CHAPTER 1 Interpersonal Process Why Study Communication Why

CHAPTER 1 Interpersonal Process

Why Study Communication? Why study an activity that you’ve done your entire life? New look at a familiar topic Increased communication effectiveness

Section 1 Interplay WHY WE COMMUNICATE

Why We Communicate How does communication help to fulfill the following human needs? Physical needs Identity needs Social needs Practical needs

Dark Side of Communication Social needs are represented in research on loneliness and the Internet Connecting with others online can alleviate lonely feelings (Lee et. al, 2013) Preference to connect with others online can lead to problematic Internet use and increased loneliness (Chung, 2013)

Communication & Career Advancement Communication skills are crucial to finding a job Abilities in spoken and written communication rated highly (Supiano, 2013) Interpersonal communication essential for success (Coffelt et al. , 2016) Important in virtually every career

Section 2 Interplay THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS

The Communication Process Communication is about using messages to generate meanings (Korn et al. , 2000) Public speaking Small groups Mass media

Early Models of Communication Early models Linear, one-way event Resembles an archer shooting a message at a target Later models Tennis game: Senders and receivers exchange messages Respond with verbal or nonverbal feedback

Insights from the Transactional Communication Model Sending and receiving are usually simultaneous Meanings exist in and among people Environment and noise affect communication Channels make a difference

Focus on Research: Twitter Communication channels influence messages Research shows that Twitter messages created on a mobile device differ from those created on computers Mobile Tweets more egocentric and negatively worded than computer-generated Tweets

Communication Principles Transactional Mutual influence Interdependent behaviors Uniquely created Intentional or unintentional Irreversible Unrepeatable Content dimension and a relational dimension Which principles are demonstrated in this video?

The Nature of Interpersonal Communication Every exchange has a relational dimension, ranging from highly impersonal to highly interpersonal

Characteristics of Interpersonal Communication Features of interpersonal relationships: Uniqueness Interdependence Self-disclosure Intrinsic rewards

Masspersonal Communication Masspersonal communication characterizes interaction that crosses boundaries between mass and interpersonal contexts

Communication Misconceptions All communication seeks understanding. More communication is always better. Communication will solve all problems. Effective communication is a natural ability.

Section 3 Interplay COMMUNICATION COMPETENCE

Communication Competence Principles of Communication Competence Competent communication: Effective Appropriate No single “ideal” or “effective” way to communicate Competence is situational Competence can be learned

Characteristics of Competent Communication A large repertoire of skills Adaptability Ability to perform skillfully Empathy/perspective taking Cognitive complexity Self-monitoring

Section 4 Interplay SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Social Media and Interpersonal Communication Technology allows for starting and maintaining relationships Social media describes all communication channels that allow: Community-based input Interaction Content-sharing Collaboration Use the textbook quiz to assess your own use of social media

Characteristics of Social Media Leanness Asynchronicity Permanence

Focus on Research: Permanence Some instant messaging services – like Snapchat – are ephemeral Lightweight channel Sharing of spontaneous experiences More enjoyable than other digital platforms More likely to use for flirting and finding love

Social Media and Relational Quality Social media might seem inferior Lacks richness Discourages community Superficial Can be rich and satisfying Increases amount and quality of interpersonal communication Why? Easier, less complicated

Communicating Competently with Social Media Be careful what you post Be considerate Respect others’ need for undivided attention Keep your tone civil Be mindful of bystanders Balance mediated and face-to-face time Embrace Multimodality