IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 LECTURE 2: DYNAMICS OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION IS103 COMMUNICATION SKILLS MR. SEMOS DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 LEARNING OBJECTIVES • Define interpersonal communication • Identify characteristics of interpersonal communication • Identify types of messages created through interpersonal communication • Describe contexts of interpersonal communications • Practice interpersonal communication • Identify competent interpersonal communication IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 DEFINITIONS • Communication is the use of symbols (sounds, gestures, images etc..) to represent meanings. • Interpersonal communication is communication between people with some form of relationship. E.g: father & son, doctor & patient, teacher & student, close friends, lovers, etc.. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 Activity • List three communication experiences you had since last week that you consider to be interpersonal communication. • List three communication experiences you had since last week that you do NOT consider to be interpersonal communication. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 • Interpersonal communication is often face-to-face interactions. • Partners communicate both verbally and nonverbally with words, gestures and body language. • Interpersonal communication can also occur through phone conversations, text messaging or chat rooms. So long as there is personal connection with the other person. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION • Interpersonal communication is: 1. a continuous process 2. a dynamic process 3. is consequential 4. is irreversible 5. is imperfect IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 1. Continuous process 2. Dynamic process • Both partners participate in interpersonal communication. Even when one partner is speaking, the other may communicate through body position, eye contact and facial experiences. • Meanings change and unfold over time, and previous messages affect how subsequent messages are created and understood. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 3. Consequential Interpersonal communication has consequences or produces outcome/s. • Intentional consequences For example: • convince your parents to call you • Say sorry to your friend. • Unintentional consequences • Insult classmate • Hurt a friend IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 Activity • Think about the last time an interpersonal interaction made you feel strong emotions, such as happiness, anger or sadness. • What was it about the conversation that produced those emotions? • Does face-to-face interpersonal communication evoke more or less intense emotions compared to instant messaging/phone conversations/chat rooms etc..? IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 4. Irreversible 5. • You can not take back messages that you have communicated. • Your thoughts can never be completely communicated to another person. • Nor can you recreate communication opportunities that have passed. • Therefore, if you make hurtful comments (just an example), you can apologize, or you can explain Imperfect IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 TYPES OF MESSAGES Content messages: Literal or typical meaning of the symbols used to communicate. E.g Are you using your car this afternoon? Relational messages: Meanings that symbols have for the relationship between communicators. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 CONTEXTS OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS • Interpersonal communication can unfold between strangers, acquaintances, close friends, or family members. (Jaiswal, 2021) • Other context includes a) Organizations/Workplace • When you and a coworker chat about your personal lives, when you pitch an idea to your boss. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 b) Health settings (Health and well-being) c) Computer-mediated communication • Using technology, we are able to create a personal connection with others that transcends the separations imposed by time and space. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 Activity • Does computer-mediated communication offer less threatening communication venue for people who get anxious about talking to new acquaintances? • What proportion of your interpersonal interactions involves the use of technology? IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 PUTTING THEORY INTO PRACTICE: THINKING CRITICALLY • Recognize the fallibility of symbols • The symbols you use will always have a different meaning to your interaction partner than they do to you. • Steps to reduce miscommunication 1) Pay attention to your partner’s responses to see if he or she seems to be getting the right idea. Notice whether your partner asks relevant questions, laughs when you meant to be funny, etc.. 2) Double check how well your meaning was understood. Use phrases like “I’m not sure I was clear” IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 • Pay attention to relational messages • Relational messages are always part of interpersonal communication experiences, so you’ll communicate more effectively if you pay attention to the relational messages that you receive and send to others. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION COMPETENCE • Fidelity – clarity of a message. Extent to which meanings can be correctly inferred from the symbols. • Appropriateness – Interpersonal communication is appropriate when the messages that people produce match the requirements of the situation. • Satisfaction – competent interpersonal communication is also enjoyable. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 • Effectiveness – effective interpersonal communication occurs when you are able to produce the outcomes that you want with your interaction partner. • Efficiency – interpersonal communication is efficient if you can produce the outcomes you seek with no more than a reasonable amount of effort. • Ethics – Ethical interpersonal communication involves using values as a moral guide when you interact with other people. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 Activity • With a colleague, discuss and give at least one example of each of the interpersonal communication competence explained in the previous slides. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 PROMOTING COMPETENT INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION • Conditions that can help you have competent interpersonal communication. Motivation Knowledge Skill 1. Motivation – Competent communication takes effort – you need to pay attention to what is and is not appropriate and satisfying, weigh your options so that you maximize effectiveness and efficiency, and attend to ethical considerations. Competent interpersonal communication requires motivation or desire to communicate well. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 2. Knowledge – all the motivation in the world won’t help if you don’t know what communication behaviors are best for a given situation. • Examples: Motivation • Empathize with someone. • Discuss feelings and emotions. Knowledge Skill • Wanting information to solve a problem 3. Skills – people need skills to act upon their motivation and knowledge in an interpersonal interaction. IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 SUMMARY • Defined interpersonal communication • Identified characteristics of interpersonal communication • Identified types of messages created through interpersonal communication • Described contexts of interpersonal communications • Discussed practices of interpersonal communication • Identified competent interpersonal communication IS103 | JKSemos | 2021 REFERENCE Retrieved from Mayank Jaiswal, mayank.jaiswal@proquest.com. (2021). ProQuest Ebook Central Reader. Proquest.com. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/divineword/reader.action?docID=1101332&query=interp ersonal+communication# Solomon.D & Theiss. J (nd) Interpersonal Communication: Putting Theory into Practice.
