Chapter 1: A First Look at Interpersonal Relationships PowerPoint Presentation to accompany Looking Out/Looking In, Tenth Edition Copyright © 2002 Thomson

Chapter 1: A First Look at Interpersonal Relationships

PowerPoint Presentation to accompany Looking Out/Looking In, Tenth Edition

Copyright © 2002 Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

For permission to use material from this text, contact us by:Phone: 1-800-730-2214 Fax: 1-800-730-2215

Web: www.thomsonrights.com

Presentation prepared by Dr. Michael Pearson, Gretchen Gill, and Tim

Scanlon of West Chester University

Copyright © 2002 Thomson Learning, Inc.

CHAPTER 1

A First Look at A First Look at Interpersonal Interpersonal RelationshipsRelationships


A First Look at A First Look at Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpersonal Relationships

• Why We Communicate• The Process of Communication• Communication Principles

and Misconceptions• The Nature of Interpersonal Communication• Communicating about Relationships• Communication Competence:

What Makes an Effective Communicator?


Why We Communicate

Physical Needs

Identity Needs

Social Needs

Practical Goals

• Instrumental Goals - getting others to behave in ways we want


The Process of Communication

A Linear View

Linear Communication Model• Sender - encodes ideas and feelings• Message - organized ideas and feelings• Channel - means of conveying messages• Receiver - decodes the message• Noise - any forces that interfere with effective communication• Environments - fields of experience that help to understand others’ behavior




A Transactional View

Transactional Communication Model

• Feedback - response of a receiver to a sender’s message

• Behavior - replaces the term of encoding, describes both deliberate and unintentional actions that can be observed and interpreted



Definition of Communication - a continuous, transactional process involving participants who occupy different but overlapping environments and create relationships the exchange of messages.


Communication Principles and Misconceptions

Communication Principles

• Communication is irreversible

• Communication can be intentional or unintentional• It’s impossible not to communicate

• Communication is unrepeatable


Communication Principles and Misconceptions

Communication Principles

• Meanings are not in words

• More communication is not always better

• No single person or event causes another’s reaction

• Communication will not solve all problems


The Nature of Interpersonal Communication

Two Views of Interpersonal Communication

1. Quantitative Definition - based on the interaction between two people

• Dyad - term used by social scientists to refer to two people interacting

2. Qualitative Definition - occurs when people treat one another as unique individuals



Several features distinguish qualitatively interpersonal communication from less personal communication

•Uniqueness•Irreplaceability•Interdependence•Amount of disclosure•Intrinsic rewards


Technology and Interpersonal Communication

• Computer mediated communication (CMC)– E-mail– Instant messaging– Online chat



Communicating About Relationships

Content and Relational Messages

• Content - contains the subject being discussed

• Relational - how the parties feel toward one another

Metacommunication

• Metacommunication - describes messages people exchange about their relationship



Types of Relational Messages

1. Affinity - the degree to which people like or appreciate one another

2. Respect - to be held in esteem by others

3. Control - the degree to which the parties have the power to influence one another



Types of Control

• Decision

Distribution of Control

• Complementary - when distribution of power is equal• Symmetrical - partners seek same degree of control• Parallel - power shifts from one to another, according to situation

• Conversational


Communication Competence:What Makes An Effective

Communicator?

Communication Competence DefinedCommunication Competence – achieving one’s goals in a manner that, ideally, maintains or enhances the relationship in which it occurs

• There is no “ideal” way to communicate. • Competence is situational.• Competence is relational.• Competence can be learned.



Communicator?

Characteristics of Competent Communicators• A wide range of behaviors

• Ability to choose the most appropriate behavior • Skill at performing behaviors (Four stages)

1. Beginning Awareness2. Awkwardness3. Skillfulness4. Integration



Communicator?

Characteristics of Competent Communicators• Cognitive Complexity - ability to construct a variety of different frameworks for viewing an issue • Self-Monitoring - paying attention to one’sbehavior and using these observations to shape the way one behaves

• Commitment - people who seem to care about relationships communicate better than those who don’t.

Documents

Chapter 1: A First Look at Interpersonal Relationships PowerPoint Presentation to accompany Looking Out/Looking In, Tenth Edition Copyright © 2002 Thomson