Questions and Answers
What is one of the primary reasons for communicating with other people?
To understand and predict how people will behave and communicate
What is an example of an interaction with a higher degree of 'interpersonalness'?
Having a conversation with your boyfriend or girlfriend about a recent fight
Why is formality and structure an important consideration in interpersonal communication?
It affects how we interact with people in different roles
What is a key characteristic of a great communicator?
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What is a common trait of people who are not good communicators?
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What is a common misconception about interpersonal communication?
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What is the primary feature that distinguishes interpersonal communication from small group or organizational communication?
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Why is it difficult to exclude relational baggage in a conversation between two people?
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What is a common topic of discussion in early writing on interpersonal communication?
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What is an example of how mediated technologies have changed the way we communicate interpersonally?
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Is the interaction between two lovers as they break up via text messages any less 'interpersonal' than when the break up happens face-to-face?
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How many people are typically involved in interpersonal communication, according to most scholars?
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Study Notes
Definition of Interpersonal Communication
- Most scholars agree that interpersonal communication involves at least two communicators.
- However, some argue that even with two communicators, there are external influences from family, friends, coworkers, and other associates that affect the communication.
Physical Proximity of Communicators
- Early research on interpersonal communication emphasized the importance of physical proximity, considering it a face-to-face endeavor.
- However, with modern technology, interpersonal communication often occurs through mediated technologies like social networking, text messaging, email, and phone calls.
- The question remains whether interactions like breaking up via text messages are less "interpersonal" than face-to-face interactions.
Understanding Others
- One of the primary reasons for communicating with others is to understand them and how they communicate.
- Some messages can help us understand and predict how people will behave and communicate, leading to a higher degree of "interpersonalness" in interactions.
Degree of Formality and Structure
- The formality and structure of an interaction can affect the level of interpersonal communication, with informal and unstructured interactions (e.g., friendships, romantic relationships) being more common in research.
- However, formal and structured interactions (e.g., with physicians, managers, or supervisors) are still considered interpersonal communication.
Effective Communication
- Most people think they are good communicators, but very few are naturally good.
- Communication requires time, skill, and practice to be effective.
- Being a great communicator also requires being a great listener, with proficiency and competence in communication.
- Ineffective communication can be due to saying inappropriate, rude, or hostile things.
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