INTERPERSONAL

COMMUNICATION

1. The Definition of Interpersonal Communication

2. Four Principles of Interpersonal Communication
3. Interpersonal Communication Styles
4. The Process of Interpersonal Communication
5. Interpersonal Space
6. Difficult Situations in Interpersonal Communication.
7. The Axioms of Interpersonal Communication
1. THE DEFINITION OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION

 Direct channels are obvious and easily recognized by

the receiver. Both verbal and non-verbal information is
completely controlled by the sender.
 Indirect channels are usually recognized subconsciously
by the receiver, and are not always under direct control
of the sender.
CONTEXT USUALLY REFERS TO SALIENT FACTORS SUCH
AS THE FOLLOWING:

 Physical milieu: the season or weather, current physical

location and environment;
 Situational milieu: classroom, military conflict,
supermarket checkout;
 Cultural and linguistic backgrounds;

 Developmental progress (maturity) or emotional state;

 Complementary or contrasting roles: boss and employee;

teacher and student; parent, child, and spouse; friend or
enemy; partner or competitor.
2. FOUR PRINCIPLES OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION

 1. Interpersonal communication is inescapable.

 2. Interpersonal communication is irreversible.

 3. Interpersonal communication is complicated.

 4. Interpersonal communication is contextual.

WHENEVER WE COMMUNICATE THERE ARE REALLY
AT LEAST SIX "PEOPLE" INVOLVED:

1) who you think you are;

2) who you think the other person is;
3) who you think the other person thinks you are;
4) who the other person thinks he/she is;
5) who the other person thinks you are; and
6) who the other person thinks you think he/she is.
COMMUNICATION DOES NOT HAPPEN
IN ISOLATION. THERE IS:
 Psychological context
 Relational context

 Situational context

 Environmental context

 Cultural context
4. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION IS
CONTEXTUAL.

 Psychological context
 Relational context,

 Situational context

 Environmental context

 Cultural context
3. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION STYLES

 One-way communiсation occurs when the sender

transmits information in the form of direction, without
any expectation of discussion or feedback.
 Two-way communication involves the sharing of
information between two or more parties in a
constructive exchange.
SIX MAIN STYLES OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION
 Controlling style is a form of one-way communication that is used to direct
others and gain their compliance.
 Egalitarian style is a form of two-way communication that involves sharing
information rather than directing behavior. It is used to stimulate others to
express their ideas and opinions in order to reach a mutual understanding.
 Structuring style is used to establish schedules or impose organization. The
structuring style may be necessary to inform others of goals or procedures
when complex tasks must be performed by a group.
 Dynamic style is a high-energy approach that uses inspirational pleas to
motivate another person to take action.
 Relinquishing style is highly receptive to the ideas of others, to the point of
shifting responsibility for communication to the receiver.
 Withdrawal style is more like a lack of communication. Managers using this
style try to avoid using their influence and may indicate a disinterest or
unwillingness to participate in the discussion.
4. THE PROCESS OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION
5. INTERPERSONAL SPACE

The interpersonal interaction includes:

 - a choice of the attitude to another person, an
adjustment to the attitudes of each other;
 - a clear definition of spatial and time boundaries of the
interaction situation, outside of which a chosen attitude
becomes unsuitable;
 -a demonstration of the chosen attitude by using verbal
and non-verbal means of communication.
VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL SPATIAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INTERPERSONAL
INTERACTION
6. DIFFICULT SITUATIONS IN INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION

 1) situations of disapproval or criticism from other

people;
 2) situations of public speech and social activity;

 3) situations of confrontation and expression of

dissatisfaction;
 4) situations of sexual contact;

 5) situations of intimacy in communication;

 6) situations of conflict or reject from the parents;

 7) situations of loss of a dear person or some important

relations.
7. THE AXIOMS OF INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION

 Axiom 1. The impossibility of absence of

communication.
 Axiom 2. Any communication has the content level and
the relation level.
 Axiom 3. The punctuation of the sequence of events.

 Axiom 4. Symmetrical and complementary interaction.

 Axiom 5. Communication can be intentional and

unintentional, efficient and inefficient.
 Axiom 6. Communication is irreversible.