Human CommunicationTHIRD EDITION

◄ Judy C. Pearson Paul E. Nelson Scott Titsworth Lynn Harter ►

C H A P T E R

Interpersonal Communication:Couples, Teams, Cultures

S I X

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 2Chapter 6 Objectives

• Define interpersonal relationships & interpersonal communication

• Explain the importance of interpersonal relationships

• Describe the dark side of interpersonal relationships

• Explain the importance of friendship

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 3Chapter 6 Objectives

• Explain the three stages in interpersonal relationships

• Understand how to maintain positive relationships

• List motivations for terminating relationships

• Name four essential interpersonal communication behaviors

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 4What is Interpersonal Communication?

The process of using messages to generate

meaning between at least two people in a situation that

allows mutual opportunities for both speaking and

listening

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 5What is Interpersonal Communication?

Communication that occurs within interpersonal

relationships

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 6Interpersonal v. Impersonal Relationships

• Interpersonal– Make predictions

based on information about the other specific person

– Use knowledge of the other as a unique person as the basis for the interaction

• Impersonal– Make guesses about

the conversation based on sociological or cultural information

– Use general social interaction rules as the basis for the interaction

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 7What are Interpersonal Relationships?

Associations between two people who are

interdependent, who use some consistent patterns of interaction, and who have interacted for an extended

period of time

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 8The Importance of Interpersonal Relationships

• The need for inclusion

• The need for affection

• The need for control

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 9The Importance of Interpersonal Relationships

• Some relationships are complementary relationships

• Some relationships are symmetrical relationships

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄10The Dark Side of Interpersonal Relationships

• Obsession• Misunderstanding• Gossip• Conflict• Codependency• Abuse

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄11What is Self-Disclosure?

The process of making intentional revelations about oneself that others would be

unlikely to know and that generally constitute private,

sensitive, or confidential information

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄12Why is Self-Disclosure Important?

• Allows us to develop a greater understanding of ourselves

IOpen area

IIBlind area

IIIHidden

area

IVUnknown

area

Known to self

Not known to self

Not known to others

Known to others

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄13Why is Self-Disclosure Important?

• Allows us to develop a greater understanding of ourselves

• Allows us to develop a more positive attitude about ourselves and others

• Allows us to establish more meaningful relationships with others

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄14Factors Affecting Appropriate Self-Disclosure

• Disclosure generally increases as relational intimacy increases

• Disclosure tends to be reciprocal

• Negative disclosure is directly related to relational intimacy

• Disclosure may sometimes be avoided

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄15Factors Affecting Appropriate Self-Disclosure

• Self-disclosure varies across cultures

• Self-disclosure varies by co-cultures

• Relational satisfaction and disclosure are curvilinearly related

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄16Friendships are Essential Interpersonal Relationships

• Contribute to our well-being

• Can be based on shared activities or level of information shared

• Change over time

• Are perceived to improve as we develop

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄17Friendships are Essential Interpersonal Relationships

• Friendships are affected by psychological predispositions

• Six stage model for development (Rawlins, 1992)

• Maintenance depends on intent of the relational partners

• Cultural differences in how friendships are defined

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄18Developing Cross-Cultural Relationships

• Have meaningful personal interaction

• Maintain equal status

• Find ways to build interdependence

• Respect individual differences

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄19The Stages in Interpersonal Relationships

• Relational Development – the process by which relationships grow– Initiating

– Experimenting

– Intensifying

– Integrating

– Bonding

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄20The Stages in Interpersonal Relationships

• Relational Maintenance – the process of keeping a relationship together– Three dialectics

• Integration/Separation• Stability/Change• Expression/Privacy

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄21The Stages in Interpersonal Relationships

• Relational Deterioration – the process by which relationships deteriorate– Differentiating– Circumscribing– Stagnating– Avoiding– Terminating

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄22Motivations for Initiating Relationships

• Proximity

• Attractiveness

• Responsiveness

• Similarity

• Complementarity

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄23Maintaining Relationships

• Co-cultural differences affect how and why we maintain relationships

• The way we communicate affects how we maintain relationships

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄24Terminating Relationships

• Hurtful messages

• Deceptive communication

• Aggressiveness

• Argumentativeness

• Defensiveness

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄25Essential Interpersonal Communication Behaviors

• Affectionate and supportive communication

• Influencing others– Compliance-gaining– Compliance-resisting

• Developing a unique relationship– Personal idioms– Rituals

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄26Improving Interpersonal Communication

• Bargaining

• Commit to learn a variety of communication skills

• Demonstrate behavioral flexibility