User:RhijhayeR/Interpersonal communication

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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.

History[edit]

The detailed study of interpersonal communication dates back to the 1970s and was formalized based on aspects of communication that preceded it. Aspects of communication such as rhetoric, persuasion, and dialogue have become a part of interpersonal communication.[8] As writing and language styles developed, humans found ways to transfer messages. Interpersonal communication was one such way. In a world where technologies were not available to communicate, humans used pictures and carvings, which later developed into words and expressions. Interpersonal communication is now seen in a more dyadic way; finding face-to-face interaction as a more distinct form. [9]The dynamics of interpersonal communication began to shift at the break of the Industrial Revolution. The evolution of interpersonal communication is multifaceted and aligns with technological advancements, societal changes, and theories.

Traditionally, interpersonal communication is grounded in face-to-face communication between people. As technology changed, the interpersonal communication style adapted from face-to-face interaction to a mediated component. [9] The tools added over the years include the telegraph, telephone, and several media sites facilitating communication. Later in the article, the impacts of media on interpersonal communication are discussed.[8] Interpersonal communication over the years has been aimed at forming relationships and ending relationships. [8]The world has become more reliant on a mediated form of communication, which in turn has become a part of interpersonal communication as it has become an avenue in which most humans have decided to communicate. While this form is not traditional to interpersonal communication, it does fit the cities within the definition of interpersonal communication, which is the exchange between two or more people. [9]

Culture and Gender[edit]

Culture[edit]

Culture is a human concept that encompasses the beliefs, values, attitudes, and customs of groups of people.[10] It is important in communication because of the help it provides in transmitting complex ideas, feelings, and specific situations from one person to another.[11] Culture influences an individual's thoughts, feelings and actions, and therefore affects communication.[12] The more difference there is between the cultural backgrounds of two people, the more different their styles of communication will be.[13] Therefore, it is important to be aware of a person's background, ideas and beliefs and consider their social, economic and political positions before attempting to decode the message accurately and respond appropriately.[14][15] Five major elements related to culture affect the communication process:[16]

  1. Cultural history
  2. Religion
  3. Value (personal and cultural)
  4. Social organization
  5. Language

Communication between cultures may occur through verbal communication or nonverbal communication. Culture influences verbal communication in a variety of ways, particularly by imposing language barriers.[17] Each individual has their own languages, beliefs and values that must be considered.[18] Factors influencing nonverbal communication include the different roles of eye contact in different cultures.[18] Touching as a form of greeting may be perceived as impolite in some cultures, but normal in others.[19] Acknowledging and understanding these cultural differences improves communication.[20]

Gender[edit]

Gender is considered to be a socially and culturally constructed role assigned to an individual based on their perceived sex. Gender is the behavioral, cultural, or emotional traits typically associated with one's sex. [21]These perceptions and roles humans are assigned and characterized by may impact the expectations of their interpersonal communication and how they choose to display themselves when communicating. How men or women may communicate can stem from how they have developed based on cultural and societal factors, as there are distinctive factors in which men and women are characterized. Society and culture have placed certain expectations on men and women about how they communicate. Society tends to place men in a more assertive and dominant role.[22] This expectation of a dominant nature is also related to men being associated with a lack of emotions. Conversely, women are expected to be more empathic with their communication style to create relationships. A crucial part of interpersonal communication is being able to talk and listen. Society expects men to communicate with a goal-oriented approach, which may negatively impact their effectiveness in active listening. At the same time, women are expected to be more supportive in their interactions. These suggested traits could be stereotypes or generalizations that exist. However, research has found that both diverge from and converge with these stereotypes and generalizations. A study of faculty members compares communication between male and female faculty members. The study found that male faculty were more talkative during the meetings and assertive when making their points. This study does diverge from the stereotype of women being considered the more talkative gender. At the same time, it converges with the generalization that men are more assertive when communicating.[9][22]

Regardless of expectations, some people will reflect, and some will reshape the expectations to fit their social and family interactions as shifts in ideological and societal values change.

Interpersonal Communication and Social Media[edit]

The rise of social media has impacted communication as a whole.  In this age of technology, Communication intended to feel so personal can seem impersonal. Social media can significantly affect how interpersonal communication occurs. Several social media platforms aim to enhance our communication by escaping geographical barriers.[2] Researchers have identified both positive and negative impacts of mediated forms of interpersonal communication:

  • Misinterpretation: Without a physical face-to-face interaction, miscommunication can frequently occur when communicating through a mediated medium. Messages are sent verbally and non-verbally when using interpersonal communication—discerning one's attitudes when it is more complicated due to the lack of feedback and expressions.  Facial expression, a vital part of interpersonal communication as a support for verbal communication, is replaced in this form and reflected through emojis, acronyms, etc. [9] Most of the non-verbal aspects, such as eye contact and posture, cannot be seen through the mediated forum; hence, some feedback is lost regarding our interest level. Usually, when someone is making eye contact, it shows a level of interest in the meditated format. Individuals may instead look at the pacing of the reply to suggest interest, which now does not factor in that life continues to happen around them; hence, there could be several reasons why the lines of communication could affect and not just that they may not be interested which could lead to miscommunication in the future.[23][9]
  • Relationship Enhancements: There are different modalities in which humans have developed to communicate. Communication is critical to letting the communicator know how to respond to a message. It is foundational to understand and interpret how a message has been received. Social media does entail aspects of feedback, and we have worked in recent years to develop these forms of feedback through quick reply suggestions to keep the conversations going without a physical presence. Through this, social media has created an avenue in which people over extended geographical distances can still engage in interpersonal communication and continue the development of relationships.
  • Decision Making: Research found that social media and interpersonal communication are equally likely to impact one's perceptions. Both social media and interpersonal communication impact decision-making. Interpersonal communication takes a more personal approach, which helps to evoke trust. Social media takes a more diverse approach to the information provided, and sources depend on interactions. Social media provides a medium to see several viewpoints at the same time. Having multiple perspectives helps individuals find or formulate their perception of what is true. It will also allow individuals the opportunity to voice their opinions. Conversely, in an interpersonal setting, the ability to voice an opinion or formulate a decision may be more challenging with a limited pool of information.  A study into the impact of social media and interpersonal communication on one's environmental perceptions found that both could influence the perceptions equally, and people could link both social media as a form of reinforcement to interpersonal communication.[24][25]


Social media acts as an avenue for interpersonal communication. Some aspects of the communication form are altered to fit the technological space and make the space feel as personal as possible.

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References[edit]

  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. ^ a b 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.
  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.
  8. ^ a b c Edward, Craighead; Nemeroff, Charles (2004). Concise Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science (3rd ed.). Wiley.
  9. ^ a b c d e f McCornack, Steven; Ortiz, Joseph (2022). Choices & Connections: An Introduction to Communication. Bedford/St. Martin's.
  10. ^ Samovar, L.A. Porter, R.E. McDaniel, E.R. (2009). Communication Between Cultures. Boston, MA: Wadsworth CENGAGE Learning.
  11. ^ Fleischer, S.; Berg, A.; Zimmermann, M.; Wüste, K.; Behrens, J. (2009). "Nurse-patient interaction and communication: A systematic literature review". Journal of Public Health. 17 (5): 339–353. doi:10.1007/s10389-008-0238-1. S2CID 40220721.
  12. ^ Intercultural communication: A contextual approach (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage
  13. ^ Corbin, C. White, D. (2008). "Interpersonal Communication: A Cultural Approach." Sydney, NS. Cape Breton University Press
  14. ^ Smith, L. S. (2014). "Reaching for cultural competence". Plastic Surgical Nursing. 34 (3): 120–126. doi:10.1097/PSN.0000000000000059. PMID 25188850.
  15. ^ Bourque Bearskin, R. L. (2011). "A critical lens on culture in nursing practice". Nursing Ethics. 18 (4): 548–559. doi:10.1177/0969733011408048. PMID 21673120.
  16. ^ Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., & McDaniel, E. R. (2010). Communication between cultures. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, c2010
  17. ^ Neuliep, J. (2009). Intercultural communication: A contextual approach (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage
  18. ^ a b Corbin, C. White, D. (2008). "Interpersonal Communication: A Cultural Approach." Sydney, NS. Cape Breton University Press
  19. ^ Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., & McDaniel, E. R. (2010). Communication between cultures. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, c2010
  20. ^ Muñoz, C. C., & Luckmann, J. (2005). Transcultural communication in nursing. Clifton Park, NY : Thomson/Delmar Learning, c2005.
  21. ^ "Definition of GENDER". www.merriam-webster.com. 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  22. ^ a b Lewis, Marilyn (Feb 2014). "Book review: Leila Monaghan, Jane E Goodman and Jennifer Meta Robinson (eds), A Cultural Approach to Interpersonal Communication: Essential Readings". Discourse Studies. 16 (1): 115–117. doi:10.1177/1461445613510812d. ISSN 1461-4456.
  23. ^ Antos, Gerd; Ventola, Eija; Weber, Tilo, eds. (2008-10-20). Handbook of Interpersonal Communication. Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-018830-1.
  24. ^ Han, Ruixia; Xu, Jian (March 2023). "A Comparative Study of the Role of Interpersonal Communication, Traditional Media and Social Media in Pro-Environmental Behavior: A China-Based Study". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17 (6): 1883. doi:10.3390/ijerph17061883. ISSN 1661-7827. PMC 7142584. PMID 32183217.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  25. ^ Calista, Yasmine; Yenni, Siswantini (15 September 2023). "The Impact of Social Media on Climate Change Perceptions: A Case Study of Indonesian Gen-Z". International Conference of Biospheric Harmony Advanced Research. 5rh (01052): 8.
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