Interpersonal Communication

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Interpersonal communication is how individuals connect with one another, and is a necessary skill for anyone that desires to build harmony, demonstrate respect, diffuse and solve problems, and build meaningful and mutual relationships. This course has allowed me to better understand how and why I communicate the way I do, as well as ways to improve my communication skills and be more cognizant of the functions and repercussions of communication. I learned that communication is about more than what is spoken. It also includes nonverbal cues as well as role schemas. Through studying situations and tendencies in relationships, this class has provided me with life knowledge that will contribute to the success and benefit of current and future …show more content…

People escalate relationships by showing an interest in increasing intimacy. Andersen’s Cognitive Valence Theory outlines the risks and outcomes for making intimacy initiating behaviors. One is vulnerable when increasing immediacy because the communicative partner may either be of low arousal, moderate arousal, or high arousal. If the partner responds with low arousal, there will be no reciprocity or compensation. If the partner responds with high arousal, there will be a negative relational outcome that will reduce the relational closeness. When someone is placed in the situation where they want to escalate their relationship with a friend, they are vulnerable because it could have a negative effect on their relationship. However, vulnerability is inevitable and someone has to be vulnerable when trying to develop relationships further. If the communicative partner responds with moderate arousal and has all six positive valences for schema, there will be positive relational outcomes with reciprocity and increased relational closeness. The main characteristics of being vulnerable when developing relationships, is the risk of not being accepted and instead being …show more content…

Assurances and sharing tasks are two out of the five maintain strategies the book describes that heavily depends on energy investment. Assurances provides as a way to inform their partner that they are faithful and committed to the relationship now and in the future. Assurances can be accomplished through various actions like sending flowers, writing notes, and other kind gestures. Showing an active effort in relationships maintains relationships and this also applies to sharing tasks. Sharing tasks is when the partners perform one’s share of the work in the relationship. This is important because in order to maintain relationships, there should be a sense of equity and equity only exist when people are contributing the same amount of effort or benefit towards one another. Social exchange theory is another example of the importance of relational investment. It is the notion that people seek to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs. A relationship is more satisfying the more rewards and fewer costs. In order to have more rewards, there has to be more work being done in the relationship. Essentially, in order to maintain relationships there has to be a certain amount of work being done from each individual for the relationship to continue and

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Interpersonal Communication

2.07 Interpersonal Communication

2.07 Interpersonal Communication