Topic 1 What is interaction?
Social interaction is an essential and inherent part of human beings. There have been studies that prove that “pleasant social interactions result in more positive impacts on well-being” of the individuals that partake in that interaction.
It is also evident that humans have the need to belong somewhere and form connections; these connections are formed through interaction. If these interactions are effective and meaningful then they are referred to as communication. (Al-alawneh, M., 2019).
But what does it take to engage into a positive and meaningful interaction?
Al-alawneh, M, Al-Hawamleh M., Al-Jamal D., & Sasa G. 2019. Communication skills in practice. International journal of learning, teaching and educational research. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353305375_Communication_Skills_in_Practice.
People need to have “social skills” which will help them engage in social interaction.
Some criteria that define humans’ competence are:
- Dialogical criteria
- Clarity
- Understanding
- Efficiency
- Satisfaction
- Effectiveness
- Appropriateness
What about interaction skills in intergenerational situations?
Older people find it hard to develop and maintain friendships because they slowly lack the ability to communicate and connect which leads them to experience some degree of social isolation. Yet some studies show that the application of skills training programmes can have a positive effect in their communication and conversational skills.
Some concepts that both groups need to have in mind suggested by Hajek and Giles are:
- Mindfulness: be open to new information and be aware of different perspectives
- A sense of presence
- Situational awareness
Greene J. O., & Burleson B. R. 2003. Handbook of Communication and Social Interaction Skills. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: London.
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