Interpersonal Communication - Essay Example

Running Head: Interpersonal Communication Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code and Name: Institution: Date of Submission: Interpersonal Communication Interpersonal Communication is a process involving the transfer of information between individuals of the same or different groups. The two main types of interpersonal communication include verbal and non-verbal types of communication. Interpersonal communication allows interactions between a minimum of two agents sharing a common ground including, the environment medium of exchange and a message. Interpersonal Communication is not easy as a concept because its application needs more input for its effectiveness, in most cases; it fails (Mortensen, 2008). There is therefore a need for a deeper and better understanding of the concept and its components. Thus, whether it is verbal or non-verbal, the process involves enclosed information that is in a package imparted and channeled by a sender to a delegated receiver through some medium of exchange. The receiver has the mandate of decoding the information in the packaged message and gives a feedback to the sender (Barnlund, 2008). This aspect makes communication a complicated process as not as abstract as viewed. In both types, there are requirements including a sender, a receiver and the message itself not forgetting the medium involved in the exchange. Obtaining the cohesiveness of these elements makes effective communication a hard nut to crack because a common ground is hard to achieve (Daniel, 2007). In addition, communication has a common definition as the interchange or imparting of, opinions, thoughts or information by speech, signs or writing. Although there are approaches involving one-way communication, the process of communication is better in perception as a two-way process that involves progression and exchange of feelings, thoughts, or ideas towards a mutually accepted direction or goal between the parties involved (Schramm, 2001). Albert (UCLA, 1967) in his study on communication process identified three parts that are helpful in conveying meaning during the face-to-face communication. He summed them as including voice tonality, body language, and words (Mortensen, 2008). His assumptions in his research on these three concepts generalized that 55% of human communication develops impact from body language, that is, postures, eye contact or gestures; 38% has great impact in tone of voice, while 7% is via content of the words spoken (Brantley, 2003). For this purpose, verbal communication refers to communication that involves use of sound for instance through speech, tone of a voice or a song. This is the most common among human beings and other animals. It is also the most effective but subject to bias because of other elements including individual bias, language barrier and cohesion (Schramm, 2001). On the other hand, non-verbal communication involves a process that does not involve use of sound including body language, silence, paralanguage, sign language, touch, media (pictures, graphics and writing) and eye contact. A grouping of non-verbal communication includes physical, aesthetic and symbolic (Mortensen, 2008). Physical involves the personal communication. It includes among others sense of touch, facial expressions, body motions and sense of smell (Daniel, 2007). Aesthetic is a type of communication involving creative expressions dancing, sculpturing, painting and instrumental music. Signs on the other hand are more of mechanical types of communication (Mortensen, 2008). They may include among others flag signs, horns and silence. Symbolic communication is a type that uses status, religion or other symbols of ego building (Schramm, 2001). Consequently, effective communication as said is difficult to achieve (Bernard, 2007). This is mainly because a communication process requires the cooperation of al parties involved. Whether it is verbal or non-verbal, communication demands the participation of all parties and a cohesive cooperation between or among them. There are so many barriers to effective communication all downplaying a completion of the communication process (Barnlund, 2008). Generally, an effective communication barrier leads to loss of meaning of the conveyed message and therefore provoking poor or no feedback (Bernard, 2007). That is why the barriers to communication prevent an effective communication process (Mortensen, 2008). Social psychologists have the opinion that there is over 50% of lost meaning in many communication processes from a sender to a receiver because of these barriers (Mortensen, 2008). In particular, physical barriers are main barriers to effective communication. The medium is one of the physical barriers that impinge the communication process (Bernard, 2007). Without an effective medium, there are possibilities that communication conveyed is either not clear or does not reach the receiver (Barnlund, 2008). In this case, the medium brings down a completion of the communication process. Some of the medium as described in the features of communication above include voice and signs (Bernard, 2007). When a receiver does not understand the signs or the voice does not reach him well, it means that the medium used is poor and the conveying of that message fails. Therefore, the blame on the failing of the communication process this time goes to the medium used (Mortensen, 2008). Consequently, language is a feature that applies in verbal communication (Bernard, 2007). For an effective process in verbal communication, there is need to use a cohesive language, that is, a language understood by both parties including the sender and the receiver. When one party does not understand the language used, the communication process fails (Brantley, 2003). For the sender to get a feedback from the receiver, the receiver has first to conceptualize the message of which language is the major determinant (Bernard, 2007). Not only does language apply as a barrier in this form, wrong words in conveying the message could also challenge the communication process (Bernard, 2007). The receiver understands the language in this case but conceptualizes the message the wrong way therefore language acts as a barrier because the feedback is controversial and not as the sender would have expected (Daniel, 2007). Another major classification of barriers includes cultural barriers. These barriers to communications include Age, social status, economic position, education, gender, cultural background, beauty, popularity, temperament, health, religion, values, motives, political belief, ethics, assumptions, standards, aspirations and rules/regulations (Bernard, 2007). The cultural barriers downplay effective communication through compromising how people communicate to each other. Culture sets standards based on these demarcations and dictates the event of communication between people under each category (Barnlund, 2008). It acts as a barrier because it compromises effective communication owing to the above factors. For instance, people of different age groups do not communicate effectively owing to the fear of the minor over the senior. Culture also sets classes in terms of status, religion among other elements therefore creating poor communication between the people from different classes (Bernard, 2007). Another broad classification of barriers to effective communication includes individual barriers (Bernard, 2007). In this case, a compromise in communication emanates from individual's personal and perceptual discomfort. For every communication process, an individual comfort is always necessary. Communicating to an individual successfully does not mean that after a face-to-face interaction, it is compete (Daniel, 2007). There is more to effective communication, is the individual does not develop a positive mental perception, a high probability is that the communication will be ineffective (Bernard, 2007). Some of the individual barriers include selective perception, style, halo effect, defensiveness, poor retention and attention, close mindedness and insufficient. These barriers are more of psychological barriers yet they play a major role in facilitating effective communication (Mortensen, 2008). To understand factors assisting effective communication, it is better to look into features that apply in communication. These features are as the main tools that assist a communication process to flow and become effective completing the communication process. Static features are some of the broad factors assisting effective communication (Barnlund, 2008). The environment is a major factor assisting effective communication. This factor in this case applies in the sense that it has to be sound for individuals to communicate effective (Bernard, 2007). Unfit environment for individuals usually compromises the communication between the parties involved (Bernard, 2007). In assisting communication, the environment allows a good flow of the sending and receiving messages across the parties. It helps prevent any compromise and poor feedbacks therefore developing a cohesive nature of communicating (Daniel, 2007). Distance is a part of the statistic features assisting in effective communication. The distance that the communicating parties stand from one another frequently is great feature conveying a non-verbal message of how effective the communication is between or among the parties involved (Bernard, 2007). A close distance assists in effective communication. It is easier to communicate effectively when you are close (Brantley, 2003). There is a developed connection in the communication process and flowing interaction when two or more people communication come close to each other. Long distance communication is usually compromised by ignorance and infrequent feedbacks. Orientation is also a great feature that assists effective communication (Bernard, 2007). The presentation of an individual to the other in the process of communicating happens to be a vital tool of assisting effective communication. A good example is the sitting position during orientation. A side-by-side sitting position would be ideal rather than face-to-face that seems like positioning for competitors (Schramm, 2001). Silence is a factor that assists communication in many ways. It brings in an element of alertness or a change of topic. According to barriers of communication, individual barriers apply mostly in the perception of the conveyed message (Daniel, 2007). When communicating to an individual on a subject not of interest to him, mostly there is a level of disagreement. Arguing compromises the communication and most likely cuts any relations with the parties involved. In such circumstances, silences assist (Bernard, 2007). It gets some sense in the other party involved and a change of topic would be the case therefore allowing a flow of communication once more (Mortensen, 2008). Posture is another feature considered as assisting effective communication. If communication is to be effective, then the parties involved should learn how to be in the right posture. It could be lying down, standing or seated (Bernard, 2007). That does not really matter because communication will still flow but the issue is how effective it will be. Elements of posture convey some messages to the involved parties (Barnlund, 2008). For instance, an alert person in the communication process has to show some concern in the message conveyed. When communicating to a person, definitely the posture changes if the message draws attention. The individual always want to probe more on the communicated message. When this does not happen, it shows a “less concerned” attitude therefore, brings down the communication process (Schramm, 2001). Dynamic features contribute as major assistance in effective communication. The features include physical contact, gestures and facial expressions. Physical contact assists effective communication by drawing the attention of both parties (Schramm, 2001). When physically in contact with an individual it happens that loosing concentration is a lesser probability. With all the attention on the parties involved, conveying the message becomes easy and the receiver gets it directly. The contact even provokes an instant feedback therefore acting as a special means of communication (Daniel, 2007). It prevents any barriers to communication including other attentions therefore creates room for better communication. This is also the best time to include gestures and facial expressions that assist to enhance a free flow of communication (Mortensen, 2008). Consequently, after cross checking the barriers to effective interpersonal communication, recommendations are necessary to improve the process. Creating a sound environment is a strategy fir to enhance effective communication. This means that everyone is comfortable with the environment around therefore it does not impinge the communication process. Another key strategy is improving on the medium used in communication. Getting a better medium for communication helps support effective delivery and feedback of communication. Establishing a common language between or among parties involved is also a good strategy of improving communication. Language barriers always downplay effective communication by compromising the delivery and the feedback (Schramm, 2001). To make communication flow and prevent these compromises, getting a level playing ground for everyone in the communication is always the best option. It allows free flow of messages and an understanding of each party (Schramm, 2001). Finally, for individual barriers, it is difficult to improve the communication process. However, major aspects required in this case include trust, understanding and respect. With the three aspects, it is possible to overcome the individual barriers to communication (Daniel, 2007). References Barnlund, D. (2008). A transactional model of communication. London: Sage. Bernard, T. (2007). Management guide to effective communication in business. California: University of California. Brantley, M. (2003). Effective Communication for Colleges. London, Sage. P. 212 Daniel, C. (2007). The Transmission Model of Communication. Retrieved March 25, 2010 from http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/short/trans.html Mortensen, D. (2008). Communication theory. New Jersey: Transaction, pp47-57. Schramm, W. (2001). The process and effects of communication. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. pp. 3-26. Read More

This is the most common among human beings and other animals. It is also the most effective but subject to bias because of other elements including individual bias, language barrier, and cohesion (Schramm, 2001).

On the other hand, non-verbal communication involves a process that does not involve the use of sound including body language, silence, paralanguage, sign language, touch, media (pictures, graphics, and writing), and eye contact. A grouping of non-verbal communication includes physical, aesthetic, and symbolic (Mortensen, 2008). Physical involves personal communication. It includes among others sense of touch, facial expressions, body motions, and sense of smell (Daniel, 2007). Aesthetic is a type of communication involving creative expressions dancing, sculpturing, painting, and instrumental music. Signs on the other hand are more of mechanical types of communication (Mortensen, 2008). They may include among others flag signs, horns, and silence. Symbolic communication is a type that uses status, religion, or other symbols of ego-building (Schramm, 2001).

Consequently, effective communication as said is difficult to achieve (Bernard, 2007). This is mainly because a communication process requires the cooperation of all parties involved. Whether it is verbal or non-verbal, communication demands the participation of all parties and cohesive cooperation between or among them. There are so many barriers to effective communication all downplaying a completion of the communication process (Barnlund, 2008). Generally, an effective communication barrier leads to loss of meaning of the conveyed message and therefore provoking poor or no feedback (Bernard, 2007). That is why the communication barriers prevent an effective communication process (Mortensen, 2008). Social psychologists have the opinion that there is over 50% of lost meaning in many communication processes from a sender to a receiver because of these barriers (Mortensen, 2008).

In particular, physical barriers are the main barriers to effective communication. The medium is one of the physical barriers that impinge the communication process (Bernard, 2007). Without an effective medium, there are possibilities that communication conveyed is either not clear or does not reach the receiver (Barnlund, 2008). In this case, the medium brings down the completion of the communication process. Some of the mediums as described in the features of communication above include voice and signs (Bernard, 2007). When a receiver does not understand the signs or the voice does not reach him well, it means that the medium used is poor and the conveying of that message fails. Therefore, the blame for the failure of the communication process this time goes to the medium used (Mortensen, 2008).

Consequently, language is a feature that applies in verbal communication (Bernard, 2007). For an effective process in verbal communication, there is a need to use a cohesive language, that is, a language understood by both parties including the sender and the receiver. When one party does not understand the language used, the communication process fails (Brantley, 2003). For the sender to get feedback from the receiver, the receiver has first to conceptualize the message of which language is the major determinant (Bernard, 2007). Not only does language apply as a barrier in this form, but wrong words in conveying the message could also challenge the communication process (Bernard, 2007). The receiver understands the language in this case but conceptualizes the message the wrong way therefore language acts as a barrier because the feedback is controversial and not as the sender would have expected (Daniel, 2007).

Another major classification of barriers includes cultural barriers. These barriers to communications include Age, social status, economic position, education, gender, cultural background, beauty, popularity, temperament, health, religion, values, motives, political belief, ethics, assumptions, standards, aspirations, and rules/regulations (Bernard, 2007). 

Read More