Communication:
Principles for a Lifetime
Portable Edition
Steven A. Beebe, Susan J. Beebe,
and Diana K. Ivy
Prepared by:
James R. Smith
State University of New York—
New Paltz
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VOLUME 2:
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
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CHAPTER 2.1
Understanding
Interpersonal
Communication
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FIVE PRINCIPLES
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INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
• Interpersonal communication—is
communication that occurs with another
person in an attempt to mutually influence
each other, usually for the purpose of
managing relationships.
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WHAT IS INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION?
• Interpersonal involves quality.
– Impersonal communication treats people as
objects.
• Interpersonal involves mutual influence.
• Interpersonal helps manage relationships.
– A relationship is an ongoing connection made
with another person.
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INITIATE & MAINTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS
• Interpersonal communication serves to…
INITIATE RELATIONSHIPS
MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
Relationships are ongoing connections made with another person.
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RELATIONSHIP TYPES
• RELATIONSHIP OF CIRCUMSTANCE
– Relationship that forms situationally, one
life overlaps another in some way.
• RELATIONSHIP OF CHOICE
– Relationship that is sought out and
intentionally developed.
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INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION
• A good place to start exploring the process
of initiating relationships is via examining
the nature of attraction.
Attraction is a motivational state causing someone to think,
feel, and usually behave in a positive manner toward another
person.
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ELEMENTS OF ATTRACTION
SHORT-TERM ATTRACTION
LONG-TERM ATTRACTION
SIMILARITY
PHYSICAL ATTRACTION
SEXUAL ATTRACTION
PROXIMITY
COMPLEMENTARITY
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MATCHING HYPOTHESIS
• The matching hypothesis is a tendency
to seek out individuals who represent the
same level of physical attractiveness as
oneself.
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INTERPERSONAL NEEDS
MOTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS
• Social psychologist Will Schutz identified
three interpersonal needs motivating us to
form and maintain relationships.
– Inclusion
– Control
– Affection
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COMMUNICATING ATTRACTION
• We use both indirect and direct strategies
to communicate our liking via verbal and
nonverbal cues.
• Immediacy refers to feelings of liking,
pleasure, and closeness communicated by
such nonverbal cues as eye contact,
touch, and open body orientation.
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THAT FIRST CONVERSATION
• Online and face-to-face (FtF) encounters
are different.
• Some practical suggestions
– Reduce uncertainty
– Find something you have in common
– Ask great questions
– Give/receive compliments
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REDUCING UNCERTAINTY
• Passive strategy involves observing others
and situations to reduce uncertainty.
• Active strategy involves acquiring
information from a third party.
• Interactive strategy involves
communicating directly to the source who
has greatest potential to reduce uncertainty.
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TALK ABOUT YOURSELF TOO
MUCH?
• Conversational narcissism is a style of
communication that emerges from the
view that you are the center of the
universe.
• Self-absorbed style is a dominating
communication style in which one focuses
attention on the self.
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POSITIVE ACTIONS
• Practice the art and skill of asking great
questions.
• Practice the art and skill of giving and
receiving compliments.
– Giving compliments is tricky. Some attempts
at flattery can be taken the wrong way.
– Consider male/female relations in the
workplace.
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MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS
• Many interpersonal communication forms
are necessary to maintain successful
relationships.
• Self-disclosure and expressing emotions
are particularly important.
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MAINTAINING
SELF-DISCLOSURE
• Self-Disclosure is the process of voluntarily
providing information to others that they would
not learn if you didn’t tell them.
• Appropriateness aspect of self-disclosure
regarding the propriety of information.
• Reciprocity is sharing information about oneself
with the expectation that the other person will
also share information similar in risk or depth.
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EXPRESSING EMOTIONS
• Expressing emotions is another powerful
way we reveal ourselves to deepen
relationships.
• As relationships become more intimate,
expectations that a partner will openly
disclose emotions increase.
• Emotional expression varies by culture.
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STUDY HINTS
• Read Chapter Summary and Recaps
• Know terms in boldface and definitions
• Review communication elements in
initiating and maintaining relationships
• Study elements of interpersonal attraction
and uncertainty reduction.
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