1 - Types, Interpersonal/Relational Communication and Minicultures Flashcards
Define: Interpersonal communication
Principle 1
- Interpersonal communication consists of a variety of verbal and non-verbal messages
- Messages can be exchanged through different channels; face to face and computer mediated (CMC)
Define: Interpersonal communication
Principle 1 - Non-verbal behaviours
Non-verbal behaviours:
- Kinesics
- Vocalics
- Proxemics
- Haptics
- Appearance and adornment
- Artefacts and environmental cues
- Chronemics
Examples: Interpersonal communication
Principle 1
x 5
Proxemics - closeness and space; sitting in a restaurant at a small table for two signifies intimacy
Vocalics - sounds; a stern tone indicates anger or disappointment, crying indicates upset or happiness
Haptics - touch; couple holding hands or cuddling signifies intimacy and closeness
Environmental cues - objects, lighting and music; making dinner for a loved one with candles and their favourite music shows care
Chronemics - use of time; being late may show a disregard for someone or disrespect
Define: Interpersonal communication
Principle 2
- Communication as inevitable; it is impossible to not communicate
- Everything we do has a message value
- A person must send a message intentionally OR it must be perceived by a receiver and they assign meaning to the behaviour
Examples: Interpersonal communication
Principle 2
Face to face and CMC
Face to face - a neutral face can be perceived as boredom or anger (eg. resting bitch face)
CMC - If you don’t reply to messages friends may perceive this as something being wrong or you being annoyed with them; your phone may just be broken
Define: Interpersonal communication
Principle 3
1, 2a-c and 3
- People use interpersonal communication to fulfil goals
- Self-presentational goals
- The image that we convey
- We are what people think we are - Relational goals
- How we communicate feelings about others
a) Activity-based
- Doing things with someone
b) Relational-based
- Wanting to initiate, escalate, maintain or de-escalate relationships
c) Advice-based
- Giving advice to peers and parents
- Instrumental goals
- Task orientated
- Can be facilitated by asking for advice
Examples: Interpersonal communication
Principle 3
- Self-presentational goals - Before meeting your new boss you may dress very smartly to make a good first impression and to seem serious
- Relational goals
a) Activity-based
- eg. a date, holiday
b) Relational-based
- eg. avoiding someone that you do not want to be friends with anymore
c) Advice-based
- Eg. Telling your friend her boyfriend doesn’t deserve to get them to break up
- Instrumental goals
- eg. getting into University, finding a boyfriend and going food shopping
Define: Interpersonal communication
Principle 4
- Interpersonal communication varies in effectiveness, with the most effective messages leading to shared meaning between a sender and receiver
- Receiver attaches the same meaning as the sender = success
- Receiver attaches different meaning to sender = failure
- Misinterpretation = unintentional message misconstrued by receiver
- Accidental communication = unintentional message received correctly
Example: Interpersonal communication
Principle 4
Girlfriend: The last time we went on holiday together was 2 years ago!
Boyfriend: Yeah, let’s go on holiday this year
vs
Girlfriend: The last time we went on holiday together was 2 years ago!
Boyfriend: Isn’t it good that we are saving money!
Non-shared meaning
Define: Interpersonal communication
Principle 5
- Every message contains both content and relational information
- Content = info at literal level
- Relational = provides context for interpreting message
- Relationship type and non-verbal behaviours influence relational information
Example: Interpersonal communication
Principle 5
Asking girlfriend “What are we making for dinner tonight?”
Received as
- “I expect you to have planned it and make it for me”
- “Lets have dinner together tonight”
- “Lets not have dinner in tonight, lets go out”
Define: Interpersonal communication
Principle 6
- Interpersonal communication can be symmetrical or asymmetrical
- Dyadic nature of communication
- Symmetrical = exchanging similar relation info or messages
- Asymmetrical = exchanging different kinds of information; opposite meaning or one using behaviour more than the other
Example: Interpersonal communication
Principle 6
Symmetrical
- Saying “I love you” to your son and him saying it back
- Shouting “Why haven’t you put the bins out?” and boyfriend replying “Why haven’t you emptied the dishwasher?”
Asymmetrical
- Saying “I love you” to your son and him saying “Ew no that’s gross”
- Hugging your friend tightly and them not hugging you back
- Smiling at a friend and them not smiling back
Define: Relational communication
Principle 1
- Relationships emerge across ongoing interactions between partners
- Interactions can add new information to relationships
Example: Relational communication
Principle 1
- Getting engaged
- Arguments
- Having a baby
Define: Relational communication
Principle 2
- Relationships contextualise messages
- Context and relationship are critical to understanding message meaning
- Messages out of context are received very differently
- Every message has a content and relational meaning
Example: Relational communication
Principle 2
- Frowning at a stranger is perceived differently than frowning at a friend
- A kiss from your mum doesn’t have the same meaning as a kiss from a date
Define: Relational communication
Principle 3
- Communication sends a variety of relational messages
- Seven messages rigid in role relationships, more fluid in close relationships
- The fundamental relational themes
- Dominance/submission (MAIN)
- Level of intimacy (MAIN)
Example: Relational communication
Principle 3
Level of intimacy - may change if a couple have an argument and then make up
Social composure - calmness and confidence in communication; a student has good social composure if they can speak clearly, confidently and retain eye contact during a presentation
Task-social interaction - Students working together have task oriented goals that are the focus with off-topic chat kept to a minimum
Define: Relational communication
Principle 4
- Relational communication is dynamic
- Relationships and relational communication is constantly changing
- Successful people learn to alter their communication to meet changing goals
Example: Relational communication
Principle 4
- Parents voice becomes less authoritative as children become teenagers
- Communication between friends that become romantically involved will change
- Long distance couples will change how they communicate when they live together; may not be successful
Define: Relational communication
Principle 5
- Relational communication follows linear and non-linear patterns
- Every relationship has it’s own trajectory
- Some researchers say it is linear (increased self disclosure and non-verbal affection as time passes)
- Some say it’s non-linear eg. up and down; fights, making up
Example: Relational communication
Principle 5
- High self-disclosure and intimacy at start of relationship
- Takes a dip at first large fight
- When making up it may increase to more than it originally was
- Financial stress may cause a dip due to arguments or not talking to each other as much
Define: Miniculture
Made of?
- A small scale culture created between two people when they are in a relationship
- Guided by cultural blue print; modify it to create miniculture
- No such things as two for couples, the relationship makes them a 3
- Relationship is characterised by a unique system of communication
- Made of metaphors, narratives, idioms and relational identities
Define: Miniculture
Metaphors
Example
- Relationship as metaphors
- Powerful way of understanding the relationship and the world
- The relationship is a gift: given to you and must care for it
- The relationship is a journey: navigating it together
Define: Miniculture
Narrative
- The stories that we tell about our relationships
- Can impact on the future of the relationship
- They can change overtime as the relationship changes
Function:
- Narratives of the self
- Acceptable public and private accounts (eg. public divorce story vs what you tell a friend)
- Delight/instruction of listener (eg. Parents telling stories to kids, warnings)
Define: Miniculture
Idioms
- Personalised language of relationships
- Symbols or codes that have particular meaning within the relationship
- Reflect intimacy and facilitate intimacy
- To avoid conflict, create shared meaning and negotiate awkward conversations
Example: Miniculture
Idioms
Year and name
Hopper et al. 1981
- Partner nicknames (eg. Boo)
- Expressions of affection (eg. Honeybun)
- Labels for others outside relationship (eg. Monster in law)
- Confrontations
- Requests and routines
- Sexual references and euphemisms (eg. Melons for breasts)
- Sexual invitations (eg. Touching nose wanting sex)
- Teasing insults (eg. Troll face)
Define: Miniculture
Symbols of relational identity
- Abstract qualities of intimacy, caring and solidarity that the parties equate with their relationship
- Behavioural actions
- Events with special meaning
- Physical objects
- Symbolic places
- Symbolic artefacts
Example: Miniculture
Symbols of relational identity
- Behavioural actions
- Walking the dog together, bathing the kids - Events with special meaning
- First kiss, first date, birth of child - Physical objects
- Wedding ring, teddy bear, mix tape - Symbolic places
- Restaurant of first date, wedding venue, first kiss bench - Symbolic artefacts
- Wedding song, first film watched together
