COM110
Elements of Human
Communication
Jim Friscia
jfriscia@concorde.edu
503-236-1971 / 720-4629
Week 6
Interpersonal
Communication:
Conversation
Relationships
Conflict
Goals
Describe the characteristics and stages of
interpersonal relationships.
List the types of interpersonal relationships.
Identify cultural, technological, and other
influences that affect interpersonal
communications.
Communicate effectively in relationships.
Describe the principles and types of
interpersonal conflict.
Apply strategies to resolve interpersonal conflict.
What is interpersonal
communication?
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Conversational Realities
Dialogue occurs in a number of places,
contexts, and channels.
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Conversational Realities
Cultural differences can affect the flow of a
conversation. How?
Language disorders can interrupt the
conversational process and require certain
adjustments to maintain smooth dialogue.
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Conversation: 5 Steps
Business
Feedforward
Opening
Feedback
Closing
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Principles of Conversation
Turn-Taking
Dialogue
Immediacy
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The Principle of Turn-Taking
Speaker Cues
Turn-Maintaining
Turn-Yielding
Listener Cues
Turn-Requesting
Turn-Denying
Back-channeling and
interruptions
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What’s significant about
apologies, excuses,
complements, and advice?
What are the six stages of
interpersonal relationships?
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Interpersonal Relationship Types
Friendship
Love
Primary relationships & families
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Interpersonal Relationship Types
Friendship
Love
Primary relationships & families
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Theories of Interpersonal
Comm and Relationships
Attraction
Relationship rules
Social penetration
Social exchange and equity
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Attraction
We are attracted to
others based on…
Physical
attractiveness and
personality
Similarity
Proximity
Reinforcement
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Relationship Rules
Friendship rules
Romantic rules
Family rules
Workplace rules
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Social Penetration
Social penetration
theory explains…
Why relationships
develop and what
happens when they do
Breadth
Depth
Depenetration
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Social Exchange and Equity
Social exchange theory
You develop relationships that will enable
you to maximize your profits
Based on economic model
Profits = Rewards – Costs
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Culture, Technology, Work,
and Relationships
Culture and Gender
Consider whether relationships are voluntary or
chosen by families
Effects how relationships end and the difficulties
that you go through during dissolution
Determines how much people disclose about
themselves
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Culture, Technology, Work,
and Relationships
Culture and Gender
Consider whether relationships are voluntary or
chosen by families
Effects how relationships end and the difficulties
that you go through during dissolution
Determines how much people disclose about
themselves
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Culture, Technology, Work,
and Relationships
Technology
We lose many relationship nonverbal cues
through technology
Establishing online relationships can be safe
Your inner qualities are revealed first
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Culture, Technology, Work,
and Relationships
Workplace Romances
Advantages
Interest in the same
field
Similar training and
ambitions
Greater work
satisfaction
Disadvantages
Discomfort to other
workers
Problems for
management
Stress if relationship
ends
How do we define
interpersonal conflict?
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Conflict and Interdependency
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True or False?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Conflict is best avoided. Time will solve the
problem; it will all blow over.
If two people experience relationship conflict, it
means their relationship is in trouble.
Conflict damages an interpersonal relationship.
Conflict is destructive because it reveals our
negative selves—our pettiness, our need to be in
control, our unreasonable expectations.
In any conflict, there has to be a winner and a loser.
Because goals are incompatible, someone has to
win and someone has to lose.
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Interpersonal Conflict Principles
tio
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c. Conflict can center on content or relationship
Al issues
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Conflict can be positive or negative
ri
Conflict is influenced by culture and gender
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Conflict and Culture
Cultural differences
Collectivist cultures
Individualistic cultures
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Conflict and Gender
Which gender stereotype regarding conflict is
supported by research?
Answer: the
withdrawing and
sometimes
aggressive male
Power Principles
Exists in all relationships
Meeting needs = power
Each person has power
Is circumstantial
Is negotiated
Power Sources
Legitimate
Referent
Expert
Reward
Coercive
Conflict Management Styles
… what’s yours?
Video
Conflict Management Styles
… what’s yours?
Avoidance
Conflict Management Styles
… what’s yours?
Accommodation
Conflict Management Styles
… what’s yours?
Competition
Conflict Management Styles
… what’s yours?
Compromise
Conflict Management Styles
… what’s yours?
Collaboration
High
Low
Concern for Self
Competition
Collaboration
Compromise
Avoidance
Low
Accommodati
on
Concern for
Others
High
What are some factors to
consider when you’re trying to
manage conflict?
Conflict Management Skills
Manage emotions
Manage information
Manage goals
Manage the problem
Conflict Management Skills
Manage emotions
Manage information
Manage goals
Manage the problem
What are some unproductive
conflict management strategies?
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Defensiveness and
Supportiveness
Evaluation
Control
Strategy
Neutrality
Superiority
Certainty
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c. Strategies that attack a
Alperson’s positive face
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FaceEnhancing
Strategies that enhance positive
face
Confirm the other person’s selfimage.
Listen supportively and actively.
Use I-messages that avoid
blaming the other person.
Use excuses and apologies as
appropriate
What is the difference between
being verbally aggressive and
argumentative?
How argumentative are you?
What is the difference between
being verbally aggressive and
argumentative?
How argumentative are you?