Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sharing
Even though the words speaker and listener
are commonly used in communication termi-
nology, communication is not a process of
trading messages. It does not resemble a poor
tennis match in which one Player A hits the
ball and then just stands there until the Player
B hits the return. Symbolic messages do not
travel from Person One to Person Two and
back to Person One again in some turn-taking
ritual. Rather, at its most basic level, commu-
nication requires mutual and continuous in-
volvement, sometimes referred to as the
transactional nature of communication. This
mutual influence process is similar to a
skilled tennis match in which both players are
always in motion based on what they antici-
Chapter 1 ✦ The Communication Process: Impersonal and Interpersonal 7
pate the other will do. Similarly, in communi- handle new situations. This process is cap-
cation encounters both parties remain ac- tured in the statement “Over time we create
tively involved in the process. For example, an image of another person and relate to the
even though Michael may appear more talk- image we create.” Individuals construct a re-
ative, Vanessa conveys nonverbally that she is ality of themselves and of others through
bored or pleased or annoyed, thus influenc- their interactions, and relate to those reali-
ing Michael’s choice of future message sym- ties they constructed. The attempt to under-
bols. Both are actively and continuously in- stand and adapt to another represents a
volved in every moment of the interactions; communication challenge.
thus, the mutual influence process that char-
acterizes interpersonal interaction. Dia-
grammed, the transactional nature of com-
Meanings
munication looks like Figure 1-2. Although verbal and nonverbal symbols
Figure 1-2 permit us to transmit thoughts and feelings,
the symbols must be mutually understood
Person One Person Two for the meanings to be truly shared. Com-
mon meanings make it possible for us to com-
municate. Since there is no absolute stan-
Speaking Speaking dard for all symbols, we are constantly trying
Listening Listening to connect with people, even our family
members, who do not share exactly the same
meanings for the symbols that we use.
As relationships develop over time, the Therefore it is important to remember the
transactional process becomes more com- expression “Words don’t mean; people do.”
plex. Your perception of another person and Each person’s background, including phys-
that individual’s perception of you combine iological state, family and cultural back-
to form a context for your interactions. If ground, and unique experiences, influences
you see Person X as warm and supportive, how he or she perceives the world and atta-
you will relate to him or her in an open man- ches meanings to symbols. The experience of
ner. Person X is then likely to see you as open being nearsighted, athletic, extraverted, dys-
and friendly and relate to you with increas- lexic, artistic, or shy affects how you perceive
ing warmth or support. Thus, your percep- the world and relate to others. Your family of
tions of each other affect each interaction as origin (the family or families in which you
well as the overall perception of the relation- were raised) served as your first communica-
ship. The situation can also be reversed, cre- tion classroom, teaching you how to interpret
ating a negative context. If you see another messages and how to use communication to
person as judgmental or sarcastic, this may manage key relational issues such as intimacy
lead you to interact in a defensive or combat- and conflict. In addition, your cultural back-
ive manner. You may be caught up in a type ground, socioeconomic level, and educational
of negative spiral. Each communication ex- experiences influence your perceptions. Based
change occurs within the context of a mutu- on your culture, you may interpret big hugs,
ally constructed relationship. multiple-course meals, and shouting voices as
If the definition of a relationship remains symbols of caring. If you grew up in a
relatively unchanged, for example boss and lower-middle-class neighborhood, you will
employee, romantic partners, and parent have different meanings for money and secu-
and child, the nature of the communication rity than someone who grew up in an affluent
process becomes fixed. Each new encounter community.
reinforces the good or the bad. A boss who Finally, your own unique circumstances
constantly relates to staff members as in- influence how you assign meanings. A pain-
competent may stifle their attempts to be in- ful custody battle affects how you discuss di-
novative. A parent who treats children as re- vorce. Early school experiences influence
sponsible persons fosters their ability to how you participate in college classes. Liv-
8 Part I ✦ Communication Foundations in Relationships
ing abroad affects how willing you are to in- me when a painful event happens. These are
teract with people of different cultures. only examples of the many meanings that peo-
Fortunately, most people report many ple have for the two common terms respect
similar experiences, but no two people de- and trust. Shared meanings are critical be-
velop the same set of meanings. Each is a cause they help to create the context for a rela-
unique entity with particular meanings for tionship in which participants learn to predict
certain symbols. Ninety dollars may repre- how the other will react to particular verbal
sent a large purchase to one person, but her and nonverbal messages.
partner assumes that only purchases above
$500 are large. A nickname may seem funny
to you and insulting to your friend. Interpersonal Communication
Screaming may be viewed as an acceptable Not all communication should be consid-
or terrible way to resolve conflicts. Break- ered interpersonal communication. Fre-
downs in communication often occur be- quently, you are engaged in impersonal inter-
cause of missed meanings. Only with knowl- actions. When you ask for directions, pay for a
edge and empathy can you walk in someone purchase, or call for a doctor’s appointment,
else’s shoes, experience the world from a dif- you are not automatically involved in interper-
ferent perspective, and create messages that sonal communication. If you ask a teacher for
reflect that point of view. clarification, discuss a project with a boss, or
Frequently, focus is placed on the words plan a family reunion with a distant cousin,
rather than on the entire range of verbal and you may be involved in necessary, functional
nonverbal symbols that are constantly being interactions but you do not share a strong, sig-
used to create and interpret the meanings of nificant relationship.
messages. Therefore, at any point in time Interpersonal communication occurs when
each person involved in communication is two or more people engage in voluntary, ongo-
contributing to the process—and experienc- ing, interdependent interactions that involve
ing the transactional nature of the commu- meaningful interpretation of their verbal
nication process. Effective communication and nonverbal behaviors. In short, this im-
requires the psychological presence of both plies a perception of the relationship as posi-
parties—attention and connectedness are tive, reflecting a choice to continue to relate
indicators that both parties are focused on to each other over time in order to deepen the
the encounter. relationship and make it increasingly
We find the following simple exercise very unique. There may be exceptions to this de-
useful for demonstrating how individuals scription, such as when you interact involun-
may differ in translating the meaning of ev- tarily with particular teachers or managers for
eryday terms. Imagine yourself saying these a long period of time, learn how to communi-
phrases to a particular person. Think about cate effectively with them, and eventually de-
exactly what you would hope that other per- velop a voluntary interpersonal relationship.
son would do if you said these words to him In the case of involuntary but required rela-
or her. tionships, it is likely that the person with the
I need more respect from you. less power is adapting to the person with
greater power, setting up a one-up/one-down
I feel there is a lack of trust in our relation- interaction pattern. Such relationships tend
ship. to remain impersonal, although, on occasion,
these persons develop a friendship.
Each of the italicized words receives many Relationships move from impersonal to
different responses. Depending on the person increasingly personal as closeness develops.
responding, more respect may be indicated by Therefore, you need to think about relation-
(1) listening to me, (2) asking for my opinion, ships on a continuum from impersonal to in-
or (3) following my advice. Trust may be indi- terpersonal, understanding that a particular
cated by (1) keeping what I say confidential, relationship may move forward and back-
(2) telling me your real feelings, or (3) telling ward at different times.
Chapter 1 ✦ The Communication Process: Impersonal and Interpersonal 9
Through our work with partners and fam- nication patterns serve as the basis for
ilies, we have developed an informal guide- relational cultures as they are constructed,
line that states the following: If there is 10 maintained, or changed through communica-
percent nurturing communication going on tion. A strong relational culture is the hall-
in any relationship, that relationship is mark of an intense, intimate interpersonal re-
healthy. When 10 percent of the behaviors in lationship.
a relationship are nurturing, we believe the In a world of many stresses and changes,
people involved will feel cared for and val- we need our relationships to sustain us and
ued. In our experience, when individuals in nourish us as human beings. Communica-
relationships come for counseling, func- tion is central to the process of constructing
tional messages account for about 95 per- meaningful and fulfilling relational support.
cent of their communication and the re- The ability to build and nurture such rela-
maining 5 percent is negative, often openly tionships is a critical life skill, one to be
hostile. Nurturing messages disappeared learned and valued.
from their relational life.
Nurturing takes different forms in differ- References
ent relationships, but no matter what the Dance, Frank E. X., and Larson, Carl. (1976).
form of expression, everyone needs to experi- The Functions of Human Communication: A
ence it. Coworkers, friends, and family mem- Theoretical Approach. New York: Holt,
bers can all be involved in levels of nurturing Rinehart & Winston.
communication. Individuals who have been Dance, Frank E. X., and Zak-Dance, Carol.
nurtured are likely to be good nurturers; (1986). Public Speaking. New York: Harper &
those who have not been nurtured can learn Row.
to nurture others, but often this takes con- Reiser, Paul. (1994). Couplehood. New York:
scious effort and hard work. Nurturing com- Bantam Books.
munication serves as the lifeblood of any rela- Wood, Julia. (2000). Relational Communication.
2nd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
tionship. Without it, the relationship remains
static and functional; with it, the relationship
renews itself through continual growth. Questions
1. Describe a relationship you have ob-
Relational Culture served that exhibits functional and nur-
turing messages. Give examples of each.
Persons in strong, highly developed inter-
personal relationships eventually create their 2. Think about a communication situa-
own relational culture. Relational culture de- tion in which the symbols used caused
scribes a jointly constructed worldview, a per- misunderstanding. Describe the com-
sonally developed set of understandings that munication breakdown, and imagine
affect the attitudes, actions, and identities of what the communicators might have
the relational partners. Over time many part- done to avoid such a breakdown.
ners or best friends adapt to each other until 3. Think about the communication in a
they experience an evolving, unique set of significant relationship in your life ac-
meanings that are reflected in their relational cording to the helical model. According
culture. These private meanings, conveyed to this model, you cannot forget or ig-
verbally and nonverbally, separate the partner- nore difficult experiences. Describe how
ship from other relationships; nicknames, you and the other person have managed
joint storytelling, inside jokes, and code words to deal with painful or conflictual times
contribute to the creation of a “world built for in your relational history.
two.” We find Julia Wood’s description cap-
tures the essence of a relational culture: “pro- Kathleen M.Galvin and Charles A.Wilkinson,“The Com-
cesses, structures and practices that create, ex- munication Process: Impersonal and Interpersonal.”
press and sustain personal relationships and Copyright © 2006 by Roxbury Publishing Company. All
the identities of partners” (2000, 77). Commu- rights reserved. ✦