Interpersonal Communication - Essay Example

Interpersonal Communication This essay is about interpersonal communication. It will provide an overview of different psychological theories of interpersonal communication, analyze how these theories are relevant in producing effective interpersonal communication, and how interpersonal communication as a process may produce better communication outcomes. I chose this topic, because I am interested in interpersonal ways in which people interact and I am interested in people communicating effectively. Interpersonal communication is the process of two individuals interacting. This may be done face-to-face and/or by any other identified means of communication. There are four different perspectives according to Honor (2001). They are as follows: Relational or qualitative is the interpersonal communication seen as a shared process between the sender and the receiver. This is a simultaneous interaction with the purpose of creating meaning. Situational or contextual is the interpersonal communication seen as part of a specific context in which both the sender and the receiver are both involved in. Quantitative is different from the other perspectives in that it encompasses dyadic interactions and impersonal communication. Functional or strategic perspective emphasizes on interpersonal communication as a process to achieve a purpose, to achieve interpersonal goals. It is stated by the experts in this area of interpersonal communication (REFERENCES) that in theory, misunderstandings and conflicts may have resulted in miscommunication and that interpersonal communication may improve relationships and better understandings among individuals. Having an understanding of what interpersonal communication is, will give the individuals involved, an instrument of measurement of how to relate to different situations and how to improve in areas where conflicts may arise. There are four basic interpersonal communication elements. These are: the sender, which is the person who is sending the message; the message, the message that is sent by the sender to the receiver; the receiver, the person that receives the message; and, the feedback sent to the sender. According to Wood (2004), self-concept is the understanding that an individual has on concepts, beliefs, and conception about herself/himself. The Theories of Perception in Psychology (ND), states that perception is the process of acquisition, interpretation, selection, and the organization of information according to the senses. Emotion is a complex concept that refers to the mental state that provokes a physiological response, be it positive or negative (Emotion, 2003). It is differentiated from feelings, in that emotions are physiological responses and do not arise from the conscious effort. There are several theories related to interpersonal communication (REFERENCES). These theories on interpersonal communication focus on complications and on a contextual basis. There are some theories that are based not only on two or more people but on six. These are the following six: the person you think you are; the person you think the other person is; the person you think the other person thinks you are; the person that the other person thinks he is; the person that the other person thinks you are; and, the person that the other person thinks you think s/he is. Interpersonal communication is seen as symbolic. This means that the sender and the receiver do not actually communicate ideas but symbols of these ideas (King, 2000). There are four theories that explain “self-concept”. The pragmatic theory sees the “self-concept” as a dynamic and complex process of becoming aware of one’s own individuality. Doyle (2005) states that William James and George Herbert Mead are among the pragmatists who are leaders concerning this topic. Based on the theory of dramatic and self-presentation, self-concept is the role that we have constructed in our everyday lives and how we shape our image based on the role we choose to make other people, and ourselves believe in. Doyle continues in that, the humanistic theory emphasizes in our personal goals, that it actually shapes or creates a self-concept and that the individual growth is a path toward self-actualization. S/He (identify, Doyle) contends that the postmodern theory views the self as a product of relations and negotiations encountered in communities. Within the theories of perception, individuals first develop the concept of naïve realism. Naïve realism is the theory of perception. Basically, this is how individuals perceive themselves. Individuals that uphold this theory are immersed in their world and do not have a perspective of the “real world” (Theories of Perception in Psychology, ND). Direct realism, acknowledges the existence of a world outside that is in the mind. It assumes that an object’s representation is a part of the physical object it represents (Theories of Perception in Psychology, ND). Indirect realism assumes that objects are perceived only if there is information in the brain that recognizes the object perception. Direct realism, on the other hand, dismisses experiences such as dreams, imagination, and illusions. These are possible with indirect realism. These theories on perception are classified as realist theories. Anti-realist theories include idealism and skepticism. Idealists perceive reality as something achievable, while skeptics perceive reality as their perception of what can be achieved beyond the mind (Theories of Perception in Psychology (ND). The James-Lange theory assumes that emotions happen as a result of some psychological and physiological response(s) to a given situation (REFERENCE). Walter Cannon and Phillip Bard presented a variation of this theory. Based on their theory, information from the senses goes to two different pathways: one is to the cortex which processes the subjective experience and two, to the hypothalamus which starts the associated physiological process. This is the Cannon-Bard theory. In other words, emotion and physiological responses do not occur simultaneously or one as a result of another but together (Boeree, 2002). The aim of communication is to gain a better understanding of messages being conveyed. By understanding the theories affecting interpersonal communication an effective communication may be attained. Even in emotionally-charged situations, such as, when the scientist felt a personal attack, during his presentation. Communication would have been possible if the audience, in turn, listened to the scientist respectfully and understood the possibility of him failing to see the significance of their comments. To the scientist, there was a psychological occurrence that made him perceive the comments as personal attacks and threaten his self-image. To effectively deal with such instances, the sender and the receiver must first try to understand their positions in the communication process. More importantly, they should be able to understand both parties underlying interests, that is, the reason beyond each position. Understanding the self, and the other partys interests should, however, not be done in a judgmental manner. The person should not approve or disapprove by taking sides. This would affect the perception of the other which could distort messages and prevent effective communication. Some people, for example, feel conscious and less open when they feel that the other disagrees from their perspectives. The importance of it all is that in communication the information that is gathered is to better understand each others position. Open-mindedness allows a person to become more flexible in seeing different perspectives and this will allow for better understandings (Wilcox, 2002). Effective communication may be achieved first by understanding the theories related to it. In understanding these theories, one will be able to gain knowledge of the events that could possibly be happening in the individual or in the other persons psyche. In gaining such knowledge, the person will be able to adapt himself to different situations to obtain effective outcomes instead of what negative results from misunderstandings will produce. REFERENCES Boeree, G. (2002). Emotion. Retrieved (HOUR) 04 Jan 2007 from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/emotions.html Doyle, T. (2005). Self-concept. Novaonline. Retrieved (HOUR) 04 Jan 2007 from http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/spd110td/interper/self/self.html Emotion. (2003). In AllPsych. Retrieved 12:02, January 4, 2007, from http://allpsych.com/psychology101/emotion.html Honors, C. (2001). Communication Capstone: Spring 2001 Theory Workbook. Retrieved (HOUR) 07 Jan 2007 from http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/capstone/interpersonal/ King, D. (2000). Four Principles of Interpersonal Communication. Retrieved (HOUR) 04 Jan 2007 from http://www.pstcc.edu/facstaff/dking/interpr.htm Self-concept. (2001). In Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. Retrieved (HOUR) 07 January, 2007, from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2699/is_0003/ai_2699000306 Theories of Perception in Psychology. (n.d.). In Simply Psychology. Retrieved 07 January, 2007, from http://www.simplypsychology.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/perception-theories.html Wilcox, L. (2002). Guidelines for Interpersonal Communication. Harvard Medical School. Retrieved (HOUR) 07 Jan 2007 from http://www.hms.harvard.edu/ombuds/techniques/index.html Wood, J.T.(2004). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters (4th Ed.). CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.   Read More