Interpersonal Communication: Major Concepts & Processes - Essay Sample

Introduction

Generally, communication is a complex process. According to the transactional model, it is the people who exchange messages and not the message itself that determines the meaning. However, in some forms of communication such as interpersonal communication, the environment, as well as the relationship between the communicators, may alter the meaning of the message as well as how it is passed. Uniqueness, interdependence, intrinsic rewards, and self-disclosure are among the major concepts of interpersonal communication. They also determine the strategies used. Recent advancements in technology have expanded the scope of interpersonal communication beyond face-to-face communication. Today, communication via Skype is a common mode of interpersonal communication. However, the strategies used in regular face-to-face communication can be used to make interpersonal communication via Skype effective. The video chats between Cora and Patrick are examples of this. While the features mentioned above might have set the tone for the conversation, they are several ways in which their conversation differs from reality. This paper seeks to the top two ways in which Cora and/or Patrick's interpersonal communication strategies significantly differ from reality.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Uniqueness has been mentioned as one of the concepts that guide interpersonal communication. According to the idea of uniqueness, the relationship between the communicators dictates the direction which the communication takes. This seems not to apply in the video chats, especially on Day One. It should be noted that this was the first communication ever between the two. The communicators also possess little information regarding each other's sensitivity and reactions to certain comments. One of the most critical strategies in interpersonal communication is to avoid attacking the other party, especially when they are not familiar with each other. This notwithstanding, Peter calls Cora homeless during their first conversation (episode 1, 0:38). As intimated, one may exchange good-natured insults well talking with a friend, but when talking to a person who is not familiar, such could be taken as offensive (Adler et al. 15). This strategy ought to have been employed in the conversation. However, Patrick's strategy differs from the reality in that he says something that could have offended Cora. Considering this was their first conversation, it can be assumed that he took the gamble to break the ice since they look pretty tense as the chat begins. However, since he does not know Cora well yet, she might have taken the comment as insensitive and offensive, a factor that could have hampered their communication. Had the comment been made days later after their relationship gets more intimate, it would have been entirely okay, as stated by the concept of uniqueness. However, since it was used on the first day, his strategy differed from reality.

Self-disclosure has also been discussed as a concept of intrapersonal communication. While people tend to reveal little about themselves in impersonal communication, important thoughts and feelings are usually shared during intrapersonal communication (Adler et al. 16). The sharing of personal thoughts and feelings usually occurs when the communicators get comfortable with each other. Though Patrick's and Cora's relationship started from an awkward place with both of them giggling and Patrick making comments that might be seen as offensive, they became more relaxed and comfortable with each other as time went by. As expected, they began sharing more personal feelings and thoughts. They also shared details regarding their lives. However, though people may quickly get comfortable with each other and start sharing personal information, there are things that one does not share until they are entirely comfortable and familiar with the other party. Family information, especially the negative details, belong to this class. In reality, one would not share dark details of their family with someone they just met. In episode 4, only four days after they started talking, Patrick tells Cora of how his mother used to make his rob their neighbors of prescription medicines (Episode 4, 2.33). He goes ahead to term her as a career criminal. In reality, one would not reveal such dark family secrets to someone they have known for less than a week.

Conclusion

The video chats between Cora and Patrick are a brilliant example of interpersonal communication in the modern age. For instance, the conversations are majorly anchored on the ideas of uniqueness and self-disclosure. However, as shown in the discussion above, some of the strategies used by the communicators in the chats are not applicable in reality. First, Patrick makes a joke that sounds insensitive on the first day of their communication. He jokingly calls Cora homeless even though he does not know her temperament yet. This strategy, therefore, differs from reality. The two hold conversations lasting approximately 4 minutes every day. While this is enough to make their relationship grow, the fourth day is too soon to share dark family secrets. However, Patrick shares details of his difficult childhood, describes how he used to rob neighbors under his mother's coercion, and calls her a career criminal. This, too, does not happen in reality. This notwithstanding, the conversations offer a perfect avenue of learning the various concepts of interpersonal communication.

Works Cited

Adler, Ronald B., Lawrence B. Rosenfeld, and Russell F. Proctor II. Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication (14th Ed.). New York: Oxford University Press, 2018. Print.

YouTube, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnIWLqYt4O8pttVLzdUnM7-B1XVlbLfpI.