Interpersonal communications
Dear Terry and Ryan,
First of all I would like to congratulate you on your engagement and upcoming marriage. I wish you all the best in your new life as husband and wife. Marriage is a life-long commitment that requires a lot of work from both parties involved. One of the key issues in making a marriage work is effective communication. Communication should be open and truthful at all times, and this may at times prove difficult. You may not always agree on all things and it is therefore important for you to be willing to compromise and effectively communicate your wishes to each other. This is the first step towards a fulfilling marriage. In this letter, I will address five important issues in interpersonal communication.
- Principles and misconceptions in effective interpersonal communications
There are several principles which guide interpersonal communication. First, in the marriage setting, it is very important to understand that interpersonal communication is inescapable. It is impossible to have a working marriage without communication. Communication is not only verbal, but it can also be seen through body language, facial expressions, and the tone of voice used. It is also irreversible. Once something has been said it cannot be taken back and it is therefore very important to always choose words carefully. It is also quite complicated as you must always learn what is appropriate for which audience, context or time. It is often easy to be misunderstood. You must treat other respectfully in your communication, avoid interrupting each other, learn to say appropriate things and avoid words that sound judgmental or condescending in your communication. There are several misconceptions in interpersonal communication. Some people believe that it is not so important to always be truthful, and that a few white lies are harmless. This is not true. Lies destroy trust in a relationship and this can ruin the entire marriage.
- Barriers to effective interpersonal interactions
There are many barriers to effective interpersonal communication. They can be physical, for example distance, psychological, emotional, cultural and other barriers. Many emotional barriers are the result of fear. Psychological barriers result from past experiences and deep rooted issues in the subconscious. These barriers must be dealt with as they could adversely affect the relationship.
- How words have the power to create and affect attitudes, behavior, and perception
The effect of words in communication is profound. Words have the power to persuade, inform, ease pain or hurt, start a war or end one, heal or kill. They could be used to get a point across or eliminate any hope of that point ever being understood. One must at all times learn to choose the right words as they could affect the other person’s attitudes and beliefs, their behavior and even the manner in which they perceive their partner. All words spoken in the marriage setting should be fueled by love and must not bring any harm to the other partner. Positive words create a positive attitude and vice versa. They should build and not destroy, enlighten and not mock the other partner’s intelligence.
- Emotional intelligence and its role in effective interpersonal relationships
Emotional intelligence is the ability to assess and control emotions. It is very important in interpersonal communication as it enables the couple to know what to say and when to say it based on their assessment of the other person’s emotions. Having positive emotions, being emotionally stable and secure attachment styles leads to happier marriages and high quality relationships. Being able to recognize the emotions of one’s spouse is essential for a happy marriage. People with higher emotional intelligence tend to relate better with other people, especially with members of the opposite sex. It also leads to less conflict in the relationship.
- Impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communications
Men and women differ in how they communicate. These differences are seen in their body language, behavior, speech patterns and facial expressions. This makes the manner in which they perceive things different, and this could interfere with their communication. Men are more direct in their communication while women rely heavily on non- verbal cues. This could easily give the wrong meaning to the implied message. It is therefore necessary for the couple to learn to understand each other’s verbal and non-verbal cues to avoid misunderstandings.
Conclusion
Effective communication is essential for a happy marriage. It is therefore necessary for the two of you to work hard at it and ensure that you put these tips to good use and have a happy marriage. All the best as you start your new life together.
References
Glass, L. (1993). He Says, She Says: Closing the Communication Gap Between the Sexes. New
York : Putnam Publishing Group.
Gray, J. (1992). Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. New York: Harper Collins.
Hartley, P. (1999). Interpersonal communication. Ohio: Routledge, Chapman and Hall.
Kleiner, F. (2008). Understanding Interpersonal Communication. New York: Cengage Learning.
Wood, J. T. (2009). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. New Orleans:
Cengage Learning.
