Communication Chapter Six Outline Interpersonal Communication 1 The Nature of Communication in Interpersonal Relationships Page 130 143 a What Is Interpersonal Communication Page 130 131 b What are Interpersonal Relationships Page 131 132 i the process of using messages to generate Interpersonal Communication meaning between at least two people in a situation that allows mutual opportunities for both speaking and listening 1 Defined by the context or situation 2 May also be viewed as communication that occurs within interpersonal relationships 3 Each of our interpersonal relationships is unique 4 Interpersonal relationships can be mundane but on the other hand they can also be the sites for spiritual practice and mystical experience i Interpersonal Relationships interdependent who use some consistent patterns of interaction and who have interacted for an extended period of time association between two people who are ii Elements of Interpersonal Relationships 1 Interpersonal relationships include two or more people a Example A dating couple a group of friends 2 Interpersonal relationships involve people who are interdependent a People being mutually dependent on each other and having an impact on each other 3 4 Individuals in interpersonal relationships use some consistent patterns of interaction a These patterns may include behaviors generally understood across a variety of situations Individuals in interpersonal relationships generally have interacted for some time c The Importance of Interpersonal Relationships Page 132 133 i We have three basic interpersonal needs that are satisfied through interaction with others 1 The need for inclusion or becoming involved with others 2 The need for affections or holding fond or tender feelings towards 3 The need for control or having the ability to influence others our another person environment and ourselves ii People mutually satisfy their needs between each other iii Complementary Relationships something the other person or persons lack relationships in which each person supplies 1 Example A popular male and an intelligent female iv Symmetrical Relationships or are highly similar Relationships in which participants mirror each other d The Dark Side of Interpersonal Relationships Page 133 134 i Obsession that includes fatal attraction and jealousy can create negative outcomes results ii Misunderstanding gossip conflict and codependency can lead to harmful iii Abuse in truly harmful and destructive in relationships e Self Disclosure in the Development of Interpersonal Relationships Page 134 137 i Self Disclosure The process of making intentional revelations about yourself the others would be unlikely to know and the generally constitute private sensitive or confidential information ii Self disclosure is voluntary confession is forced or coerced information and revelation is unintentional or inadvertent information iii Why is Self Disclosure Important Page 135 136 1 Self Disclosure allows us to develop a greater understanding of ourselves a The Johari Window Figure 6 1 page 135 i Area One is information that is known to you and other ii Area Two is information that is known to other people iii Area Three is information that is known to you but not but not recognized by you known by other people iv Area Four is information that is not known by you nor people others 1 Quadrants sizes can changes with different people in different scenarios 2 Self Disclosure allows you to develop a more positive view of yourself 3 Self Disclosure allows you to develop more meaningful relationship with and others others a Partners in romantic relationship report a greater feeling of security when self disclosure is honest and intentional 4 Self Disclosure is a powerful form of communication in grieving and in healing a fractured identity 5 Self Disclosure can be negative iv What Factors Affect Appropriate Self Disclosure Page 136 137 1 Disclosure generally increases as relational intimacy increases 2 Disclosure tends to reciprocal a Reciprocal disclosure usually doesn t occur in families Parents don t feel the need to reciprocate nor do adolescents Grandparents usually are targets of self disclosure 3 Negative disclosure is directly related to the intimacy of the relationship however positive disclosure does not necessarily increase as the relationship becomes more intimate 4 Disclosure may be avoided for a variety of reasons a Can be positive or negative 5 Disclosure varies across cultures 6 Disclosure varies across co cultures 7 Relational satisfaction and disclosure are curvilinearly related v The Importance of Friendships in Interpersonal Relationships Page 137 138 1 Friendship is important because it contributes to our well being 2 People with good sibling relationships and same gender friends report the highest levels of well being 3 Emerging adults report that self disclosure is a factor in forming friendships 4 Friendships change over time 5 6 The quality of friendships is affected by other psychological It is believed that friendships improve over time predispositions 7 Rawlins s Six Stage model for how friendships develop a 1 Role Limited Interaction polite and careful with disclosure b 2 Friendly relations occur when the two people realize they share common ground c 3 Moving toward friendship allows them to introduce a personal topic or to set up times together d 4 They think of themselves as friends and begin to establish their own private ways of interacting e 5 The friends feel established in each other s lives f 6 Friendship may move into a waning friendship when the relationship diminishes Not all friendships reach this stage 8 Friendships are maintained differently depending on the intent of the relational partners 9 Friendships are not defined the same way in different cultures vi Cross Cultural Relationships Page 138 139 1 We may feel more tentative in initiating a dialogue with a person from 2 another culture It is best to approach these relationships as a learning opportunity in which both people can learn about each other s culture a Have meaningful person interaction b Maintain equal status Find ways to build interdependence c d Respect individual difference vii The Stages in Interpersonal Relationships Page 139 143 1 Communication and relationship development are symbiotic communication affects the growth of relationships and vice versa 2 Relational Development Page 139 140 a There are ten interaction stages of interpersonal