Levels of Communication

Communication has four levels that depend on context (the environment in which a particular
message is delivered) and the number of people involved in the communication process. These
include intrapersonal, interpersonal, group and mass communication. These levels of
communication are explained in the following sections.

(1) Intrapersonal Communication

This is communication that takes place within oneself. Thinking, meditating, writing notes
to remind yourself of things you need to do, and talking to yourself are all examples of
intrapersonal communication. In this level of communication you are both the person
'sending' and 'receiving' the message. Because you play this dual role, the chances of
misinterpretation or miscommunication are essentially non-existent. After all, most people
do not have barriers to clear communication with themselves!
Intrapersonal communication is important because communicating with ourselves helps
us to know ourselves more and to generate new ideas. Understanding ourselves is the first
step to understanding bigger groups of people.

(2) Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication refers to that type of communication that occurs between two or
three people who have a relationship between them and are aware of one another. It happens when
one sends or receives messages and assigns meaning to such messages. It is usually done face-to-
face; although modern technology has made it possible to communicate via a telephone or
social media platform. The face-to-face communication between two people is also known as
dyadic communication. An example is the conversation you have with your friend, your dad,
mum, and so on.

What is a relationship?

A relationship refers to a face to face or network interaction (media mediated relationships, say via
telephone, e-mail, and social media platforms such as Facebook, twitter and WhatsApp) between
two or more people.

What is interpersonal relations?

This refers to the process of interaction among people living or working together.

Importance of interpersonal relationships

i) Interacting with one another lessens loneliness.

ii) Through contact with others you learn more about yourself via their comments.
iii) Relationships help in enhancing self esteem and the sense of self-worth, especially if you
have supportive partners or colleagues who make you feel worthy and desirable.
 iv) Relationships help to maximize your physical, mental and social pleasures like sharing
fortunes and solving problems; hence minimizing pain.
v) Relationships facilitate effective communication.
vi) Relationships help members to develop a common defense mechanism.
vii) Relationships promote collective responsibility.
viii) Relationships minimize conflict.

Disadvantages of relationships

i) Close relationships put pressure on individuals to reveal themselves and expose their
vulnerabilities, which at times may be used against them when the relationships deteriorate.
b
ii) In a relationship one’s behavior sometimes influences the other person’s behavior to a great
extent. For example your time is no longer entirely your own; your financial success has to
be shared.
iii) Once entered, relationships may prove difficult to get out of.

characteristics of interpersonal communication:

i) It involves independent individuals who each have their own
motivations, expectations and interpretations of communication.
ii) It involves self-disclosure and revealing personal thoughts, feelings
and reflections.
iii) It is rational in that it is meant to be understood by others.
iv) It involves personal choice.
v) It is constant and inescapable.

Using Interpersonal Communication to Resolve Problems:

i) State your problem and interests. Acknowledge others problems and
interests. Avoid name calling and answering complaints with a complaint.
ii) Listen to other parties and know their interests, ask questions to better
understand them. Use silence to demonstrate you are willing to listen
/help move the other side into position to listen more effectively to you.
iii) Offer an apology when appropriate.
iv) Stay in present and future.
v) Stick to topic.
vi) Look for areas of agreement.
vii) Set time for next discussion and take time out if the discussion
deteriorates.
viii) Use mutual restating until a party who continues to feel is not
understood is understood appropriately.
ix) State request for change in behavior terms, do not ask for change in
attitude or feeling just to be different.
x) Consistently express verbal and body messages if negative feelings must
be expressed. Only use words to show confidence in the process, relax,
use good eye contact and show interest.
Improving Communication in Interpersonal Relationships:
One can improve communication in interpersonal relationship by applying the
same principles that would improve communication in any other context. But to
be effective, these principles need to be adapted to the unique context of a
relationship. Below are general principles of improving communication in
interpersonal relationships:

i) Empathic understanding. Empathy is an essential ingredient if a

relationship must survive as a meaningful and productive union. We must
learn to see the world from the other person’s point of view; so as to allow
and encourage an individual to explain why and how he/she sees the
world or their relationship the way they do.
ii) Self-disclosure. This is important in the development and maintenance of a
meaningful interpersonal relationship; although at times total disclosure
may not be effective (Noller and Fitzpatrick, 1993).
iii) Openness to change. Throughout any relationships there will be changes
in each individual in a relationship. Therefore, openness to change calls for
one’s willingness to be responsive to such changes, to be adaptive and
flexible; this is likely to enhance relationship satisfaction (Noller and
Fitzpatrick, 1993).
iv) Fair fighting. Conflicts in a relationship are inevitable, but a fair fighting is
essential. Winning at all times, beating tables, talking on top of your voice
have very little use in interpersonal communication. Instead cooperation,
compromise and mutual understanding must be substituted.
v) Reasonableness. Some people expect their relationships to be perfect.
However, some psychologist like John Dececco (1998) argue that
relationships should be characterized by reasonableness: ‘’reasonableness
of need and expectation, avoiding the wasteful pursuit of the extravagant
fantasy that every desire will be fulfilled’’.
vi) Cultural differences. This is how different cultures perceive communication
in a relationship.
vii) Gender differences. (Dolphine, Meyer and Schwatz, 1991) stated that
women disclose and engage more in casual communication than men do.
Such differences held throughout female-male relationships should be
expected from each other in a relationship.

(3) Group Communication

For group communication to be successful (effective), every member of the group needs
to be present, aware, and alert to the messages being sent and received. In group
communication people often rely on documentation, such as meeting notes, agendas,
presentations, and other written materials to help ensure everyone is 'on the same page’.
Group communication requires a completely different set of skills than interpersonal
communication; because one sender is responsible for effectively delivering his/her
message to many different receivers.

Group communication is sub-divided into:

 i) Small group Communication, which refers to communication that involves a small number of
people who come together to solve a problem. They form a coalition and the number of
people involved ranges from four to twelve to twenty.
ii) Large group or public communication, which involves more than twenty people gathered in
one large room or public space to listen to one speaker or a few selected speakers.
The main reasons for public communication or public speaking include:
- To entertain,
- To persuade
- to inform.

Characteristics of public communication:

i) The speaker dominates speech;
ii) There is speech imbalance among people speaking;
iii) There is little or no opportunity at all for feedback from the audience.

(4) Mass Communication

This is where a message is constructed by a professional communicator, who sends it using

technological devices – either electronic or print. Mass communication can also make use of
computer mediated communication through live streaming to aid its reach or through instant
messaging to aid feedback.

Characteristics of Mass Communication

i) It sends messages to large audiences simultaneously, who are scattered over large
geographical areas;
ii) Messages may be got at different times and they are sent out through the media –
television, radio, newspapers and social media;
iii) The number of people being communicated to can be infinite;
iv) There is usually delayed feedback.
v) The messages sent using mass communication can be instantaneous.