The very concept of communication has several definitions, which is associated with different views of scientists and specialists on this problem. Each of the specialists in this field offers their own vision and interpretation. We will simply try to reduce everything to a common denominator.
According to the brief psychological dictionary, the concept of communication is a complex multifaceted process aimed at establishing and developing contacts and connections, including the exchange of information, interaction, perception and understanding of the interlocutor.
The meaning of the word "communication" can change. As mentioned above, this is due to different points of view characteristic of different scientists and different times. However, in general, the essence of communication remains unchanged - it is the exchange of information using various means of communication.
Characteristic properties and features of communication
The concept of interpersonal communication has three characteristics: content, functions and means. The content includes the transfer of information, understanding and perception, interaction between interlocutors, influence on each other, mutual assessment and mutual management of activities. The main functions of communication follow from the content, which are divided into communicative, informational, cognitive, emotive, conversational and creative. If at least one function of communication is absent or impaired, it suffers.
The nature of communication and the need for it
A sociable person boldly steps towards new things - new knowledge, new information, new people. Open and inquisitive individuals, without noticing it themselves, provide themselves with a lot of interesting meetings, events, acquaintances, new goals, but the essence of communication, like communication itself, lies not only in this. For every person, the opportunity to communicate with others like themselves is the key to constant replenishment of life’s baggage, intellectual and psychological development. This also reveals the main goals of communication. A feature bestowed by nature helped man survive and establish himself among other, stronger species.
Do you think you would have discovered a passion for the exact sciences or music if you had not gone to school and attended these subjects, no matter how boring they may seem to you initially? No, because communication plays an extremely important role, and a teacher, teaching us a subject during school years, talking with us, students, not only reveals certain abilities, but also helps to develop them, while simultaneously instilling the basic rules of communication.
Personality formation
At the stage of a person’s development as an individual, that is, from school years, communication with parents plays a particularly important role. Ideally, you should try to talk with them as much and as often as possible, share news and current events. It is extremely important when talking with parents not to deceive them, to be frank, sincere and honest. These are the goals of communication and their basic rules at this stage.
What seems incomprehensible to schoolchildren, for example, a parental ban, in most cases turns out to be the right decision. Just imagine if in our teenage years we were allowed absolutely everything. Probably, troubles would have followed us at every step, and we, being still children, would have had no idea how to get out of them.
The period of adolescence is especially important in the development of a person and his communication skills, in parallel with which the psyche develops. A person learns the essence of communication while he is growing up, studying at school, university. During this time, life’s baggage is replenished not only with scientific knowledge, but also with ordinary life skills, experience, both other people’s and one’s own. At this stage, for the most part, you have to be in contact with peers, but this incredibly helps the formation of personality. True, if only you adhere to the basic rules of human communication.
How did it all begin?
Have you ever thought about why a person needs communication? Try to imagine that during evolution the speech apparatus would not have begun to develop, and people themselves would not have shown any desire to somehow contact each other. What do you think, if a person had no desire to communicate and obtain new information, and therefore all the functions of communication would have been absent, there would have been evolution in the form in which we see it now and have seen it since humanity became interested in development all living things? Would we even have the slightest idea of what evolution is? The answer is clear: none of this would have happened. Communication played a role; in fact, it is the basis for the survival of all complex species, which is developed in many living organisms. And even if they present it not in the form to which we are accustomed, nevertheless...
Communication is the key to the development of civilization, the indestructible foundation of society. However, it is worth understanding that this does not only mean the sounds that we are able to reproduce with our speech apparatus. Deaf and mute people also “talk” to each other, although they use gestures rather than words to do this.
Communication in any of its forms is the exchange of information, the only possible option for transferring new knowledge, skills, experience to other people, because this is the only way to help each other, to help the human species survive and develop further, but this is not the only function of communication.
Stages of communication
Standard set:
- visual contact (people see each other);
- greeting (people communicate with gestures or words that they have noticed each other);
- exchange of pleasantries - let's call them conventions
At this point, the conversation may end with a phrase signaling a desire to end the interaction. “Okay, I have to go,” “See you, hello wife.” If people have common topics, they are discussed, after which the conversation moves to the final stage.
- Ending the conversation.
What role does communication play in human life?
The question of why a person needs communication is answered by the history of primitive society. Human speech is the “first child” of communication, which among primitive people occurred through gestures. It was then that the first rules of communication were formed, general concepts and the designation of objects were born, and then writing was formed. This is how society and society as a whole were born, and rules of interpersonal communication were established that are still in effect today.
The normal, full formation of the psyche, as well as its further development, cannot be imagined without communication. Consequently, the role of communication in human life is extremely high. This is the only way to exchange information, perceive and understand the world around us. Communication is what distinguishes the human species from other species living on Earth.
It is impossible to underestimate the role of communication in a person’s professional activity. This is a specific type of interpersonal interaction, since professional activities have their own rules of communication, limited by generally accepted rules of behavior and interpersonal relationships within one organization (company). This is also called corporate ethics.
What helps people communicate
Communication is based on verbal and non-verbal signals. People always pick up on unsaid things on a subconscious level. For example, if a person is annoyed, but does not show it, the opponent can recognize this by gestures: crossed arms, looking to the side, flared nostrils. But this happens on a subconscious level, a person does not analyze the behavior and gestures of the interlocutor - his brain does this, sending signals to the subconscious. People call it a sixth sense when an employee suddenly realizes that there is no point in asking for leave now, although the boss has given no reason to think so. The brain has already scanned his behavior and sent a signal.
It's not just words that help people communicate. Communication occurs at the level of glances, gestures, and body position. An experienced psychologist will immediately figure out which of the couples in a cafe is in a quarrel and which is happy. People, captivated by each other, hold playful glances, their shoulders are completely turned towards each other.
Why does a person need communication?
It doesn’t matter whether you are a sociable person or a withdrawn introvert who is used to being alone, everyone needs communication. The social need to talk with others like oneself is a natural need, and without its satisfaction it is impossible to feel complete.
Communication plays a vital role in human life. The difference may lie only in its quantity and frequency. So, for someone it will be enough to go somewhere with friends once or twice a week and talk with them in order to cheer up and improve their well-being, and for the rest of the days such a person may well be alone. But for some, communication plays a more important role - such a person cannot spend even 20 minutes alone with himself, begins to suffer from boredom and experiences an irresistible desire to contact someone. By the way, such a desire is more aimed at the process itself, and not at its final result.
Types of communication
There is a division into types of communication.
- Primitive - objects do not receive benefits, they only exchange pleasantries.
- Formal is a form of greeting imposed by society consisting of meaningless phrases.
- Role-based - subordination, people accept their assigned roles and perform communication rituals.
- Spiritual - deep understanding of each other. This usually happens with friends or lovers.
- Secular - limited to general phrases.
- Manipulative - communication with the aim of obtaining benefits, influencing a person or situation.
What creates the desire to communicate?
People are eager to communicate, you can call it a banal desire, but a more correct term is a need.
So, with a high probability we can say that in children communication is an innate need. It is formed under the influence of the activity exhibited by adults present nearby, and often occurs around two months.
But teenagers are convinced that they experience an irresistible desire to communicate. They are also convinced that they can do this as much as they see fit. This is why most teenagers protest against adults' attempts to control their need to spend time with friends, and therefore to have friendly conversations. At this stage, we should not forget about the basic functions of communication, which play a role in the formulation of communication skills.
In adults, the need for communication is also quite strong. Many men and women, having less contact with someone than they themselves want, begin to plunge into negativity.
Lack of interpersonal contacts and its consequences
The degree to which a person needs to contact and interact with his own kind determines his life as a whole and his location (place) in society. This could be family, work team, friends, school, university group. A person deprived of the opportunity to talk and contact with other people, and therefore unable to perform all the functions of communication, will never be able to become a social person, join society and develop culturally. It will only resemble a person in appearance.
“Mowgli children”, deprived of the opportunity to contact and interact with representatives of their species immediately after birth or in early childhood, prove this fact, and therefore how important the role of communication is in human life. Being isolated from human speech, they naturally have no idea what it’s like to talk to someone. The body of such individuals develops naturally, but the development of the psyche is delayed, or even does not occur at all. The main reason for this lies in the lack of communicative experience with other people, and therefore in the absence of all communication functions. Actually, such cases, like nothing else, prove how important it is for a person to contact and talk with other people.
The versatility of communication for purposes
For what and why a person, like any other living being, exhibits this kind of activity such as communication and the need for it - these are the main goals of communication. Thus, animals communicate to encourage their own kind to take certain actions or to warn them to refrain from any action. This process is subject exclusively to animal instincts, which, in fact, are guided by representatives of the fauna.
But the goals of human communication are much greater - in addition to satisfying the natural biological needs characteristic of animals, the satisfaction of cultural, social, creative, cognitive, aesthetic, intellectual, moral and other needs is also added to human interaction. Why does a person need communication? To satisfy all these needs. Speech interaction between people can safely be called multi-purpose, and the goals to which it is aimed provide more than an extensive answer to the question, why does a person need communication and what is it?
Styles and classification
Based on some features, communication in a person’s life can be divided into direct (immediate) and indirect (mediated). In the first case, communication between the interlocutors occurs directly; they communicate with each other using appropriate facial expressions, gestures, intonation and tone.
In the second case, information between interlocutors is not transmitted directly, but indirectly (letters, documentation, media, etc.). It is worth noting that direct communication has better effectiveness and impact on the interlocutor than indirect communication. However, the first type can be more subject to emotions, since such communication in the life of every person occurs in real time, and the second - to common sense, since there is time to comprehend the situation and analyze it.
There are also formal and informal types of communication, from which it follows that relationships between people are business and personal. Consequently, the rules of communication for each of the two types will be different. In the first case, sympathy or antipathy is expressed towards each other, respect or lack thereof, trust or distrust. But business communication is the relationship that develops between people who are members of certain social groups and organizations. It is based on the rights and obligations existing in a particular group (organization). Consequently, the role of communication in a person’s professional activity and its role in everyday life are significantly different. If in the first case a person is limited by certain frameworks and rules dictated by the organization (company), then in the second he is limited only by his own opinion, desires and character traits. What may be common here is perhaps the role of education, but not the role of communication in general.
The ability to empathize: empathy
Empathy is a term that means the ability to empathize. Empaths are people who take other people's misfortune to heart as if it were their own. In essence, this is a heavy burden, but here we do not choose. Empathy is not a developed habit, but an innate trait, like temperament and character.
Empaths are wonderful conversationalists and good friends. They always help because they also experience the pain that befell their loved ones. Such a virtue is not always good, especially for empaths themselves. They experience many times more than other people.
How to spot an empath.
- May cry while watching a movie.
- Drags stray animals into the apartment.
- He is a good listener.
- Helps not only with advice.
- Responsive.
- Often worries about trifles.
Such people are deeply receptive. They are wonderful friends. And this is another reason for communication: you will sympathize, you will feel relief when someone experiences identical feelings after hearing about your problem. Empathy is characteristic of every person, but to varying degrees. As a rule, friends show empathy towards each other.
The art of interpersonal communication
Communication is a natural process. Under ideal circumstances, all people should have free contact with each other. But in reality, in real life, some individuals experience a fear of communication, which is called social phobia. In this case, the need for contact with other people is practically or completely absent. Often, such fear arises in adolescence, which is the most difficult stage in the life of any person.
If the first experience of conscious entry into society, the first communication with someone is negative, then in the future such a person will experience problems with interpersonal connections. This minimizes the need for conversations and conversations with others like oneself, often leads to isolation or creates a desire to avoid such “irritants,” that is, society as a whole. The importance of communication in human life cannot be overestimated. It is an art and skill that is acquired over the years. It is quite natural that a person’s communication skills depend not only on his personal characteristics, but also on the environment in which he was (is) at different stages of his life.
However, by following the rules of interpersonal communication, you can avoid many troubles:
- speak to another person in the way that you yourself consider best and only true;
- show respect to the person you are talking to;
- Express trust and understanding in the person you are talking to.
The art of communicating with people
Dialogue is a natural human environment. However, every person should be able to communicate with others correctly. We are taught to communicate first by our parents, then by teachers, comrades and other people around us. It is very important to master the art of communication from an early age.
When communicating with a person, always look him in the eyes. Then contact between the interlocutors will occur much faster.
Try to feel the person so as not to offend him. If you know your counterpart’s weaknesses, never talk about them.
Have confidence in your interlocutor. If you don't trust him, then is there a need to build a dialogue with him? Of course, we are not talking about relatives and people close to you. After all, you already know how to communicate with them. But as for an unfamiliar and stranger, you only need to show positivity. Avoid bad emotions and be as friendly as possible.
Following simple rules
As a rule, conversations with family, friends and relatives do not cause us any difficulties. We experience the strongest desire to talk with such people, especially since we know very well about their reaction to certain statements, remarks, news. The desire to communicate with strangers is not so high, but often it is forced and necessary. You need to talk to strangers only in a positive way, showing only positive qualities and character traits, being friendly. It is better to do this with a smile on your face, following the existing rules of communication. It is even more important that the phrases you say are appropriate.
Finally, we bring to your attention several effective recommendations for competently building interpersonal relationships and interacting with others:
- be sensitive and attentive to the inner world of your interlocutor;
- remember, everyone deserves respect;
- show interest in the interlocutor, find positive qualities in him;
- do not pay attention to minor shortcomings, everyone has them; there are no ideal people;
- develop your own sense of humor and self-irony.
Basic Principles for the Beneficial Exchange of Thoughts
To get satisfaction from any conversation, there are many universal rules of communication between people. By applying them in practice, many have mastered the skill of data transmission in the modern world.
Sincere interest in people
It is much easier to start and continue a conversation if you are constantly attentive to your interlocutor. It is important to remember his name, hobbies and interests.
Listening skills
One Eastern sage advised to be “quick to listen” than to speak. Therefore, you do not need to interrupt your interlocutor to express your thoughts. It is better to show self-control and respect for a person than to show off your knowledge.
Showing Kindness
In a conversation, you should not focus on the shortcomings of your interlocutor. Otherwise, a conflict may flare up. One must avoid arrogance and not ridicule the mistakes of others.
Choice of words
Often during conversations people hurt each other with words. If you don't apologize in time, the conversation will take an unpleasant turn. Therefore, it is important to constantly monitor your speech.
However, the most important rule of communication is a smile and friendliness. They should never be neglected. Even if the conversation takes on an unpleasant tone, a smile will help smooth out all the corners. Applying all the rules of communication will help develop good manners and a decent reputation in society.
