5. Interpersonal Communication

Question 1

Define interpersonal communication.

Answer 1

Communication that occurs between 2 or more people, whose lives are interdependent & mutually influence one another in unique ways.

Question 2

Define impersonal communication.

Answer 2

It is lack of (potential) relationship, opposite of interpersonal relationship.

Question 3

What are 5 characteristics of interpersonal communication?

Answer 3

1) includes at least 2 participants, who bring personal qualities & own thought and impressions to the interaction
2) dynamic process: previous messages affect how subsequent messages are created or understood
3) consequential
4) irreversible
5) imperfect: thoughts can never be completely communicated. Symbols have to be deciphered

Question 4

What are 3 goals of interpersonal relationship?

Answer 4

1) instrumental: “Getting things done”
2) relationship-maintenance: “define and maintain relationships”
3) self-presentation: “controlling how self is perceived by others

Question 5

What is communication competence?

Answer 5

Ability to communicate effectively & appropriately in personal relationships and various contexts

Question 6

What are 6 measurement standards of communication competence? (FA3E)

Answer 6

1) fidelity: clarity of a message
2) appropriateness: messages produced match situation requirements & notice and adhere to social rules
3) satisfaction
4) effectiveness: meeting goals
5) efficiency: desirable outcomes with less effort
6) ethics

Question 7

What is the difference between threat to fidelity & threat to communication competence?

Answer 7

Threats to fidelity are often outside a person’s control, while competence is not. You can do something to overcome barriers impeding communication

Question 8

What are 3 things you can do to promote (uphold) communication competence?

Answer 8

1) motivation: takes effort. You need to want to be a competent communicator
2) knowledge: the appropriate behaviours for a situation & needs and wants of others
3) skills to act upon motivation & knowledge

Question 9

What is a theory?

Answer 9

A description of the relationships among concepts that helps us understand a phenomenon. An explanation of why something is the way it is

Question 10

What are 4 qualities of a theory?

Answer 10

1) focuses on some concepts, while ignoring other details
2) aims to outline some relationships; describes how concepts are related
3) always incomplete
4) needs to be tested & supported by evidence

Question 11

What are concepts within a theory?

Answer 11

Categories of phenomena that are believed to be relevant to understanding an event/situation/experience

Question 12

Define research.

Answer 12

SYSTEMATIC way of observing reality with an aim to test theory, comparing observations with theory. It is methodical.

Question 13

What is the Social Penetration Theory?

Answer 13

A process of “peeling” layers of personal information like an “onion”. It is accomplished through self-disclosure.

Question 14

What is the process of Social Penetration Theory? (4)

Answer 14

Orientation, exploratory-affective, affective (related to moods), stable exchange

Question 15

What are 3 qualities of the Social Penetration Theory?

Answer 15

1) increases intimacy
2) involves rewards & risks
3) go layer by layer & be mindful of reciprocation (is the other party also doing self-disclosure at the same level as you?)

Question 16

What is the Politeness Theory?

Answer 16

It centers on the notion of face, which is the public self-image that every member wants to claim for themselves. In being “polite”, a speaker attempts to create an implicated context (create a meaning, without saying: I respect that you have a face and will help you preserve that face).

The speaker stands in a certain relation to the addressee in respect of the required act, and politeness is the system used by the speaker in order to keep up to the addressee’s expectations.

Question 17

What are the 2 types of faces in Politeness Theory?

Answer 17

Positive face: the positive and consistent image people have of themselves, and their desire for approval, appreciation
Negative face: the basic claim to territories, personal preserves, and rights to non-distraction; freedom from imposition

Question 18

What are face threatening acts?

Answer 18

An act that inherently damages the face of an addressee by acting in opposition to their wants (positive FTA), or when the speaker does not avoid the obstruction of the addressee’s freedom of action (negative FTA).

Question 19

What is the Uncertainty Reduction Theory?

Answer 19

Initially developed to explain initial interaction among strangers; later developed to also explain more established relation contexts (e.g. husband and wife). Used to describe how we make sense of something to increase our ability to accurately predict/explain

Question 20

What is Uncertainty?

Answer 20

Having a number of possible alternative predictions or explanations. More possible explanations = higher levels of uncertainty

Question 21

What is uncertainty reduction?

Answer 21

Making sense of something to increase our ability to accurately predict or explain

Question 22

What are 4 propositions of Uncertainty Reduction Theory?

Answer 22

1) Communication between strangers decreases uncertainty
2) high levels of uncertainty increases information seeking behaviour
3) low levels of uncertainty increases intimacy
4) similarity between persons reduces uncertainty

Question 23

What is Expectancy Violation Theory?

Answer 23

predicts and explains the effects of nonverbal behaviour violations on interpersonal communication outcomes such as attraction, credibility, persuasion, and smooth interactions.

Violation interpretations and evaluations determine whether they are positive or negative violations.

Positive violations are predicted to produce more favourable outcomes, and negative violations less favourable outcomes, than positive and negative confirmations respectively.

Question 24

What is Communicator Reward Valence?

Answer 24

Overall evaluation you have about a communicator, but includes positive/negative traits & potential rewards that the communicator might bring for you. Can be contradictory (e.g. you may dislike this person, but you might assess positive communication reward valence of this person because he helps you, thus evaluate this/her expectancy violation more positively)