What is Interpersonal Relationship? A Complete Explanation - Life Vibe

Life Vibe - Interpersonal relationship is a term that refers to the association, connection, or affiliation between two or more people. It involves the exchange of information, feelings, and behaviors in a direct way. Interpersonal relationship can be formed in various places, such as in your daily activities, work, school, family, or social media.

In this article, you will learn the definition of interpersonal relationship from various experts, the characteristics of interpersonal relationship, the benefits of interpersonal relationship, the models of interpersonal relationship, and the stages of building interpersonal relationship.

Definition of Interpersonal Relationship from Various Experts

There are many experts who have given their own definition of interpersonal relationship. Here are some of them:

• Joseph DeVito: According to DeVito, interpersonal relationship is a process of communication between individuals that involves the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages. This relationship can involve emotional, physical, and social aspects.
• Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor: Altman and Taylor define interpersonal relationship as a bond between two individuals that involves physical contact, emotional openness, social support, and resource exchange.
• Robert L. Weiss: Weiss defines interpersonal relationship as a relationship between two individuals that is based on social interaction, intimacy, trust, and interdependence.
• Theodore Newcomb: Newcomb views interpersonal relationship as a process of communication that includes social interaction, perception formation, and mutual influence between individuals in the context of social groups.
• Irvin D. Yalom: Yalom, a famous psychotherapist, defines interpersonal relationship as an involvement between therapist and client in the context of therapy. For Yalom, this relationship involves aspects such as empathy, understanding, and courage in facing problems.

These definitions give us an idea of how individuals interact, form bonds, and influence each other in various aspects of life.

Characteristics of Interpersonal Relationship

There are some characteristics that distinguish interpersonal relationship from other types of relationship. These are:

• Interdependence: Interdependence means that the actions, thoughts, and feelings of one person affect the other person, and vice versa. Interdependence can be positive or negative, depending on the quality of the relationship.
• Uniqueness: Uniqueness means that each interpersonal relationship is different from others, because it is influenced by the personalities, backgrounds, experiences, and preferences of the individuals involved.
• Voluntary: Voluntary means that interpersonal relationship is usually based on the choice and consent of the individuals, rather than on obligation or coercion. Voluntary relationship tends to be more satisfying and rewarding than involuntary relationship.
• Self-disclosure: Self-disclosure means that interpersonal relationship involves the sharing of thoughts, feelings, and personal information with the other person. Self-disclosure can create trust, intimacy, and understanding in the relationship.
• Feedback: Feedback means that interpersonal relationship involves the exchange of responses, reactions, and evaluations between the individuals. Feedback can be positive or negative, and can help the individuals to improve their communication and behavior.

Benefits of Interpersonal Relationship

Interpersonal relationship can bring many benefits to the individuals and society. Some of the benefits are:

• Emotional support: Emotional support means that interpersonal relationship can provide comfort, care, and encouragement to the individuals, especially in times of stress, difficulty, or crisis.
• Social support: Social support means that interpersonal relationship can provide assistance, advice, and resources to the individuals, especially in times of need, challenge, or opportunity.
• Personal growth: Personal growth means that interpersonal relationship can provide learning, feedback, and inspiration to the individuals, especially in times of change, development, or achievement.
• Health and well-being: Health and well-being means that interpersonal relationship can improve the physical, mental, and emotional health of the individuals, by reducing loneliness, depression, anxiety, and illness, and by increasing happiness, satisfaction, and self-esteem.
• Social cohesion: Social cohesion means that interpersonal relationship can enhance the harmony, cooperation, and solidarity of the society, by reducing conflict, violence, and discrimination, and by increasing tolerance, diversity, and democracy.

Models of Interpersonal Relationship

There are many models or theories that explain how interpersonal relationship works. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Social penetration theory: This theory, proposed by Altman and Taylor, suggests that interpersonal relationship develops from superficial to intimate levels, as the individuals disclose more personal information and become more vulnerable to each other.
• Uncertainty reduction theory: This theory, proposed by Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese, suggests that interpersonal relationship is motivated by the need to reduce uncertainty about the other person, by seeking more information and communication.
• Attachment theory: This theory, proposed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, suggests that interpersonal relationship is influenced by the type of attachment that the individuals formed with their caregivers in their early childhood, which can be secure, anxious, or avoidant.
• Social exchange theory: This theory, proposed by George Homans and Peter Blau, suggests that interpersonal relationship is based on the cost-benefit analysis that the individuals make, by comparing the rewards and costs of the relationship, and the alternatives available.
• Equity theory: This theory, proposed by Elaine Hatfield and Ellen Berscheid, suggests that interpersonal relationship is based on the balance of inputs and outputs that the individuals contribute to the relationship, such as effort, time, money, affection, etc.

Stages of Building Interpersonal Relationship

There are some stages that the individuals go through when they build interpersonal relationship. These are:

• Initiating: This is the first stage, where the individuals make contact and show interest in each other, by using verbal and nonverbal cues, such as greetings, compliments, smiles, eye contact, etc.
• Experimenting: This is the second stage, where the individuals exchange information and test the compatibility of each other, by using small talk, questions, jokes, stories, etc.
• Intensifying: This is the third stage, where the individuals increase the intimacy and commitment of the relationship, by using self-disclosure, nicknames, terms of endearment, expressions of feelings, etc.
• Integrating: This is the fourth stage, where the individuals merge their identities and social circles, by using shared activities, possessions, friends, family, etc.
• Bonding: This is the fifth stage, where the individuals formalize and publicize their relationship, by using rituals, symbols, vows, contracts, etc.

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