Chapter 6-1 6-2

1. Define interpersonal communication.
Interpersonal communication is the process of exchanging message between

people whose lives mutually influence one another in unique ways in relation
to social and cultural norms. This definition highlights the fact that
interpersonal communication involves two or more people who are
interdependent to some degree and who build a unique bond based on the
larger social and cultural contexts to which they belong
2. Discuss the functional aspects of interpersonal communication.
With the capability to develop interpersonal bonds were more likely to pass
these traits on to the next generation. People with higher levels of
interpersonal communication skills are better able to adapt to stress, have
greater satisfaction in relationships and more friends, and have less depression
and anxiety. Interpersonal communication is strategic, meaning we
intentionally create messages to achieve certain goals that help us function in
society and our relationships. Instrumental talk helps us “get things done” in
our relationships. DTR for making it clear. Communicating to meet
selfpresentation goals
3. Discuss the cultural aspects of interpersonal communication.
Relationship cultures are the climates established through interpersonal

communication that are unique to the relational partners but based on larger
cultural and social norms. We also enter into new relationships with
expectations based on the schemata we have developed in previous
relationships and learned from our larger society and culture. Think of
relationship schemata as blueprints or plans that show the inner workings of a
relationship. Some additional communicative acts that create our relational
cultures include relational storytelling, personal idioms, routines and rituals,
and rules and norms.
Storytelling is an important part of how we create culture in larger contexts

and how we create a uniting and meaningful storyline for our relationships.
Personal idioms are unique to certain relationships, and they create a sense of
belonging due to the inside meaning shared by the relational partners
Relationship routines are communicative acts that create a sense of
predictability in a relationship that is comforting. Some communicative
routines may develop around occasions or conversational topics.
Relationship rituals take on more symbolic meaning than do relationship

routines and may be variations on widely recognized events—such as
birthdays, anniversaries, Passover, Christmas, or Thanksgiving—or highly
individualized and original
4. Define interpersonal conflict.
Interpersonal conflict occurs in interactions where there are real or perceived

incompatible goals, scarce resources, or opposing viewpoints. Interpersonal
conflict may be expressed verbally or nonverbally along a continuum ranging
from a nearly imperceptible cold shoulder to a very obvious blowout.
5. Compare and contrast the five styles of interpersonal conflict management.
Competing, high concern for self and a low concern for other. The competing
style also involves the use of power, which can be noncoercive or coercive.
Noncoercive strategies include requesting and persuading. When requesting,
we suggest the conflict partner change a behavior. Requesting doesn’t require
a high level of information exchange. When we persuade, however, we give
our conflict partner reasons to support our request or suggestion, meaning
there is more information exchange, which may make persuading more
effective than requesting.
Avoiding, low concern for self and a low concern for other, and no direct
communication about the conflict takes place. . Even when we try to avoid
conflict, we may intentionally or unintentionally give our feelings away
through our verbal and nonverbal communication.
Accomodating, low concern for self and a high concern for other, and is often
viewed as passive or submissive, in that someone complies with or obliges
another without providing personal input. Used when we have a small chance
for our goals to be achieved. The context for and motivation behind
accommodating play an important role in whether or not it is an appropriate
strategy. Generally, we accommodate because we are being generous, we are
obeying, or we are yielding (Bobot, 2010). If we are being generous, we
accommodate because we genuinely want to; if we are obeying, we don’t have
a choice but to accommodate (perhaps due to the potential for negative
consequences or punishment); and if we yield, we may have our own views or
goals but give up on them due to fatigue, time constraints, or because a better
solution has been offered.
Compromising, moderate concern for self and other, and may indicate that
there is a low investment in the conflict and/or the relationship.
Collaborating, high degree of concern for self and other and usually indicates
investment in the conflict situation and the relationship.
6. Explain how perception and culture influence interpersonal conflict.
Facework refers to the communicative strategies we employ to project,

maintain, or repair our face or maintain, repair, or challenge another’s face.
Face negotiation theory argues that people in all cultures negotiate face
through communication encounters, and that cultural factors influence how we
engage in facework, especially in conflict situations. These cultural factors
influence whether we are more concerned with self-face or other-face and
what types of conflict management strategies we may use. One key cultural
influence on face negotiation is the distinction between individualistic and
collectivistic cultures. Individualistic cultures like the United States and most
of Europe emphasize individual identity over group identity and encourage
competition and self-reliance. Collectivistic cultures like Taiwan, Colombia,
China, Japan, Vietnam, and Peru value in-group identity over individual
identity and value conformity to social norms of the in-group. People from
individualistic cultures are more likely to have higher levels of independent
self-construal, and people from collectivistic cultures are more likely to have
higher levels of interdependent self-construal.
7. List strategies for effectively managing conflict.
We can handle conflict better by identifying patterns and triggers such as

demands, cumulative annoyance, and rejection and by learning to respond
mindfully rather than reflexively.
Four common triggers for conflict are criticism, demand, cumulative

annoyance, and rejection. Interpersonal conflict may take the form of serial
arguing, which is a repeated pattern of disagreement over an issue. There are
three patterns that occur with serial arguing: repeating, mutual hostility, and
arguing with assurances. Mindreading is communication in which one person
attributes something to the other using generalizations.
Negotiations.
8. Define emotions.
Emotions are physiological, behavioral, and/or communicative reactions to

stimuli that are cognitively processed and experienced as emotional.
Primary emotions are innate emotions that are experienced for short periods
of time and appear rapidly, usually as a reaction to an outside stimulus, and are
experienced similarly across cultures. The primary emotions are joy, distress,
anger, fear, surprise, and disgust.
Secondary emotions are not as innate as primary emotions, and they do not
have a corresponding facial expression that makes them universally
recognizable. Secondary emotions are love, guilt, shame, embarrassment,
pride, envy, and jealousy.
9. Explain the evolutionary and cultural connections to emotions.
Secure attachment, warm
Avoidant attachment, discomfort with closeness and a reluctance to depend

on other
Anxious attachment, desire for closeness but anxieties about being

abandoned
Display rules are sociocultural norms that influence emotional expression.

Display rules influence who can express emotions, which emotions can be
expressed, and how intense the expressions can be. Individualistic-expressing
emotion viewed as personal right. Collectivism-emotions are viewed as more
interactional and less individua.
10. Discuss how we can more effectively manage our own and respond to other
emotions.
As was noted earlier, improving our emotional vocabulary and considering
how and when to verbally express our emotions can help us better distinguish
between and monitor our emotions
Emotional intelligence “involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’
feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this
information to guide one’s thinking and action”.
When people share emotions, they may expect a variety of results such as
support, validation, or advice. Being empathetic listener is the key.
11. Define self-disclosure.
Self-disclosure is purposeful disclosure of personal information to another

person. Social penetration theory states that as we get to know someone, we
engage in a reciprocal process of self-disclosure that changes in breadth and
depth and affects how a relationship develops. Depth refers to how personal or
sensitive the information is, and breadth refers to the range of topics discussed.
Social comparison theory states that we evaluate ourselves based on how we
compare with others.
12. Explain the connection between social penetration theory, social

comparison theory, and self-disclosure.
Through the process of self-disclosure, we disclose personal information and

learn about others. The social penetration theory argues that self-disclosure
increases in breadth and depth as a relationship progresses, like peeling back
the layers of an onion. We engage in social comparison through self-
disclosure, which may determine whether or not we pursue a relationship.
13. Discuss the process of self-disclosure, including how we make decisions

about what, where, when, and how to disclose.
Four main categories for disclosure include observations, thoughts, feelings,

and needs. we are more likely to disclose deeply in crisis situations, and we
may also disclose more than usual with a stranger if we do not think we’ll
meet the person again or do not share social networks. 318-
14. Explain how self-disclosure affects relationships.

The receiver’s reaction to and interpretation of self-disclosure are important
factors in how the disclosure will affect the relationship. Situational
attributions identify the cause of a disclosure with the context or
surroundings in which it takes place. Interpersonal attributions identify the
relationship between sender and receiver as the cause of the disclosure
1. What is DTR talk? Can you give me an example of DTR talk? (Students are
encouraged to find any video clip on youtube as an example)
“defining-the-relationship talk” and serves a relationship-maintenance
function. Example at romantic relationship

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1. Define interpersonal communication.

Interpersonal communication is the process of exchanging message between

2. Discuss the functional aspects of interpersonal communication.

3. Discuss the cultural aspects of interpersonal communication.

Relationship cultures are the climates established through interpersonal

Storytelling is an important part of how we create culture in larger contexts

Relationship rituals take on more symbolic meaning than do relationship

4. Define interpersonal conflict.

Interpersonal conflict occurs in interactions where there are real or perceived

5. Compare and contrast the five styles of interpersonal conflict management.

6. Explain how perception and culture influence interpersonal conflict.

Facework refers to the communicative strategies we employ to project,

7. List strategies for effectively managing conflict.

We can handle conflict better by identifying patterns and triggers such as

Four common triggers for conflict are criticism, demand, cumulative

Emotions are physiological, behavioral, and/or communicative reactions to

9. Explain the evolutionary and cultural connections to emotions.

Secure attachment, warm

Avoidant attachment, discomfort with closeness and a reluctance to depend

Anxious attachment, desire for closeness but anxieties about being

Display rules are sociocultural norms that influence emotional expression.

11. Define self-disclosure.

Self-disclosure is purposeful disclosure of personal information to another

12. Explain the connection between social penetration theory, social

Through the process of self-disclosure, we disclose personal information and

13. Discuss the process of self-disclosure, including how we make decisions

Four main categories for disclosure include observations, thoughts, feelings,

14. Explain how self-disclosure affects relationships.

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