Interpersonal Communication (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what interpersonal communication is, its characteristics, types and elements. Also, examples and their importance.

two people talk in a cafe — Interpersonal communication occurs between a few people.

What is interpersonal communication?

Interpersonal communication is the exchange of informationthoughts or emotions that occur between a few people (unlike what happens with mass communication). This type of exchange can be carried out through verbal communication, that is, what is carried out using language, but also through non-verbal communication, such as expressions facial expressions, body language, intonation, among other ways.

The participants in interpersonal communication can share a physical space, that is, be in the same place, or they can be in different places and interact using some technological support, such as a cell phone.

Interpersonal communication usually occurs in various settings, such as home, work or the street, and covers a series of processes: the encoding, transmission and decoding of information.

Key points

Interpersonal communication occurs between a few people, at least two.
It can occur through verbal or non-verbal communication, and directly or mediated.
It only occurs between human beings.
It is used to exchange information, express feelings and opinions, resolve conflicts and reach agreements.

Characteristics of interpersonal communication

Interpersonal communication is:

Human. It always occurs between at least two human beings, since it is the only species that has the ability to communicate using language.
Bidirectional. It is a reciprocal exchange of information, since it usually occurs in the form of dialogue between a small group of people. In this way, sender and receiver can always exchange roles.
Verbal and non-verbal. It can occur with the use of a linguistic code, that is, a language, but also non-linguistic codes, such as gestures, noises, movements and emojis.
Contextual. It is strongly influenced by context, since the situation determines the content and interpretation of the information that is transmitted.

Types of interpersonal communication

Depending on whether words are used or not, interpersonal communication can be:

Verbal communication. It occurs through linguistic signs, that is, with the use of words. It is characterized by being voluntary, since it happens because the sender wants to transmit a message.
Non-verbal communication. It occurs through the use of indexes, signs and symbols that are not words, such as gestures, tones of voice, signs, movements, images or even gaze. It can be voluntary or involuntary, and it complements and modifies verbal communication, since it can vary the meaning of the words.

Examples of interpersonal communication

Some examples of interpersonal communication are:

Some classmates discuss how to do a practical history assignment.
The human resources manager of a company talks to an applicant in a job interview.
The members of a family talk about how their day went while having dinner.
Two friends talk about the basketball game they are watching.
The head of an organization talks with employees about how to carry out a new project.
A person sends an email to his friends to tell them about his vacation.
A person chats via instant messaging with a customer to coordinate a sales meeting.

Elements of interpersonal communication

Every communication process is made up of a series of elements:

Transmitter. He is the one who formulates and transmits the message, that is, he sets the communicative mechanism in motion. In interpersonal communication, the sender does not usually play only that role, but alternates it with that of receiver: he speaks and then listens.
Receiver. He is the one who receives the message and decodes it to understand the information. In interpersonal communication, he does not usually always remain in the same role, but rather alternates with the sender.
Message. It is the content of the information, that is, what you want to transmit to the receiver.
Channel. It is the physical medium used to transmit the message. In interpersonal communication, it is usually the air through which sound waves travel, but it can also be some technological element. For communication to occur, the channel must be clear of barriers and available for use.
Code. It is the system of signs that is used to transmit and understand the content of a message. Generally, it corresponds to a language, and must be handled by both the sender and the receiver for communication to occur. In interpersonal communication, the code is usually linguistic (oral or written), although non-linguistic is also common.
Context. It is the situation in which the communicative act occurs. It includes the characteristics of the place, the time, the culture, the bond between the participants, among other elements. In interpersonal communication, the context can be characterized because the sender and receiver converse in the same place or because they are in different places.

You may be interested: National Heritage

Interpersonal means of communication

Interpersonal means of communication are those used by people who are not in the same place at the same time to exchange information. In this sense, they allow some aspect of mediated communication, such as distance and time, not to be an obstacle.

Currently, the most frequently used means of interpersonal communication are:

The phone.
The email.
Instant messaging programs and applications.
The postal mail.

The media of interpersonal communication differ from the mass mediabecause the former are used by two people or by a small group and their participants can reverse their roles. On the other hand, the mass media, such as newspapers, television and broadcast channels streamingare used by people, companies or institutions to send a message to a large audience, which usually cannot respond to the sender.

Importance of interpersonal communication

Interpersonal communication is important because allows individual information to be transmittedsuch as moods, feelings, ideas, evaluations and opinions. Besides, helps resolve conflictsunderstand others, reach agreements and form strong bonds.

Maintaining good interpersonal communication is essential because people can interact better and more effectively with others. Thus, its relevance can be seen in the different areas of a person's life, such as social life, the school or academic environment and work.

Keys to interpersonal communication

To ensure that interpersonal communication is effective, that is, that the sender can clearly express his ideas and the receiver understands them, a series of guidelines can be followed:

The sender must produce precise, coherent and easy to understand messages.
The sender must take into account the characteristics of the receiver in order to create a message that suits the interlocutor.
The sender must adapt to the context, that is, he has to prepare a message taking into account the circumstances in which he finds himself.
Both participants must listen to each other and avoid interruptions, as well as be empathetic and respect each other's beliefs, thoughts and opinions.
The sender must take into account non-verbal communication (such as tone of voice, body posture and facial expressions) that accompanies and influences the verbal message he or she wishes to convey.

Interpersonal and intrapersonal communication

Unlike interpersonal communication, intrapersonal communication consists of the thoughts or ideas that a person reflects on. In this type of communication, there is no transmission of information from one subject to another, but rather it is the same person.

	Interpersonal communication	Intrapersonal communication
Definition	It is an exchange of information between a few people, which usually occurs in the form of dialogue.	It is a reflection on different topics that a person makes with themselves.
Number of participants	They are few (at least two).	It's just one.
Code	It can be linguistic and non-linguistic (it can occur with words and/or with other types of signs).	It is linguistic (with words).
Channel	It is necessary to convey the message.	There's no need.

References

Bolgeri Escorza, P. (2018). Interpersonal communication. Theoretical foundations and practical activities. University of La Serena.
Poyatos, F. (2003). Non-verbal communication: some of its study and research perspectives. Journal of Linguistic Research, 6(2), 67-83.
Rizo García, M. (2009). Interpersonal communication. Introduction to its theoretical, methodological and empirical aspects. Autonomous University of Mexico City. https://www.repositorioinstitucionaluacm.mx/