Intrapersonal communication is about the individual’s processing of stimuli, both verbal and nonverbal. Sometimes those stimuli are generated within the perceiver, and sometimes they are received from outside the perceiver. At times what is generated remains within the individual (e.g., talking with one’s self, “seeing” images, or having physiological sensations), and sometimes what is generated is expressed (e.g., speech and gesture).
The study of intrapersonal communication is the study of decoding and encoding, therefore we can conclude that intrapersonal communication is the study of meaning making. Whether or not what is decoded originates inside or outside the body of the intrapersonal communicator, and whether or not what is encoded is actually expressed, leaked, or given off, intrapersonal communication has occurred. (Goffman, 1959.) Hence, intrapersonal communication is about the relationship between the individual and the stimuli that the individual comes across.
Intrapersonal Communication Is at the Center of All Communication
In describing the field of communication, Fisher (1987) pictures “a nested hierarchy of communication systems” (pg. 3). Below is Fisher’s diagram, showing intrapersonal communication at the center of concentric circles, with interpersonal, group, organizational, and societal systems surrounding it. This imagery is helpful because it helps to remind us that, while we may speak of different levels of communication, we are dealing with interconnected components of an individual self situated in its society. Each system in the diagram affects and is affected by the other systems.
Nested Hierarchy of Communication Systems
Operations and Properties of Intrapersonal Communication
Many claims about intrapersonal communication identify functions, events or operations such as inner dialogue, reasoning or the processing of information. Other claims have more to do with the characteristics or properties of intrapersonal communication. For example, some believe that intrapersonal communication is the foundation of all communication, and that it is an important source of self-knowledge. The first step in understanding what intrapersonal communication is all about; it is significant to provide a list of operations and characteristics of intrapersonal communication.
In the account that follows, both operations and characteristics commonly accredited to intrapersonal communication have been identified and assembled. The following does not pretend to be complete, but they are representative.
Operations of Intrapersonal Communication
Talking to oneself: is the process of communicating within oneself, of inner speech, or a self-contained communication system within the person.
An internal dialogue or interchange of meanings between parts of the person, such as consciousness and the unconscious. This related operation is the transfer of messages between the brain and other parts of an individual.
A process whereby a person transacts with the environment or adapts to the environment; a process of manipulating signals (stimuli) impinging upon us from without or even from within is accredited to intrapersonal communication.
Perception is another operation, a process whereby the individual receives, stores, and retrieves information or symbolic abstractions.
Intrapersonal communication comes up as an easily identifiable word in the literature of persuasion. More accurately, “self-persuasion” is taken to be an internal process relating to the production and intransitive movement of messages within the individual. The self-persuasion model involves no external producer of messages. Preferably people generate their own original meanings, containing reasons for changing beliefs or behaviors. Hence, it is the process of keenly thinking about an issue regarding oneself or the environment which usually ends up in a number of self-generated persuasive messages.
Properties and Characteristics of Intrapersonal Communication
One of the properties of intrapersonal communication is that it is virtually a continuous process in our waking state, that is, we are constantly communicating with ourselves. Secondly, intrapersonal communication can be viewed as a mental process, a physical state, and as a biological-psychological system. Thirdly, interpersonal communication is essential both to the reality of, and to our understanding of, all communication. All communication is to some extent intrapersonal communication. Intrapersonal communication is the basis or foundation of all communication, therefore interpersonal communication cannot occur without intrapersonal communication going on simultaneously. Fourthly, intrapersonal communication or knowledge of intrapersonal adds to our knowledge of ourselves and to our understanding of the process of communication with others. It is a source of personal development and self-discovery, of self-understanding, of our view of ourselves - both as a part of and apart from our environment. Fifthly, intrapersonal communication has healing value. By developing this level of communication, we can promote inner harmony, the union of body and soul; we can regain health and stability, and improve physical functioning. Lastly, intrapersonal communication has a valid role in experimental research; it is something that can be studied through experimental methods.
Functions of Intrapersonal Communication
- Self Monitoring/Control
- Rehearsal/Practice
- Linking with environment
- Self Identity/Awareness & Reflection
- Self Evaluation/Judgment
- Self Amusement
- Memory Building
- Therapeutic
- Decision Making
- Problem Solving
- Fantasizing
- Self Celebration/deprecation
Criticisms of Intrapersonal Communication
Intrapersonal communication as counter theoretical
The theory of intrapersonal communication seems to be counterintuitive, and it violates normal usage. In both ordinary language and communication theory, the term communication typically symbolizes the exchange or sharing of messages between and among people within a community, that is, communication is typically considered as a social experience. In contrast to this normal acceptance, intrapersonal communication hypothesizes a message transfer within the individual. This means that the intrapersonal communication model is in sharp conflict with standard models of communication.
Intrapersonal Communication as a Radically Private Language
By definition, the message is unavailable for public examination. “Message” in its normal, nonmetaphorical sense, means a symbolically structured text that, in principle at least, is accessible to more than one person. But the message of intrapersonal communication is so private and undetermined that not only agreement but even disagreement about its symbolic or nonsymbolic status is ruled out.
The Nonspecificity of intrapersonal communication
The difficulties involved in trying to see how community, personhood and message do or do not apply to intrapersonal communication are aspects that depict much more comprehensive defects in the intrapersonal communication model - namely, its non-specificity and general impression of being indeterminate.
Conclusion
Intrapersonal communication processes are essential to the communication event. In order to understand how we communicate, we need to understand how we derive meaning through our intrapersonal communication processes. Intrapersonal communication is the foundation for all communication. It begins with language and thought itself, but includes our perception of what language and thought are. Every individual may see something and assume a particular attitude toward the subject; however, one can be certain that each assumption made is distinctly different. Intrapersonal communication is a challenge because we have so many variations that arise from our perceptions at particular moments.
References
Cunningham, S. B. (1989). Defining intrapersonal communication. In C. V. Roberts & K. W. Watson (Eds.), Intrapersonal communication processes: Original essays (pp. 82-94). New Orleans, LA: Spectra.
Goffman, E. (1959). Presentation of self in everyday life. New York: Doubleday/Anchor Books.
Gumperz, J., & Hymes, D. (Eds.) (1986). Directions in sociolinguistics: The ethnography of communication. New York: Basil Blackwell.
Fisher, B. (1987). Interpersonal communication: Pragmatics of human relationships. New York: Random House.
Shedletsky, L. (1989). What evidence do we have for the psychological reality of nonconscious processing. In C. Roberts & K. Watson (Eds.), Intrapersonal communication processes: Original essays (pp. 354-379). New Orleans, LA: Spectra.
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