What is intrapersonal communication?
Although you may think of communication primarily as interpersonal
or taking place between you and others, you probably spend a
great deal of time talking with yourself. I know, it sounds like you've
gone crazy! But think about it, every time you pick out what you're
going to wear, practice a difficult conversation in your head, solve a
math problem, write in your agenda, or journal, you're
communicating with yourself.
Intrapersonal communication helps you determine what you think
and how you behave. Much of your thought and behavior depends
on how you perceive the world around you.
Your perceptions affect the way you feel about yourself, your
attitudes toward communicating, and your ability to make
predictions about others.
Individual Differences in Perception
Perception is affected by individual differences. Each person perceives objects,
places, events, and people somewhat differently as a result of individual traits,
including physical characteristics, background and experience, selected focus
and current mood and circumstances.
Physical Characteristics: Your perceptions are affected by physical
characteristics such as your age, size, health, and gender.
Example: Mike tried to take his five year old son Jerry on the Junior Racer,
a children’s ride in an amusement park. As they approached, Jerry
began to cry and said, “I don’t want to go on this ride. It’s too big.” Mike
was about to say, “No, this is a little ride,” but when he looked at it through
Jerry’s eyes, he understood why his son was afraid.
Background and Experience: Your unique background and past experiences
also affect your perceptions. Your past experiences differ from the experiences
of others, and other people do not necessarily share perceptions that you take
for granted.
Example: Two new friends, Laura and Tonya, were trying to decide where
to have lunch. Laura had eaten sushi all her life and suggested that
Tonya come with her to her favorite Japanese restaurant. “Oh, gross!”
replied Tonya. “How could you stand to eat raw fish?” Laura realized that
she should not have assumed her new friend would share her opinion and
experience of certain kinds of food.
Selected Focus: At any given time, your mind has a focus that affects how you
perceive the environment. This selected focus leads you to notice some things
and to ignore others.
Example: In art class, Krista is studying fabric design and color. When she
stops by a friend’s home, she is struck by the unusual geometric patterns in
the living room drapes. “Wow,” Krista says. “I’ve been in this house
several times and never noticed the design of these drapes.”
Current Mood and Circumstances: Immediate circumstances and mood also
affect perceptions.
Example: When you are walking downtown, your perceptions will differ
dramatically depending on how you are feeling and what you are
thinking about. If you are hungry, you will see everything in terms of food.
You may walk right by a sale of your favorite running shoes as you look for
a restaurant. If you have read about an increase in crime downtown, you
may watch people around you carefully, and tightly hold on to the
packages you are carrying.
Thinking About Your Self-Concept
How you communicate and how you behave depend a great deal on what
you think of yourself.
Your self-concept represents a collection of perceptions about every aspect of
your being.
How do you view yourself? There are three elements: physical, intellectual, and
social.
Physical Self: How you look and what you do with your body. Examples: tall,
athletic, plays soccer, healthy, German, long brown hair, pale skin.
Intellectual Self: Your strengths, weaknesses, and strong beliefs. Examples: good
at creative writing, loves public speaking, enjoys singing, struggles with math,
can't spell very well, believes in freedom of speech, patriotic, strong
religious/political beliefs
Social Self: Your personality, the way you interact with others. Examples: shy,
outgoing, likes large groups, loud, bossy, a leader, happy, intellectual, sarcastic
Your self-concept and how you view yourself affects your intrapersonal
communication in 3 ways:
(1) problem solving and decision making
(2) behavior
(3) processing of feedback
CONDUCT A SELF CONCEPT CHECK
For each of the following topics, write down the number that most closely
represents your self-evaluation in that area.
TOPIC
NEGATIVE
NEUTRAL
POSITIVE
My appearance
1
2
3
4
5
My work/study habits
1
2
3
4
5
My accomplishments
1
2
3
4
5
My scholastic abilities
1
2
3
4
5
My athletic abilities
1
2
3
4
5
My social skills
1
2
3
4
5
For each topic area for which you recorded a 1 or a 2, write one example to
explain or describe this evaluation of yourself. Then for each of these same
statements, write three examples that give a more positive view. Now,
reconsider your original ratings. Is it possible that you were too hard on
yourself???
SELF CONCEPT PROJECT
DUE:________________
To assess your knowledge of yourself, each student has been given a large
piece of construction paper. Please use the paper to create a visual or verbal
representation of you.
The visual representation means 3 or more pictures (drawn, cut out, or printed
out) that represent your three different selves. Once you have them on the
paper, please label each picture. That means 9 pictures total if you are doing
the minimum! To help keep yourself organized, consider labeling each picture
as you go and putting each category of pictures in one specific place.
The verbal representation means 7 or more words and phrases (drawn, written,
cut out, or printed out) that represent your three different selves. This means 21
words or phrases total if you are doing the minimum! To keep yourself organized
consider making each category a different color or having them in one specific
place on your construction paper.
Don't understand the learning goal? How you will be graded? See the rubric
attached!