Everything you need to know about Interpersonal Relationships

 

Interpersonal relationships are a fundamental part of being human. We are social beings that need each other to survive and live a fulfilling life.

 

In social psychology, an interpersonal relationship is defined as a social connection between two or more people. 

 

In a more practical sense, it’s the connections you build with people around you. Interpersonal relationships are essential for us as humans from a very young age and play a pivotal part in shaping our personality. 

 

What are the 4 types of Interpersonal Relationships?

 

Let’s dive deeper into the 4 different types of interpersonal relationships to have a better understanding of their significance in our lives. 

 

Family

 

The very first interpersonal relationship we build is with our family members. Starting from your parents to siblings, aunts, and uncles to cousins. 

 

You may have different levels of closeness to different members of your family, and it starts shaping you and your ability to build relationships from a very young age.  

 

Friends

 

This is often the second batch of interpersonal relationships you develop. Once you come of age to start school, you meet with other kids your age for the first time in your life. 

 

These relationships can sometimes have such an impact in your life and you can develop a very strong bond with them. 

 

Think about your current circle of friends. Chances are you have a few of them that you’ve known since you were kids and still maintain a very close relationship with them. 

 

Romantic Relationships

 

Romantic relationships are another type of interpersonal relationship that starts once you reach your teenage and continues all the way into adulthood. Out of all interpersonal relationships, romantic relationships are often the hardest and in most cases short-lived. 

 

This is because of the dynamics of a romantic relationship but on the bright side, romantic relationships aren’t always meant to last and often serve the purpose of knowing yourself so that you may have a better chance of finding the right person for you. 

 

Colleagues

 

Once you start working, you meet so many people in different office environments throughout your career. A lot of people say that they have sometimes built the best interpersonal relationships with colleagues who become lifelong friends. 

What are the 5 stages of Interpersonal Relationships? 

 

According to a 1980 study by psychologist George Levinger, interpersonal relationships are made up of 5 different stages. 

 

Let’s have a look at these 5 stages to understand where some of your current interpersonal relationships are at and how to make or break those for the betterment of yourself and the others involved. 

 

1. Acquaintance

 

This is where the initial connection begins. You may meet them at school, work, or social events. You get introduced to each other, and chat about your life, work, and any other common interests. 

 

This is often a very exciting stage as it’s fresh and there is the element of the unknown keeping things alive between people. 

 

2. Build-up

 

Once the initial acquaintance has been made, some of those relationships have a second meeting, a third meeting, and many more.

 

You are naturally drawn to people who match your energy and this is the dynamics behind close bonds despite it being friendship or a romantic relationship.

 

3. Continuation

 

Out of the dozens of people you meet in your life, not all relationships will continue and that’s fine. You’re not meant to build interpersonal relationships with everyone and it’s not even possible. 

 

You have a limited amount of energy and it is meant to be spent wisely with the people who are truly worth your time. 

 

4. Deterioration

 

Naturally, you will see some interpersonal relationships fade away as it serves no real purpose for both people. 

 

Others however may start to deteriorate due to differences, misunderstandings, and sometimes due to conflict. 

 

5. Ending 

 

The interpersonal relationships that do not continue will inevitably end. Some of them nicely without any hard feelings between both people while others will end with a bit of pain and suffering.

How to build successful Interpersonal Relationships? 

 

1. Become a great listener

 

To build and maintain successful interpersonal relationships we should learn to listen without interrupting and let the other person feel that they are being heard. In most social conversations, people speak just to share. 

 

2. Learn to be more present

 

Being present in the moment is another important skill to build long-lasting interpersonal relationships. If the other person feels like you’re distracted most of the time they will feel like you’re not interested in talking to them.

 

3. Show genuine interest

 

It’s hard to connect with people who seem like they aren’t interested in what you have to say. Showing a genuine interest in people and their conversations is a great way to build strong emotional connections. 

 

4. Patience

 

All of us have problems. Building interpersonal relationships with people requires patience and acceptance. Sometimes, people can be difficult to deal with. You need to be patient with people as long as their demands aren’t against your values. 

5. Be reliable

 

Reliability is one of the most important qualities needed for strong relationships. No one likes a person who never sticks to their word. If you’re a reliable person who stays true to your word, you will naturally attract the right kind of relationships that’s best for you. 

 

6. Empathy

 

The strongest relationships require empathy on both sides. You need to be able to put yourself in other people’s shoes and see things from their perspective. The ability to sense other people’s feelings can build emotional bonds that last a lifetime. 

 

7. Spend quality time together

 

All relationships require input from both people involved. It needs to be nurtured through conversation and quality time spent together. And interpersonal relationships are no different. 

 

8. Improve your communication skills

 

We should always work on improving our communication skills. This means being a better listener, ability to understand the other person, knowing when to speak and how to convey the message in the most impactful and respectful way. 

 

Why are Interpersonal Relationships so important? 

 

Interpersonal relationships are one of the main pillars of our lives. They keep us safe, provide us with a sense of belonging, teach us so many valuable lessons, and enable us to fulfill our goals in life. 

 

The importance of interpersonal relationships goes beyond a connection between family, friends, romantic partners, and colleagues. It influences us in so many aspects of our lives and shapes our future.