Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

Chapter 1 Recap/Lecture Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

Purpose of Interpersonal Communication? • How will we use it? • Personal life? School? Career? • Can it solve problems? • Always positive?

Dark Side vs. Bright Side • Huh? • Knowing difference = example of rules and learned communication practices • Examples of learned communication in your interpersonal communication with others? • Rules you follow in interpersonal communication? • With friends? • With parents? • With professors?

What is Interpersonal Communication? • 3 part definition: process, message exchange, meaning • Same as intrapersonal? • Same as interpersonal relationship? • Avoidable? • Irreversible? • Symbolic? • Can happen via technology? • Examples?

Case 1 = Interpersonal Communication? • Rhonda is walking through Kroger. She forgot to write a list so she is having a hard time remembering what she needs. She stops in the frozen food section and thinks to herself, “Do I have any french fries?” No—this is an example of INTRAPERSONAL because it is a conversation with self

Case 2 = Interpersonal Communication? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IbptNvOj30 YES—The husband and wife are communicating interpersonally; remember, several definitions explain how interpersonal communicating usually occurs between two individuals and involves sharing information, emotions, etc.

Case 4 = Interpersonal Communication? • The starting five of a basketball team meet at a local pizzeria to review the strategy for the next game No; although it is a small group, the basketball players are coming together to work on a specific “project” and not solely to socialize/get to know each other. This is an example of small group communication

Case 5 = Interpersonal Communication? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZHabApvKm0 N0—this is a mix of public communication and mass communication. Wendy is speaking to her audience in the studio (public) as well as her audience via television (mass)

Case 6 = Interpersonal Communication? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5gsKQd5pHg Yes—although Melissa is very hostile towards Stu, and although he is lying, they are engaging in interpersonal communication. Could this be an example of the Dark side of interpersonal communication?

Case 7 – Interpersonal Communication? • Dr. Goldman lecturing to her Intro to Interpersonal Communication Class with 100 students No—this would be an example of public communication. Dr. Goldman is speaking to a larger audience.

Models of Communication • Linear Model (Shannon and Weaver) – p. 9 • Critiques? Do you agree? • Interactional Model (Schramm) – p. 13 • Introduced “feedback” • Critiques? Do you agree? • Transactional Model (Barnlund; Watzlawick, Beavin, & Jackson) p. 13 • Introduced “shared field of experience” • Critiques?

Shared Elements of Models • Communicators (senders and receivers) • Message • Channel • Context (physical, cultural, socio-emotional, historical) • Noise • Physical/external noise • Physiological (biological influences) • Psychological/internal noise • Semantic (different meanings)

What type of Noise? • Shawn and Corey are walking down the street talking; they walk past a construction site and have to yell • Will tries to tell Shannon about the surgery he did today, but Shannon doesn’t do well with that type of information. While he is talking, she tries to think of a way to kindly ask him to stop • Casey’s boss is having a conversation with her about a baseball game he went to, but she has no idea what he is talking about—the words that he is using are unfamiliar

Examples in Our Lecture? • Who are the communicators? Senders? Receivers? • Messages? • Channels? • Physical Context? • Cultural Context? • Physical Noise? • Psychological Noise? • Feedback?

Scenario • Kelly and her mother are in the car, driving to the mall. They have a conversation about the dress that Kelly hopes to find for her senior prom. In the middle of the conversation, Kelly starts texting her best friend, Candice. Kelly’s mom fusses at her for not paying attention to the conversation they were having. Kelly tries to explain to her mom that she can multitask when it comes to communication. • Is this an example of interpersonal communication? • Who is Kelly communicating interpersonally with in this scenario? • Is there any type of noise involved? • What is the context? (consider physical and socio-emotional)

Continuum of Interpersonal Communication • (Miller and Steinberg) p. 15 • Impersonal vs. Interpersonal • Relational history • Relational rules • Relational uniqueness Example of these three categories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa9wfqYyw7U

Examining your communication • Think about your best friend. What is an example of your: • Relational history • Relational rules • Relational uniqueness

Analyzing a Conversation • Watch clip; based on what you read in Chapter 1, what stands out? • Linear or transactional? • Any shared experience? Attempts to create it? • Socio-emotional context? • What are her nonverbals saying? • Impersonal or interpersonal? • Relational history • Relational rules? • Relational uniqueness? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8or21Vq0IE (16:08 Mark)

Second clip? • Linear or transactional? • Any shared experience? Attempts to create it? • Socio-emotional context? • What are her nonverbals saying? • Impersonal or interpersonal? • Relational History? • Relational Rules? • Relational Uniqueness? • “…I can’t be married. Especially to some tooth picking four eyes” • Content level vs. Relationship level

Application Exercise #1 • Perceptions (Part 1): • Talk with two of your close friends. Ask about their perceptions of you now. Ask how it compares to their perceptions when you two first met. • We will compare these responses to the responses from your classmates (to understand the role of relational history, relational uniqueness, and relational rules) • Format: 1 Paragraphs or list for each friend • Due: Wednesday, May 28th (see syllabus for additional assignments and information)

Introduction to Interpersonal Communication