one relational situation while satisfying the opposite need in a different situation.

Neutralization: compromising and finding a balance of happy medium.

Communication Boundary Management

The four concepts of CBM Formation or upbringing

Coordination of boundary rules

Coordination

Turbulence

Rumors Wish Rumors

Communication Isn’t Always Positive

“I heard George Clooney is dating Jennifer Aniston!”

Buy the rumor, sell the fact. Wisner, Bob. Farmer's Digest. 1976

“I heard Uncle Ted is buying a corvette!”

Interpersonal Communication is complex