Summary Comm 315- Exam 1 Study guide

Interpersonal Communication – Comm 315
Christine Steineck, Instructor
Study Guide, Exam 1 (Rev. 8/17)

Chapter 1 – Conceptualizing Relational Communication

 Communication and relationships (symbiosis)
- Symbiotic  two things being interdependent (needing each other)
 Interdependent  not just dependent
- Each simultaneously influencing the other
 Types and Features of Relationships
- Role
 Must share some level of behavioral interdependence
 Not truly interpersonal relationships
 Usually functional, casual, temporary
 Ex: co-worker, waiter at restaurant, taxi driver
- Interpersonal
 Involves two people
 Influencing each other in meaningful ways (influence goes
beyond mundane tasks)
 Having unique interaction patterns
 Having repeated interactions over time
- Close
 Involves features of interpersonal relationships, plus
 Emotional attachment  other person can make us happy
or sad
 Need fulfillment  belonging, caring, nurturing
o Affection – ability to love and be loved by others
 Physical and psychological
o Social inclusion – feeling part of the group
 Safety and survival (linked with self-esteem)
o Behavioral control – need to feel in control of our
lives
 Irreplaceability  other person has a special place in our
lives
 Characteristics of different relationship types
- Voluntary vs. Involuntary
 Can’t choose family (exists despite communication)
 Involuntary
 Can choose friends, romantic partners (develops through
communication)
 Voluntary
- Genetically related vs. Nonrelated
 Who you share your genes with – differentiates biological children
from adopted or stepchildren
 May influence how you communicate with others

,  Tend to be more affectionate with those related to us, rather
than non-relatives
- Sexual vs. Platonic
 Sexual interest or involvement
 “friends with benefits”
 Platonic  intimate and affectionate but not sexual
- Romantic vs. Nonromantic
 3 trajectories
 Acquaintances to romance (traditional)
 Platonic to romantic (friends first, then gained romantic
interest)
 Friends-with-benefits to romance (rare)
- Male vs Female
 Sex – determined by biology
 Gender – determined socially and culturally
 Masculine, feminine, androgynous
 Principles of Interpersonal Communication
- Definition: the exchange of messages between people regardless of their
relationship
- Verbal and Nonverbal
 Interpersonal communication consists of a variety of nonverbal
messages that can be exchanged through different channels,
including face-to-face and computer-mediated channels
 Nonverbal message is as important, if not more so, than the verbal
message
 Especially true of emotional messages  “actions speak
louder than words”
 Nonverbal Behaviors include:
 Kinesics (facial expressions, gestures, etc.)
 Vocalics (pitch, tone, silence)
 Proxemics (space)
 Haptics (touch)
 Appearance and adornment
 Artifacts
 Environmental cues (mood lighting, music)
 Chronemics (time)
 Verbal Behaviors include:
 Self-disclosure (revealing personal information to others)
 Use of formal or informal language
 Verb tenses – present? Future?
- Inevitable
 Virtually impossible NOT to communicate in face-to-face settings
 Almost anything someone does is likely to be interpreted as
meaningful by another person
 Doesn’t mean all actions have meaning
o May go unnoticed or may be ordinary (blinking)