Chapter 1

Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

The Study of Interpersonal Communication

• Acknowledge our past

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• Understanding the present– Intrapersonal – Interpersonal – Small group – Organizational– Mass– Public

• Message exchange – both verbal and nonverbal

• Creation of meaning – the understanding communicators take from the message

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Defining Interpersonal Communication

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Models of Communication

• Mechanistic Thinking and the Linear Model

• Feedback and Interactional Model

• Shared Meaning and the Transactional Model

4Chapter 1

Linear Model

• Sender • Message• Receiver • Channel

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Sender Message Receiver

• Noise– Physical noise– Physiological noise– Psychological noise– Semantic noise

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Linear Model

• Context– Physical – Cultural – Social-emotional – Historical

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Sender Message Receiver

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Feedback and the Interaction Model

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Sender Receiver

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Feedback and the Interaction Model

• Feedback – responses to people, their messages, or both

8Chapter 1

Shared Meaning and the Transactional Model

• Field of experience - refers to a person’s culture, past experiences, personal history and how these elements influence the communication process

9Chapter 1

Interpersonal Communication Continuum

• Communication that exists on a continuum from impersonal to interpersonal– Relational history– Relational rules– Relational uniqueness

10Chapter 1

The Value of Interpersonal Communication

• Increases job success• Improves relationships with

family and friends• Improves academic performance• Self-actualization – becoming the

best you can be

11Chapter 1

Principles of Interpersonal Communication

• It is unavoidable• It is irreversible• It is symbolic• It is rule-

governed• It is learned

12Chapter 1

Principles of Interpersonal Communication

• It has both content and relationship levels– Content level is the information in

the message– Relational level determines how we

interpret the message

13Chapter 1

Myths about Interpersonal Communication

• It solves all problems• It is always a good thing

– Dark side– Bright side

14Chapter 1

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Myths about Interpersonal Communication

• It is common sense• It is synonymous with

interpersonal relationships• It is always face-to-face

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Interpersonal Communication Ethics

• Ethics is a perceived wrongness or rightness of a behavior

16Chapter 1

Five Ethical Systems of Communication

• Categorical imperative - individuals follow moral absolutes (Immanuel Kant)

• Utilitarianism –ethics is bringing the greatest good to the largest number of people (John Stuart Mill)

17Chapter 1

Five Ethical Systems of Communication

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• The golden mean - a person’s moral virtues stand between two vices with the average or the mean being the foundation for a rational society (Aristotle)

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Five Ethical Systems of Communication

• Ethic of Care –means being concerned with and focused on the connection between communicators (Carol Gilligan)

– Female decision making

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Five Ethical Systems of Communication

• Significant Choice –communication is ethical to the extent that communicators can exercise free choice (Thomas Nilsen)

20Chapter 1

Interpersonal Communication Ethics

• Understanding ethics and our own values

• Choices for changing times: competency and civility

21Chapter 1