ABSTRACT
Humans need, seek, enjoy and learn from interactions with other people; we are stimulated by their presence and suffer psychologically if we are denied this contact. We have a deep-seated, seemingly innate need for relationships with others, termed sociation, so that the greater our ability in this regard, the more satisfying and rewarding will be our existence. This chapter therefore examines the importance of skilled interpersonal communication as a core part of human existence. It reviews research to show that the more skilled we are in communicating with others, the more successful we are likely to be, both personally and professionally. However, despite its significance, communication is a notoriously difficult concept to define. Nevertheless, as discussed in this chapter, the core defining features have been identified. Interpersonal communication is a transactional process in which messages are sent and received simultaneously. It is also inevitable, purposeful, multidimensional and irreversible; takes place within a set context; and involves communicators who send and receive messages that are delivered through various media, channels and codes. Comparisons and contrasts between face-to-face and mediated communication are explored, together with research findings into their relative advantages and disadvantages.
