| 1. | The place of interpersonal communication (IPC) within communication studies. Actants of IPC. |
| 2. | Types of relationships. A model of interaction stages in relationships. The stair-case model. |
| 3. | Social exchange theories. Stages of coming together and coming apart. |
| 4. | Factors affecting human communication behavior in relationships. The nature of communicators. The needs of communicators. |
| 5. | The communication environment: cultural and physical. Our perceptions of communication environments. |
| 6. | Interaction patterns for coming together: the dialogue. First and last impressions. The different faces of attraction. |
| 7. | Interaction rituals. Communication rules. Violating communication rules - consequences. |
| 8. | Greetings; forms of address; relationship openers; small talk. |
| 9. | Communication and the process of relationship disengagement; disengagement strategies; distance. |
| 10. | Evalauating and developing effective communication in relationships. |
| 11. | The relativity of effective communication; cultural variables. |
| 12. | Hart's principles of achieving effective communication. |
| 13. | Summary |