Interconnections

Interpersonal Communication Foundations and

Contexts

Models of Communication

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Learning Objectives
After you finish reading this chapter, you will
be able to:
• Identify the necessary components of
interpersonal communication.
• Compare different models of communication.
• Explain the key principles of interpersonal
communication.
• Analyze the process of using channels to
communicate in interpersonal relationships.
© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.
Focus Questions
• What are the
different types of
relationships that
people may

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encounter?
• How do people
communicate
across a range of
relationships?
© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.
Interpersonal Communication
Defined
• Interpersonal communication:
 Dyadic (between two people)
 Unique (with a relational partner who one treats
differently than other individuals)
 Relationship allows individuals to predict the
impact of the message

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Linear Model of
Communication (slide 1 of 2)
• Communication flows in one direction, from
sender to receiver.
• Sender encodes the message through a
communication channel.
• Receiver decodes the message, using
context to discover its meaning.

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Linear Model of
Communication (slide 2 of 2)

© Cengage
© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.
 Noise
• Barriers to perceiving
communication. Can
include:
 Physical noise

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(sound)
 Psychological noise
(mental state)
 Physiological noise
(physical state)
 Semantic noise (word
choice)
© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.
Transactional Model of
Communication (slide 1 of 2)
• Two-way communication involving feedback
• Exemplifies the nature of interpersonal
communication
• Creates a communication climate of the
relationship, influencing future interactions

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Transactional Model of
Communication (slide 2 of 2)

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© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.
Foundational Principle 1
Interpersonal messages are omnipresent
• People ascribe meaning to carefully planned
communication and unintentional
messaging.
• Motivations for communication, intentional
and unintentional, are varied.

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Foundational Principle 2
Interpersonal messages follow rules
• Each communicator brings to the interaction
norms, rules, and expectations based on:
 Culture
 Context
 Personal experiences

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Foundational Principle 3
Interpersonal messages contain both
substance and nuance
• Interpersonal messages contain content
information and relational information.
 Content information: the verbal basics of a
message
 Relational information: more context and
understanding for observers

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Foundational Principle 4
Interpersonal messages permanently
impact relationships
• Verbal and nonverbal messages cannot be
taken back once processed by a receiver.
• Messages can change the course of a
relational experience.

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Foundational Principle 5
Interpersonal
messages vary
widely
• Subject to

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interpretation
• Meanings change
over time
• Culture, context,
relationships affect
interpretation © 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.
Interpersonal Communication
Channels

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Face-to-Face Communication
• Allows for the greatest channel richness
 Partners can see, touch, taste, smell, hear the
messages
• Requires greater attention by the
participants
• Happens in real time; most synchronous of
all communication channels

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Video Chatting
• Allows for greater channel richness than the
spoken or written word
• Almost as synchronous as face-to-face
• Drawbacks versus face-to-face:
 Not all nonverbal cues can be picked up
 Off-screen actions may limit immediacy

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Phone Conversations
• Moderate
channel
richness: spoken

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words and tone
of voice
• Relatively
synchronous
• Lower level of
immediacy
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Text Messaging and Email
• One of the least channel-rich mediums;
relying only on the written word
• Text messaging moderately synchronous;
email messaging much less synchronous
• Text messages convey immediacy through
immediate notifications to the recipient

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.

Notes, Letters, and the
Written Word
• Among the least channel-rich forms of
messaging
• Considered asynchronous—messages not
sent or received in a timely fashion, do not
allow for interaction or immediate response
• Most likely to inspire sentimental attachment

© 2019 Cengage. All rights reserved.