Essay On Interpersonal Communication

1259 Words3 Pages

To get a general understanding of what interpersonal communication is, let’s break it down. The prefix “inter-” mean between and the suffix “-al” means pertaining to. Interpersonal communication pertains to the communication between people. However, there are many features of interpersonal communication making it more complex, but not difficult. Interpersonal communication is very selective, meaning that the methods and how intimately we choose to communicate with others is completely up to us. Interpersonal communication is also systematic. Depending on the situation and the closeness of the relationship, a single phrase can mean different things. Interpersonal communication is a process. It is an ongoing happening that changes with time and …show more content…

With some people, we speak on an I-It communication level. We speak to them as objects rather than the person that they really are. Generally, this kind of treatment is not on purpose, but unconsciously done. In restaurants, waiters will watch their tables and see which glasses need to be refilled. Sometimes the waiter will directed address this to them. Even I sometimes make this mistake of not responding with a “Yes, please” or “No, thank you”. Instead, the glass is just handed over to be refilled. In this situation, the waiter or waitress has been treated almost like a servant or a robot, meant just to do their job and not given a second glance. With most people, we may use an I-You style of communication and this is treating others as people, but not with intimate friendship. These conversations can be seen everywhere. The other day, I was shopping at the mall near my house. While I was looking at the large selection of shoes, I happened to be standing in the same section as another woman. We proceeded to talk about which shoes were nice and which one complemented each person. This is a general conversation that neither person is being treated lowly like in an I-It style, but it does not open for intimacy. The third type of style that interpersonal communication may select to utilize is the I-Thou communication. This type of communication expresses love and cherishment between people and there is an acceptance for who they …show more content…

No relationship spontaneously becomes intimate, it take times to build the relationship, to learn the small details about a person, and becoming more open to others. The relationship I have with my parents, I have been building it for 19 years now. Each day, I learn something new about them or feel as though we have grown our relationship a little closer. This is the same with my friends. People are constantly changing and I am getting the chance to learn about those changes. Interpersonal communication is a process, because it also doesn’t have a particular end or beginning to it. My brother and I are particularly close since it’s just the two of us. However, when did it start? When did to get to this comfortable state that sharing personal information was easy and open? Some will say it started when he was born, but this is also incorrect though. Our relationship then was completely different from now and the level to which we knew each other then also differs from the present. However, the mishap of interpersonal communication begin a forever ongoing process is that it is irreversible. Once things have been said, there is no way of taking I back. Growing up, my father taught me to always “think before you speak”. There are hurtful words that could ruin a person’s mood and a simple “sorry” cannot erase the fact that they were said. Occasionally, I will get into an argument with my brother and get upset

Open Document