NYU Steinhardt
Department of Media, Culture, and Communication
Interpersonal Communication
E59.1830
Course Description and Objectives:
This course is an advanced seminar designed to explore the field of ideas relating to
human modes of communication and personal relationships in the shaping of our social
environment. These general sets of ideas and research is what is commonly referred to as
“Interpersonal Communication”.
This course focuses not on developing a particular set of “skills” (communication
competence), but to explore the overarching structures that influence interpersonal
interaction and investigate research on some of the major topics of interpersonal
communication.
The course takes a “social constructionist” and “ecological” approach to the study of
communication, meaning that individuals, through various sign systems and mediums,
create and re-create our social worlds through a dynamic web of relationships within
various contexts. Thus, this course will focus largely on how we construct these
ecological networks.
By the end of this course, students should be able to competently discuss the following:
•
The various meanings and definitions of interpersonal communication and social
interaction;
•
Overarching structures such as culture, mass media and gender, and their role in
shaping interpersonal interaction; and
•
Dominant themes of contemporary research in interpersonal communication and
social interaction; and
Textbook:
Goffman, Erving. Interaction Ritual.
Bibliography of Course Reading Packet:
1. Hall, Edward T. (1982). The Hidden Dimension. New York: Doubleday.
Chapters 10-12.
2. Hall, Edward T. (1983). The Dance of Life: The Other Dimension of Time. New
York: Doubleday. Chapters 3-4.
3. Morris, Desmond. (1996). The Human Zoo. New York: Kodansha America, Inc.
Chapters 2-3.
4. Vangelisti, Anita L. and Young, Stacy L. (2000). When word hurt: The effects of
perceived intentionality on interpersonal relationships. Journal of Social and
Personal Relationships, 17, 3: 393-424
5. Reeder, Heidi M. (2000). ‘I like you…as a friend’: The role of attraction in crosssex friendship. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 3: 329-348.
6. Stewart, Stephanie., Stinnett, Heather., and Rosenfeld, Lawrence B. (2000). Sex
differences in desired characteristics of short-term and long-term relationship
partners. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 6: 843-853.
7. Flora, Jeanne. And Segrin, Chris. (2000). Relationship development in dating
couples: Implications for relational satisfaction and loneliness. Journal of Social
and Personal Relationships, 17, 6: 811-825.
8. Kim, Min-Sun., Shin, Ho-Chang., and Cai, Deborah. (1998). Cultural influences
on the preferred forms of requesting and re-requesting. Communication
Monographs, 65: 47-66.
9. Burgoon, Judee K. and Le Poire, Beth A. (1999). Nonverbal cues and
interpersonal judgements: Participant and observer perceptions of intimacy,
dominance, composure, and formality. Communication Monographs, 66: 105124.
10. Afifi, Walid A. and Lee, Josephine W. (2000). Balancing instrumental and
identity goals in relationships: The role of request directness and request
persistence in the selection of sexual resistance strategies. Communication
Monographs, 67, 3: 284-305.
11. Burgoon, Judee K. and Dunbar, Norah E. (2000). An interactionist perspective on
dominance-submission: Interpersonal dominance as a dynamic, situationally
contingent social skill. Communication Monographs, 67, 1: 96-121.
12. Solomon, Denise Haunani. (1997). A developmental model of intimacy and date
request explicitness. Communication Monographs, 64: 99-118.
13. Bruess, Carol J.S. and Pearson, Judy C. (1997). Interpersonal rituals in marriage
and adult friendship. Communication Monographs, 64: 25-46.
14. Livingston, Jennifer A. and Testa, Maria. (2000). Qualitative analysis of women’s
perceived vulnerability to sexual aggression in a hypothetical dating context.
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 6: 729-741.
15. Weinstock, Jacqueline S. and Bond, Lynne. (2000). Conception of conflict in
close friendships and ways of knowing among young ocllege women: A
developmental framework. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 45: 687-696.
16. Hojjat, Mahzad. (2000). Sex differences and perceptions of conflict in romantic
relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 4-5: 598-617.
17. Sillars, Alan., Roberts, Linda J., Leonard, Kenneth E., and Dun, Tim. (2000).
Cognition during marital conflict. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,
17, 4-5: 479-502.
18. Philipsen, Gerry. (2000). Permission to speak the discourse of difference: A case
study. Research on language and Social Interaction, 33, 2: 213-234.
19. Edmondson, Willis J. (1981). On saying you’re sorry. In Florian Coulmas (Ed.)
“Conversational Routine: Explorations in Standardized Communication Situations
and Prepatterned Speech.” New York: Mouton Publishers, pp.273-288.
20. Labov, Teresa. (1990). Ideological themes in reports of interracial conflict. In
Allen D. Grimshaw (Ed.) “Conflict Talk: Sociolinguistic Investigations of
Arguments in Conversations.” New York Cambridge University Press, pp.139159.
21. Psathas, George. (1990). Transcription Symbols. In George Psathas (Ed.).
“Studies in Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis.” Maryland:
University Press of America. Pp. 297-307.
22. Schegloff, Emanuel., Jefferson, Gail., and Sacks, Harvey. (1992). The preference
for self-correction in the organization of repair in conversation. In George
Psathas (Ed.). “Studies in Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis.”
Maryland: University Press of America. pp. 31-61.
23. Zimmerman, Don H. (1992). The interactional organization of calls for
emergency assistance. In Paul Drew and John Heritage (Eds.) “Talk at Work:
Interaction and Institutional Settings. New York: Cambridge University Press.
pp. 418-469.
24. Button, Graham. (1992). Answers as interactional products: two sequential
practices used in job interviews. In Paul Drew and John Heritage (Eds.) “Talk at
Work: Interaction and Institutional Settings. New York: Cambridge University
Press. pp. 212-231.
25. Garcia, Angela Cora. And Jacobs, Jennifer Baker. (1999). The eyes of the
beholder: Understanding the turn-taking system in quasi-synchronous computermediated communication. Research on Language and Social Interaction, 32, 4:
337-367.
26. Maynard, Douglas W. (1998). Praising versus blaming the messenger: Moral
issues in deliveries of good and bad news. Research on Language and Social
Interaction, 31, 3-4: 359-395.
27. Gunthner, Susanne. And Luckman, Thomas. (1998). Are secrets immoral?: The
construction of secrets in everyday conversation. Research on Language and
Social Interaction, 31,3-4: 327-358.
28. Hopper, Robert. And LeBaron, Curtis. (1998). How gender creeps into talk.
Research on Langauge and Social Interaction, 31,1: 59-74.
29. Lingis, Alphonso. (1993). The Community of Those Who Have Nothing in
Common.
*Additional readings may be assigned during the course of the class.
Assignments:
Exams
One component of assessing your knowledge of the course material will include a midterm and final (not cumulative) exam. These exams are designed to assess your
identification of major terms, theories and researchers in the field of interpersonal
communication as well as your understanding of how each relate to another. Exams will
include a wide-range of question types including matching, multiple choice, short answer
and essays.
Interpersonal Journal
Each student will be required to keep an “interpersonal journal”. This journal will
include students’ reactions, reflections, conclusions, etc. of specialized assignments given
throughout the semester regarding each topic section of the course (approximately 8-10).
For instance, one assignment may ask you to observe and record (if possible) the
conversations of to or more people in a natural setting and respond to specific questions
regarding how how the conversation was “pulled off”. Or you may be asked to reflect on
a prior or current relationship in which you are engaged and reflect on certain aspects of
the development of the relationship. Each of these journal entries will be due at an
assigned time, usually the following second class meeting. While the journal will be
graded in its entirety at the end of the semester, the professor will periodically take up
journals to monitor progress. Failure to have all journal entries current at that possible
time will result in a penalty assessed to the students grade. Students may also
periodically be asked to discuss in class their journal entries.
Final Research Paper
A final research paper (15-25 pages in length) covering some topic of interpersonal
communication will comprise a significant portion of the student’s grade for this course.
Papers will be first assigned immediately following the mid-term exam and will be due
the week prior to the final exam. Students may work individually or in groups of up to
four people for the paper. However different specifications will be given for those
working individually and those working in groups. As well, those who choose to work in
groups must also adhere to certain agreed-upon standards for group work. Once the final
paper is assigned, students will be rquired to periodically turn in summaries of work to
help monitor your progress. More details aboiut the final paper will be given at the time
it is assigned.
Standards of Academic Performance:
The professor assumes that your acceptance into this university and department
distinguishes you as students who know how to think, work hard, and accomplish what is
expected. Thus, you will be held to these standards. Students are expected to do original
work, to turn in assignments on-time and according to the professor’s specifications, to
monitor one’s own progress and behave in a collegial manner.
Attendance:
Attentance is mandatory. There are only two reasons why you should miss class: 1).
You’re in the hospital; 2). You are deceased. Seriously though, there may be times when
reasons not included here may cause you to miss class. Because your professor is so
understanding and sensitive you get 3 such absences before points will be taken off of
your grade. In the event that reason 1 or 2 apply, please be prepared to provide
documentation. In the event that you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up work
that you may have missed. You have other colleagues in this class. If you miss class
please do not expect me to repeat, just for you, an entire lecture or discussion or
explanation of assignments. Approach your colleagues first and then, if you have
questions, feel free to contact me. By the way, missing class does not exempt you from
turning in assignments on time.
Late Assignments:
Acceptable reasons for late assignments include those listed above. Late assignments,
without a proper excuse, will result in a 10% decrease in that assignments grade each day
the assignment is late.
Professor’s Promise:
As your professor, I believe that we are both in this course together – we all have the
same objective, for you to get as much as possible out of this course. It is my promise to
aid you in any and every way that I can to ensure that this objective is accomplished. I
promise to be prepared for class (and expect that you will also) and will give you
direction so that you will know what is going on as far in advance a s possible. Even
though my time is spent preparing for and administering this course, conducting research
and writing – there is always time for you.
I have an open-door policy. While it is ideal for you to come to my office during the
specified office hours, any time that you find me in my office, if I am not working on
something that is urgent at the time, I am free to talk. Please remember – “nothing
ventured, nothing gained”. Don’t put off coming to me with a burning question or
problem just because you think it might be a waste of my time. Try me first. If I can
help you answer a question I will. If I can’t I will try my best to point you in the
direction where you can have it answered. If I can help with a problem, I will, or I will
point you in the direction of someone who may be able to serve you better.
Grading:
Mid-Term Exam
100 Pts.
Final Exam
100 Pts.
Journal
200 Pts.
Research Paper
200 Pts.
Misc.
50 Pts.
__________
650 Pts.
Total
A=
B=
C=
D=
F=
650 – 585 Pts.
584 – 520 Pts.
519 - 455 Pts.
454 – 390 Pts.
389 – Below
*Failure to complete in any (1) of these assignments will result in a failing grade for this
course.
Reasonable Accomodation Policy:
If you have a disability that effects your performance in this course, please notify me at
the beginning of the semester and necessary special arrangements can me made to
accommodate you.
COURSE OUTLINE
Topic Area 1:
What is Interpersonal Communication?
Major Concepts & Terminology
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•
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Conversation
Patterned Social Interaction
Social Networks
Perspectives & Definitions of Interpersonal Communication
Theoria, Praxis, Poesis; Episteme; Phoronesis, Techne
Models of Communication
Symbolic Interactionism
Self Presentation
Readings: Textbook, Chapter 1; Reading #29
Topic Area 2:
Language and the Construction of “Social Worlds”.
Major Concepts & Terminology
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Heteroglossia, Polyphony & Polysemy
Social Construction of Language
Monologue & Dialogue
Coordinated Management of Meaning
Language-Games
Conversational Competence
Speech Act Theories
Readings: Textbook, Chapter 2
Topic Area 3:
Structural Influences on Interpersonal Interaction
Major Concepts & Terminology
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Culture
Mass Media
Gender
Dissociation
High-Low Context Cultures
Monochronic/Polychronic Time
Exoticism
Readings: Articles #1, 2, 3, 8, 28
Topic Area 4:
Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication
Topics Include:
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Romantic and Intimate Relationships
Friendship
Family Interaction
Dating
Interpersonal Interaction in Public Social Settings
Interpersonal Interaction in the Workplace
Interpersonal Conflict
Readings: Textbook, Chp. 5; Articles #4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 24,
25, 26, 27,
Topic Area 5:
Approaches to the Study of Interpersonal Communication
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•
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Coversation Analysis
Survey Research
Ethnography
Readings: Articles #18, 19, 21, 22, 23
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
WEEK
Sep.5
Sep.10
Sep.17
Sep.24
Oct.1
Oct. 8
Oct.15
Oct.22
TOPICS
Introductions
Topic Area 1
Topic Area 1
Topic Area 2
Topic Area 2
Topic Area 3
Topic Area 3
Topic Area 3
Oct.29
Nov.5
Nov.12
Nov.19
Nov.26
Dec.3
Dec.10
Topic Area 4
Topic Area 4
Topic Area 4
Topic Area 4
Topic Area 5
Discussion & Wrap-Up
Discussion & Wrap-Up
ASSIGNMENTS
None
Journal Entry #1
Journal Entry #2
Journal Entry #3
Journal Entry #4
Journal Entry #5
Journal Entry #6
Mid-Term Exam; Research
Papers
None
Journal Entry #7
Journal Entry #8
None
None
None
Research Papers (Due)
Final Exam
Student Information Sheet
Name:_______________________________________
Home City/State:______________________________
Contact Phone:_______________________________
Email Address:_______________________________
Major:______________________________________
Pledge
I have read the course syllabus completely and I understand and agree to the goals,
objectives and requirements for this course.
Student’s Signature
Date