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Chapter 1: A First Look at Interpersonal Communication

Key Concepts
content meaning metacommunication

dual perspective model

ethics monitoring

feedback noise

I-It communication person-centeredness

interactive models process

interpersonal communication relationship meaning

interpersonal communication competence symbols

I-Thou communication systemic

I-You communication transactional model

linear models

Chapter Outline

I. Defining Interpersonal Communication

A. Interpersonal communication is not defined by the number of people in the interaction or the
context in which the communication occurs.

B. Buber (1970) identified three levels of communication can be placed along a continuum from
impersonal to interpersonal:

1. I-It communication occurs when we treat others like objects or non-humans.

2. I-You communication occurs when we recognize the other as a person and treat her
or him based upon a social role he or she occupies.

3. I-Thou communication occurs when we recognize and understand an individual’s

unique characteristics as well as open ourselves completely to this person.

C. Interpersonal communication can be defined as a selective, systemic process that allows

people to reflect and build personal knowledge of one another and create shared meanings.

1. Selective – responding to specific receiver(s)

2. Systematic – takes place within various systems or contexts

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a. All systems include noise, which is anything that distorts communication or

interferes with people’s understandings of one another.

b. Four types of noise are physiological noise, physical noise, psychological

noise, and semantic noise.

3. Process – an ongoing, continual process that evolves over time, becoming more
personal as people interact.

4. Personal Knowledge – Each interpersonal relationship is unique, with its own

distinctive patterns, rhythms, and vocabulary. As the relationship deepens, the parties
build trust and learn to communicate in ways that make each other feel comfortable
and safe.

5. Meaning Creating - Attaching meanings to the words we exchange requires

knowledge of the other person and the relationship in which we are engaged.

a. Content meanings are literal or denotative.

b. Relational meanings are what communication expresses about relationship

between communicators.

II. Models of Interpersonal Communication

A. Models help us understand the historical roots from which our current views of
communication grew.

1. Linear models treated communication as a one-way process in which one person

transmitted a message to another person.

a. Laswell’s (1948) model answered the following five questions: Who? Says
what? In what channel? To whom? With what effect?

b. Shannon and Weaver’s model added the feature of noise, which is anything
that interferes with communication

c. However, linear models had serious shortcomings.

1. They portrayed communication as flowing in only one direction, from

sender to passive receiver.

2. They represented communication as a series of sequential actions

that failed to account for the fact that participants simultaneously send
and receive messages and adapt to one another.

2. Interactive models addressed the "listeners as passive recipients" weakness in linear

models by adding feedback to the communication process.
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3. Transactional models recognize the dynamic (changing) nature of communication and

the multiple roles people assume during the process.

B. The Interpersonal Imperative

1. Psychologist William Schutz (1966) developed interpersonal needs theory, which

asserts that we create and sustain relationships to meet three basic needs:

a. affection - desire to give and receive love and liking

b. inclusion - the desire to be social and to be included in groups

c. control - a desire to influence the people and events in our lives

C. Abraham Maslow expanded on Shutz’s ideas, proposing that we communicate to meet a

range of human needs.

1. Physical needs help us survive.

2. Safety needs protect us from harm.

3. Belonging needs connect us to others.

4. Self-esteem needs help us feel valued and respected by others.

5. Self-actualization needs reflect our drive to reach our fullest individual potential.

D. Participating in a socially-diverse world enhances our understanding of people whose

backgrounds differ from our own.

III. Principles of Interpersonal Communication

A. Principle 1: We cannot NOT communicate.

B. Principle 2: Interpersonal Communication Is Irreversible

C. Principle 3: Interpersonal Communication Involves Ethical Choices

D. Principle 4: People Construct Meanings in Interpersonal Communication

E. Principle 5: Metacommunication Affects Meanings

F. Principle 6: Interpersonal Communication Develops and Sustains Relationships

G. Principle 7: Interpersonal Communication Is Not a Panacea

H. Principle 8: Interpersonal Communication Effectiveness Can Be Learned

IV. Social Media in Everyday Life

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A. Social media influences the process, contexts, and meanings of interpersonal communication

B. Social media help us communicate to meet needs

C. The eight principles of interpersonal communication also apply to online and digital
interaction.

D. The use of social media requires us to make ethical choices.

V. Guidelines for Interpersonal Communication competence

A. Communication competence is the ability to communicate effectively, appropriately, and

ethically.

B. No single style of communication is best in all circumstances, with all people, or for pursuing
all goals.

C. Five important skills are closely tied to interpersonal communication competence:

1. Developing a range of communication skills

a. We must learn a variety of behaviors and when each set of behaviors is most
appropriate.

2. Adapting communication appropriately

a. When individuals appropriately adapt their communication, they are sensitive

to goals, contexts, and other people.

3. Engaging in dual perspective

a. By engaging in dual perspective, we can see not only our view of the
interaction, but also the other person’s/people’s view of self, the situation, and
thoughts or feelings in an ethical manner.

4. Monitoring communication

a. Monitoring our communication involves observing and regulating how we

communicate with others both before and during our interactions.

5. Committing to effective and ethical communication.

a. We must commit the time and energy necessary to practice effective and
ethical interpersonal communication in our relationships.