CMN 230 Exam 1
Four reasons to study interpersonal communication
1. it is a skill you do everyday
2. to improve your relationships
3. to be more successful in your career
4. to have better health
Definition of Interpersonal Communication. Communication that occurs between two people
within the context of their relationship and that, as it evolves, helps them to negotiate and define
their relationship.
5 principles of interpersonal communication
1. purposeful - communicate with a goal in mind
2. transactional - each person gives/gets something
3. relational - defines/ affects the relationship
4. irreversible - can't change the message
5. synchronous (happening in real time. ex: face to face or phone call) OR asynchronous
(happening in delayed time. ex: a letter or voicemail)
4 myths of interpersonal communication
1. the goal of all communication is to seek understanding
2. more communication is always better
3. meaning is in words (it is actually in people)
4. it is a natural ability
5 stages of coming together
1. Initiating - awkward and must go well for the relationship to continue
2. Experimenting - searching for common ground (small talk)
3. Intensifying - spending time together intentionally (butterflies) can't move too fast
4. Integrating - doing things with each other. Sharing friends or a schedule.
5. Bonding - formal gesture (wedding) people usually don't get to this stage
5 stages of coming apart
1. Differentiating - becoming yourself again/focusing on what makes you different
2. Circumscribing - communication decreases in quality and quantity
3. Stagnating - going through the motions without your heart in it
4. Avoiding - being together is so awkward that people prefer to be alone
5. Terminating - the end of its current form. could be fast or drawn out
Interpersonal Goal a state that an individual wants to achieve that is linked to another person's
behavior
Types of Interpersonal goals
, 1. Instrumental - tangible favor we try to get others to do for us. Ex: borrowing money or asking
for a ride
2. Relational - changing the status of your relationship with someone Ex: making a friends,
asking for a date or breaking up
3. Self-Presentational - framed around the image we want to project to others. Ex. Wanting to be
the life of the parting or trying to appear smart in class
Principles of Interpersonal Goals
1. Differ in clarity - wanting your roommate to be less messy vs wanting your roommate to take
out the trash on Saturdays.
2. Vary in difficulty
3. People pursue multiple interpersonal goals at the same time
4. differ in urgency - we let the long-term goals slide usually
5. prompt plans for action – always.
Interpersonal Needs
1. Inclusion
2. Control
3. Affection
Interpersonal Needs in Human Development
1. Childhood - children depend on other people for all of their needs to be met.
2. Adolescence - want to be in control but don't have enough maturity. Or reverse. teenagers can
be happy to sit back and let their parents’ do everything but they eventually need to learn to have
control over their lives. Inclusion can be a problem with cliques. Teenage years can be hard
while trying to figure out how to get your needs met.
3. Early/Middle Adulthood - life dissatisfaction if needs are not being met. Need a lifelong
partners and children. Introducing an infant and need to fill all of their needs.
4. Later Adulthood - Have more time to maintain relationships. Health issues could limit their
ability to be included, have control., and give/receive affections. Can be resentful their needs are
not met
Interpersonal Wants
1. Psychical Appearance
2. Similarity
3. More rewards than costs
4. Reciprocal Liking
3 Dimensions of culture that affect interpersonal communication
1. Individualism (US, Canada, Australia, France, Sweden, Italy) VS Collectivism (Peru, China,
Costa Rica, Pakistan, Saudia Arabia)
2. High-Context (not wanting to upset people = China, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Saudia Arabia)
VS Low-Context (known as rude = Denmark, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, US)
3. High Tolerance (go with the flow = Hong Kong, Jamaica, New Zealand) VS Low Tolerance
(need to know what is going on all the time = Argentina, Chile, Japan, France, Portugal, Spain)
Four reasons to study interpersonal communication
1. it is a skill you do everyday
2. to improve your relationships
3. to be more successful in your career
4. to have better health
Definition of Interpersonal Communication. Communication that occurs between two people
within the context of their relationship and that, as it evolves, helps them to negotiate and define
their relationship.
5 principles of interpersonal communication
1. purposeful - communicate with a goal in mind
2. transactional - each person gives/gets something
3. relational - defines/ affects the relationship
4. irreversible - can't change the message
5. synchronous (happening in real time. ex: face to face or phone call) OR asynchronous
(happening in delayed time. ex: a letter or voicemail)
4 myths of interpersonal communication
1. the goal of all communication is to seek understanding
2. more communication is always better
3. meaning is in words (it is actually in people)
4. it is a natural ability
5 stages of coming together
1. Initiating - awkward and must go well for the relationship to continue
2. Experimenting - searching for common ground (small talk)
3. Intensifying - spending time together intentionally (butterflies) can't move too fast
4. Integrating - doing things with each other. Sharing friends or a schedule.
5. Bonding - formal gesture (wedding) people usually don't get to this stage
5 stages of coming apart
1. Differentiating - becoming yourself again/focusing on what makes you different
2. Circumscribing - communication decreases in quality and quantity
3. Stagnating - going through the motions without your heart in it
4. Avoiding - being together is so awkward that people prefer to be alone
5. Terminating - the end of its current form. could be fast or drawn out
Interpersonal Goal a state that an individual wants to achieve that is linked to another person's
behavior
Types of Interpersonal goals
, 1. Instrumental - tangible favor we try to get others to do for us. Ex: borrowing money or asking
for a ride
2. Relational - changing the status of your relationship with someone Ex: making a friends,
asking for a date or breaking up
3. Self-Presentational - framed around the image we want to project to others. Ex. Wanting to be
the life of the parting or trying to appear smart in class
Principles of Interpersonal Goals
1. Differ in clarity - wanting your roommate to be less messy vs wanting your roommate to take
out the trash on Saturdays.
2. Vary in difficulty
3. People pursue multiple interpersonal goals at the same time
4. differ in urgency - we let the long-term goals slide usually
5. prompt plans for action – always.
Interpersonal Needs
1. Inclusion
2. Control
3. Affection
Interpersonal Needs in Human Development
1. Childhood - children depend on other people for all of their needs to be met.
2. Adolescence - want to be in control but don't have enough maturity. Or reverse. teenagers can
be happy to sit back and let their parents’ do everything but they eventually need to learn to have
control over their lives. Inclusion can be a problem with cliques. Teenage years can be hard
while trying to figure out how to get your needs met.
3. Early/Middle Adulthood - life dissatisfaction if needs are not being met. Need a lifelong
partners and children. Introducing an infant and need to fill all of their needs.
4. Later Adulthood - Have more time to maintain relationships. Health issues could limit their
ability to be included, have control., and give/receive affections. Can be resentful their needs are
not met
Interpersonal Wants
1. Psychical Appearance
2. Similarity
3. More rewards than costs
4. Reciprocal Liking
3 Dimensions of culture that affect interpersonal communication
1. Individualism (US, Canada, Australia, France, Sweden, Italy) VS Collectivism (Peru, China,
Costa Rica, Pakistan, Saudia Arabia)
2. High-Context (not wanting to upset people = China, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Saudia Arabia)
VS Low-Context (known as rude = Denmark, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, US)
3. High Tolerance (go with the flow = Hong Kong, Jamaica, New Zealand) VS Low Tolerance
(need to know what is going on all the time = Argentina, Chile, Japan, France, Portugal, Spain)
