Interpersonal communication

Stylized cartoon of a chihombe scowling man hunched over a desk, glaring at a smaller figure who is jumping back in surprise and fright; above both figures are the words "MORE COURTESY"
Poster promoting better interpersonal communication in the workplace, late 1930s–early 1940s (Work Projects Administration Poster Collection, Library of Congress)

Interpersonal communication is an exchange of information between two or more people.[1] It is also an area of research that seeks to understand how humans use verbal and nonverbal cues to accomplish several personal and relational goals.[1] Communication includes utilizing communication skills within one's surroundings, including physical and psychological spaces. It is essential to see the visual/nonverbal and verbal cues regarding the physical spaces. In the psychological spaces, self-awareness and awareness of the emotions, cultures, and things that are not seen are also significant when communicating.[2]

Interpersonal communication research addresses at least six categories of inquiry: 1) how humans adjust and adapt their verbal communication and nonverbal communication during face-to-face communication; 2) how messages are produced; 3) how uncertainty influences behavior and information-management strategies; 4) deceptive communication; 5) relational dialectics; and 6) social interactions that are mediated by technology.[3]

There is considerable variety in how this area of study is conceptually and operationally defined.[4] Researchers in interpersonal communication come from many different research paradigms and theoretical traditions, adding to the complexity of the field.[5][6] Interpersonal communication is often defined as communication that takes place between people who are interdependent and have some knowledge of each other: for example, communication between a son and his father, an employer and an employee, two sisters, a teacher and a student, two lovers, two friends, and so on.

Although interpersonal communication is most often between pairs of individuals, it can also be extended to include small intimate groups such as the family. Interpersonal communication can take place in face-to-face settings, as well as through platforms such as social media.[7] The study of interpersonal communication addresses a variety of elements and uses both quantitative/social scientific methods and qualitative methods.

There is growing interest in biological and physiological perspectives on interpersonal communication. Some of the concepts explored are personality, knowledge structures and social interaction, language, nonverbal signals, emotional experience and expression, supportive communication, social networks and the life of relationships, influence, conflict, computer-mediated communication, interpersonal skills, interpersonal communication in the workplace, intercultural perspectives on interpersonal communication, escalation and de-escalation of romantic or platonic relationships, family relationships, and communication across the life span. Factors such as one's self-concept and perception do have an impact on how humans choose to communicate. Factors such as gender and culture also affect interpersonal communication.

  1. ^ a b Berger, Charles R. (2008). "Interpersonal communication". In Wolfgang Donsbach (ed.). The International Encyclopedia of Communication. New York, New York: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 3671–3682. ISBN 978-1-4051-3199-5.
  2. ^ Watson, James; Hill, Anne (2015). Dictionary of Media and Communication Studies (9th ed.). Bloomsbury.
  3. ^ Berger, Charles R. (2005-09-01). "Interpersonal communication: Theoretical perspectives, future prospects". Journal of Communication. 55 (3): 415–447. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2005.tb02680.x. ISSN 1460-2466. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  4. ^ Knapp & Daly, 2011)
  5. ^ Bylund, Carma L.; Peterson, Emily B.; Cameron, Kenzie A. (2012). "A practitioner's guide to interpersonal communication theory: An overview and exploration of selected theories". Patient Education and Counseling. 87 (3): 261–267. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2011.10.006. ISSN 0738-3991. PMC 3297682. PMID 22112396.
  6. ^ Manning, J. (2014). "A Constitutive Approach to Interpersonal Communication Studies". Communication Studies. 65 (4): 432–440. doi:10.1080/10510974.2014.927294. S2CID 144637097.
  7. ^ "Foundations of interpersonal communication (from Part I: Preliminaries to Interpersonal Messages)" (PDF). Interpersonal Messages. Pearson. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2015.