Apply the transactional nature of interpersonal communication to a real or hypothetical situation. Show how the other person contributed to the transaction, and how his/her contributions affected the outcome of the communication

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The answer should clearly define the players in the transaction (two people), and should show how they "use verbal and nonverbal messages to create understanding and influence each other to manage the relationship." The best answers should show how the messages depend on each other, i.e., how each person influences the communication of the other. Example: I regularly shop at Target. There are two clerks—Linda and Marie—who affect me completely differently when I get in their lines. Linda always smiles, greets me familiarly, asks how I'm doing, engages in a bit of small talk with me, efficiently rings up my sale, and sends me off with, "Thanks for coming in. Take care!" or something similar. I always leave the store with a smile on my face. Marie, on the other hand, has an opposite effect on me. Although she smiles, she looks past me, almost always is in conversation with someone else when she rings up my purchase—and then forgets to cash in my coupons—and half the time doesn't even thank me for my business. I always try to avoid her and leave in disgust. It's gotten to the point where I'm not any friendlier to her than she is to me.