Interpersonal Communication
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Why Communicate?
•Communication:
–Process of conveyingfeelings, attitudes, facts,beliefs, and ideas
–Verbally & nonverbally
–Message intended isreceived
•Impacts relationships
•Six possible messagescan get through when youattempt to communicate
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•Discussion:
–What would others say areyour communicationstrengths? Needs?
–What do you think yourclothes communicate toothers? Hair style? Bodylanguage?
The Communication Process
•Parts of thecommunication process:
–Sender of message
–Receiver of message
–Content of message
•Steps of communication:
–The idea
–Encoding
–Transmission
–Receiving
–Decoding
–Understanding
–Feedback
•Discussion:
–How does “noise” impactyour communicationinteractions?
–How can some “noise” becontrolled?
–How can individuals bemore effective in each stepof communication?
–How can we avoidbreakdowns in thecommunication process?
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One- and Two-WayCommunication
•Two-waycommunication
–Involves feedback
•One-waycommunication
–Passive listening
•Communicationbarriers
•Discussion:
–Think of a recentconversation in whichthere was acommunication barrier.What happened?Could the barrier havebeen avoided? Whatcould you have donedifferently?
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Nonverbal Communication
•Facial expressions andeye contact
•Vocal qualities
•Gestures and other bodymovements
•Touching
•Personal space anddistance
•Physical environment andterritory
•Clothing and personalappearance
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•Discussion:
–What ways does your non-verbal communicationreinforce your verbalcommunication? Replaceit? Contradict it? Give anexample of each frominteractions you have hadthis past week.
Verbal Communication
•Semantics
•Assumptions
•Self-concept
•Emotion-packed phrases
•Discussion:
–How has your self-conceptimpacted your verbalcommunication?
–How have assumptionsimpacted your verbalcommunication?
–Give an example of a timeassumptions or self-concept have negativelyimpacted communicationwith another.
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Gender & Communication
•Men and womenoften use differentstyles incommunication
•Discussion:
–Make a list of the waysand topics that womenoften communicatewith each other(Fashion?Relationships?). Dothe same with men(Sports? Music?).
–How are these listsdifferent? Similar?
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Listening
•Listening is a form ofpaying attention
•Pretending
•Selective listening
•Attentive listening
•Empathetic listening
•Hearing
•Listening
•Discussion:
–Have a two minuteconversation with aclassmate in whichyou practice some ofthe concepts in thissection of the text(pretending, attentivelistening). How dideach feel as alistener? Speaker?
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Barriers to Listening
•Internal psychologicalfilter
•Hidden agenda
•Preoccupation andlack of interest
•Discussion:
–What barriers haveyou noticed in yourcommunication withothers?
–What strategies haveyou used to breakdown these barriers?
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Styles of Responding
•Evaluative or judging
•Criticizing
•Advising
•Interpretative
•Supportive
•Questioning
•Understanding
•Discussion:
–Think of a close friendthat you often sharethings with. Whatstyles of respondinghave you noticed inher or him?
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Active Listening
•Empathetic listening
•Develop a posture ofinvolvement
•Make use of dooropeners
•Keep the otherperson talking withminimalencouragement
•Respond reflectively
•Discussion:
–Reflect on the variousstyles of respondingpresented in the text.Which style ofresponding do youuse? Would yourclose friends agreewith you? Coworkers?Classmates?Significant others?
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Person-to-PersonCommunication
•Qualities ofcommunication:
–genuineness
–Acceptance andrespect of others
–Empathy
•Discussion:
–Is qualitycommunication alwayseasy? Why or whynot?
–What are challengesto being genuine,respectful anddemonstratingempathy?
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