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Chapter 1 What is Interpersonal Communication?

Interpersonal communication is the use of symbols, whether written, spoken, or displayed nonverbally, to represent ideas in interactions between people. This chapter describes interpersonal communication as a continuous, dynamic, and consequential process that is irreversible and imperfect. In addition, the ability of interpersonal communication to convey content and relational messages in contexts spanning organizational communication, health communication, and computer-mediated communication is examined. Characteristics of communication competence are reviewed, along with the factors that promote communication competence and the situational variables, such as culture, setting, and age, that shape standards for competent communication. This chapter also provides an introduction to the study of interpersonal communication, with an overview of the aims of communication theory and dominant research traditions. The role of ethics, including both ethical communication and ethical communication research, is discussed.

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Communication in Action Forms

Connect with Theory

Relational framing theory describes how people make sense of interpersonal messages about their relationships with others. Sometimes it is easy to decipher the meaning behind a relational message (e.g., when a romantic partner says, “I love you”). Sometimes relational messages are not so clear. For example, if a friend asks you, “Hey! Are you using your car this weekend?” Do you consider this a friendly or unfriendly request to borrow your car? Do you feel coerced to lend your car or do you feel admired by a friend? According to relational framing theory, how you interpret your friend’s message depends on your judgment about the relationship. The theory provides two main frames through which people process messages about a relationship (Dillard, Solomon, & Samp, 1996). A dominance-submissive frame is about how much control or status one person has over the other. An affiliation-disaffiliation frame is about how much one person likes or dislikes the other. If you perceive that the interaction with your friend is about power, you might interpret such inquiry as a sign of dominance. If you perceive that the interaction is about liking, you may process a friend’s message as communicating closeness, friendliness, and positive regard. Relational framing theory has been used to understand factors that shape perceptions of sexual harassment in the workplace. For example, Solomon (2006) reported that social-sexual messages that were seen as dominating or controlling were more likely to be perceived as harassing, whereas messages that were seen as affiliative were more likely to be perceived as flirtatious. In essence, this theory highlights how people use interpretive frames to make sense of relational messages.

References and other suggested readings:

Dillard, J. P., Solomon, D. H., & Samp, J. A. (1996). Framing social reality: The relevance of relational judgments. Communication Research, 23(6),703-723. https://doi.org/10.1177/009365096023006004
McLaren, R. M. (2015). Relational framing theory. In C. R. Berger & M. E. Roloff (Eds.), International encyclopedia of interpersonal communication. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118540190.wbeic207
McLaren, R. M., & Solomon, D. H. (2014). Relational framing theory: Drawing inferences about relationships from interpersonal interactions. In D. O. Braithwaite & P. Schrodt (Eds.), Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: Multiple perspectives (2nd Ed., pp. 115-127). Sage.
Solomon, D. H. (2006). A relational framing perspective on perceptions of social-sexual communication at work. In R. M. Dailey & B. A. LePoire (Eds.) Applied interpersonal communication matters: Family, health, and community relations (pp. 271-298). Peter Lang.
Hall, J. A. (2016). Interpreting social-sexual communication: Relational framing theory and social-sexual communication, attraction, and intent. Human Communication Research, 42, 138-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12071

Affection exchange theory was proposed to explain the relationships between affectionate communication and physical, mental, and relational well-being. Affectionate communication involves verbal communication (e.g., saying “I love you”), nonverbal behaviors (e.g., hugging, kissing, holding hands), and supportive behaviors (e.g., meal prep, helping out with house chores). The theory states that humans’ need for affectionate communication is innate. In other words, as human beings, we are born both with the ability and with the need to experience affection. The theory suggests that engaging in affectionate communication is adaptive because it provides people with access to material resources (e.g., food or shelter) and emotional resources (e.g., social support); both are valuable to help sustain life. Another reason that affection communication is adaptive is that it increases people’s chance to attract a potential mate and have reproductive opportunities. Research on affection exchange theory has shown that affectionate communication is linked to higher levels of relational closeness, satisfaction, and commitment (Pauley, Hesse, & Mikkelson, 2014). Affectionate communication can also convey psychological and physical health benefits, such as less loneliness, anxiety, and depression (Hesse & Floyd, 2008), reduced stress hormones (Floyd & Riforgiate, 2008), and lower blood pressure (Floyd et al., 2009). Indeed, the theory claims that affectionate communication is a key interpersonal tool for developing and maintaining close relationships.  

References and other suggested readings:

Floyd, K. (2006). Communicating affection: Interpersonal behavior and social context. Cambridge University Press.https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511606649
Floyd, K. (2019). Affectionate communication in close relationships. Cambridge University Press.
Floyd, K., Boren, J. P., Hannawa, A. F., Hesse, C., McEwan, B., & Veksler, A. E. (2009). Kissing in marital and cohabiting relationships: Effects on blood lipids, stress, and relationship satisfaction. Western Journal of Communication, 73(2), 113-133. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570310902856071
Floyd, K., Hesse, C., & Generous, M. A. (2014). Affection exchange theory: A bio-evolutionary look at affectionate communication. In D. O. Braithwaite & P. Schrodt (Eds.), Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: Multiple perspectives (2nd Ed., pp. 309-321). Sage.
Floyd, K., & Riforgiate, S. (2008). Affectionate communication received from spouses predicts stress hormone levels in healthy adults. Communication Monographs, 75(4), 351-368. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637750802512371
Hesse, C., & Floyd, K. (2008). Affectionate experience mediates the effects of alexithymia on
mental health and interpersonal relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 25(5), 793-810. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407508096696
Morman, M. T. (2015). Forms of affectionate communication. In C. R. Berger & M. E. Roloff (Eds.), International encyclopedia of interpersonal communication. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118540190.wbeic040
Myers, S. A. (2015). Affectionate communication and personal outcomes. In C. R. Berger & M. E. Roloff (Eds), International encyclopedia of interpersonal communication. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118540190.wbeic104
Pauley, P. M., Hesse, C., & Mikkelson, A. C. (2014). Trait affection predicts married couples’ use of relational maintenance behaviors. Journal of Family Communication, 14(2), 167-187. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2013.864292

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Selected Writings by Communication Studies majors at California State Prison

Los Angeles County, City of Lancaster

In the fall of 2016, the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, began offering classes inside a maximum security prison facility to offer incarcerated persons the opportunity to achieve a bachelor’s degree in Communication. In spring of 2017, selected assignments and essays produced by those students in response to prompts from this textbook were published in Colloquy: A Journal of the Department of Communication Studies, California State University, Los Angeles. In the time since, the program created The Prison BA Journal to share the students’ work with others. In addition, collaboration between the Lancaster State Prison’s Communication Studies students and students in Cal State LA’s Animation Option brought to life student essays through animation and narration.

Dr. Kamran Afary, faculty advisor to the program and Assistant Professor of Social Justice Communication, describes the impact of learning about interpersonal communication on his students: “I have seen its life transforming effect on my students in their interpersonal relationships with each other and in repairing relationships with their families.” Through the generosity of the program, we can share their work with all students learning from this textbook.

This website shares reflections and animations created in response to Pause and Reflect prompts, organized by chapter, as well as selected essays, poems, and presentations that address other topics or course assignments. Here is just a sample of what you will find: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7155653

We hope you will take the time to learn about interpersonal communication through the words of these students: https://www.prisonbajournal.org/ipccompanion