Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (IPC)

Catalog description

Centering on humans’ (our) dynamic process of exchanging messages to create meaning, this class examines how interpersonal communication (IPC) affects and is affected by our sense of self, perceptions, cultural backgrounds, goals, modes of communication, relationships, and many other factors. This course is a highly interactive conceptual overview of scholarly and popular literature. As a broad area of study, interpersonal communication encompasses topics such as conversational coherence and structure; nonverbal communication; cognition and communication; relationship development, maintenance, and decline; comforting and social support; privacy and self-disclosure; interpersonal influence; politeness and identity management; conflict and aggression; and coping and resiliency. Issues related to gender, culture, social media, and development across the lifespan also intersect with these topics.