Term Paper

January 15, 2004

Notes

Interpersonal communication occurs within interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal relationship is the association of two people who are interdependent, they use consistent patterns of interaction, and who have interacted for a descended amount of time. There are two important interpersonal relationships, inclusion and control they both include involving others in the conversation. The difference is control is the ability to influence others, and inclusion is becoming involved with others (need for affection, or holding fond or tender feelings toward someone.) pg. 170 There is also symmetrical relationships with people mirror each other or are similar.

There is a dark side to interpersonal relationships. Some may find that interpersonal relationships can be painful and negative. This includes obsession, fatal attraction, and jealousy. These can often cause abuse, sexual, physical, mental, and emotional. Also negative relationships include gossip, conflict, and codependency with can create harmful results to the relationship.

Relational development is the process by which relationships grow. (important). There are five stages to interpersonal relationships; Initiating, experimenting, intensifying, integration, and bonding. Initiating is the beginning period of interaction. Experimenting is when two people have a clear understanding to find out more about each other. Intensifying involves active participation, mutual concern, and awareness of the developing relationship. Integrating is when people in the relationship start to mirror each others behavior. Bonding is the final stage when they commit to each other. Relational maintenance is very important because of the strategies that keep the relationship together.

Massage characteristics can have many different meanings. Hurtful messages are messages that create emotional pain or upset, they can end the relationship. Deceptive communication is the practice of deliberately making someone believe things that are not true. Veracity effect is the assumption that messages are truthful. Aggressiveness is assertion of ones rights at the expense of others and care about ones own needs but no one else's. Argumentativeness is synonymous with contentiousness or combativeness.

Self disclosure is important also. This means the process of making