What is communication? Can a person live without him? What is it for? What are the goals of communication? These questions interest many people; they are studied in psychology. Let's try to figure it out.
The concept of communication implies a process of interaction that occurs between people and is aimed at the establishment and development of relationships, knowledge of each other. Communication involves the mutual influence of process participants on the formation of each other's views, the regulation of behavior, the formation of joint activities.
Simply put, interpersonal communication is a relationship between people relating to all types of human activity.
Scientists view communication-activity relationships differently.
Some psychological schools believe that communication and activity are two equal sides of human existence (being). Others see activity as conditions for interpersonal communication, and communication itself as a necessary element of activity. Still others are sure that this is a special, specific type of activity.
Each opinion has its own rationale, therefore, has the right to exist. In everyday life, activities and communication usually appear in unity, but in some situations they can take place independently of each other.
Communication, like any kind of human relationship, has its purpose, content, forms, types, sides, barriers, functions.
The content of communication is multi-subject. It can be:
- Material based on the exchange of products activities.
- Cognitive, knowledge transfer.
- Active, during which the exchange of skills or abilities takes place.
- Conditioned, aimed at changing the emotional state of the interlocutor.
- Motivational, implying the creation of certain motives, impulses to action.
The content largely determines the forms of communication. They ensure the success of the communication process, help to achieve the goal.
All forms of communication can be divided into two main types: indirect and direct.
Today, more and more time is occupied by people in the first type of communication (it is also called indirect). The transmission of business information by fax, the transmission of data by telephone or over the Internet, the involvement of intermediaries in resolving issues is indirect, indirect communication. The most striking example is social networks. Spending hours communicating with distant interlocutors, a person may never see his vis-a-vis.
The choice of another form of communication, contact or direct, is not always possible, but psychologists consider it the most productive. Eye-to-eye communication allows you to track the direct reaction of the parties, using verbal (speech) and non-verbal means of interaction. The latter include facial expressions, gestures, intonations, etc. It is non-verbal communication that helps to convince the audience, evaluate the intentions of the interlocutor, his sincerity. Verbal and non-verbal forms of communication in personal contact are one. We can say that they are inextricable.
Psychologists today divide the concept of communication into many forms, the main of which are:
- Anonymous Communication between strangers that does not require continuation. Examples: passengers in vehicles, passers-by on the street, spectators at concerts. After receiving the necessary information or spending a short time together, people disperse.
- Formal role (functional). This communication type "boss-subordinate", "buyer-seller", "employee-employee." The most lengthy and informative here will be the service relationship. Employees usually spend a lot of time together and know quite a lot about each other.
- Informal. All types of off-duty and off-road relationships:
- Ritual (for example, the military “picks up the hood” at a meeting, acquaintances ask a brief answer, asking how they are doing, etc.).
- Intimate, meaning the contact of loving people with their set of speech and non-verbal techniques.
- Other forms of communication.
Today, more and more time is occupied by functional-role communication and communication using technical means. Over time, changing forms of communication, its types and means.