Interpersonal Communication

Module 5:
Interpersonal Communications
Summary Paper

Presented to:
Professor Beth Rose

By:
Antonia Roberson
11615 Woodward Street
Overland Park KS 66210
MHR 151

Over the past five weeks I have learned a great deal about open and honest communication.   I was under the impression that I did a pretty good job at listening and communicating but I was sorely mistaken.   There was so much valuable information presented during this module that it was a little difficult grasping the concepts as solidly as I should have.   If I could extend this module by a week or two, my confidence in putting into practice these wonderful concepts would be greatly increased.   Three main concepts which caught my attention were "The Language of the Heart" in John Stewart's Bridges Not Walls, the comparing and contrasting of the differences between men and women done by Gary Smalley, and Habit five "Seek First to Understand Then to be Understood"   in John Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
In Bridges Not Walls, Stewart expounds on the phenomena of communication and relationship being directly related to a person's overall health and well being.   Through extensive scientific and statistical research, Stewart happened upon a higher premature death rate in lonely, widowed, and divorced people.   He cited people in those circumstances are two to four times more likely to die prematurely than a married person.   "So vital to human health is the language of our hearts that – if ignored, unheard, or misunderstood – it can produce terrible physical suffering, even premature death.   For the language of the heart cries out to be heard.   It demands to be understood." (Stewart, p. 615)   I can unequivocally associate with this concept.   I was trapped in a bad relationship that did nothing but spiral downwards for five years.   My family, husband and children included, is the most important thing to me.   I will run myself into the ground to ensure their happiness and... [continues]

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