CHAPTER 6

Interpersonal Communication

Strangers’ Conversations

1. Briefly describe the people in the conversation?

2.  What was the conversation about?

3.  Was there any small talk?

4.  Were any personal matters discussed? For example, attitudes, beliefs, goals? Describe one of them.

5.  What questions were asked, and why? Two examples.

6. Give two examples of nonverbal communication and describe its role in the conversation.

7. What three suggestions would you make to the participants to help improve their conversation skills?

Things we communicate about

EmotionsIt’s OK to cryMessages are made up of

both logic and emotion

PowerExpertReferentRewardCoerciveLegitimate

Men are from Mars, Women are Awesome

NatureBiologically speaking,

our brains are not the same

NurtureGender is socially

constructedFemales learn to be

feminine and males learn to be masculine during childhood

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/cgnjzhbhpz--Anchorman-The-Legend-of-Ron-Burgundy-Will-Ferrell-Ron-Burgundy-It's-Science

Participating in Conversations

Small Talk: BiographicsEventually, finding a common interest is keyListen! … to (and through) verbal and nonverbal cuesPeople like to talk about

themselvesOur names mean a lot to usStay positiveCompliment

Ask me a question

Questions… RESTATE, DEFINE and

CLARIFYEncourage people Help discover others’ attitudesKeep conversation on trackKeep conversation goingHelp gain information and

clarify meaningRequire more than yes-no

responses

How has the web changed our ability to communicate interpersonally?