A Study On Western Interpersonal Communication Theory

Interpersonal communication is one important part of communication research. As a subject, it was formed in late 1960s. Man lives in communication all day long .We can not break away from communication all the time. In post-industry society, interpersonal relations become the most important lifeworld contradiction. Observing interpersonal relations and researching interpersonal communication has good enlightening guidance for us to understand the interpersonal communication straits and make friends with others.This dissertation reviews and makes comments on the discourses of interpersonal communication in 20th century. It reviews the history of interpersonal communication development and analyses the main modes of interpersonal communication. The most important section is to reinterpret Mead's symbolic interactionism and Habermas's communicative action theory, as well as to evaluate their vital contributions to formulate the subject. This dissertation attempts to master the western interpersonal communication studies as a whole and make embedded analysis on some interesting questions, such as self-construction and communication contexts. And it may be make some constructive view-points.The conclusion of this dissertation is as follows: Man can not understand himself, others and society, unless he makes communication with others. The formation and development of heart, self and society can not be short of interaction, especially interaction through symbol. Although ideal communication is Eutopia, we may understand each other in virtue of the theory of communicative action.