Communication Relationships

Interpersonal communication has different levels; I-It, I-You and I-Thou. Relationships tend to start as I-It or I-You relationships and some evolve to I-Thou, though some never pass that stage. I-It relationships tend to between people who we see occasionally and do not really connect emotion or worth to. These are the lowest form of relationships in a sense. I-You is basically the next step in relationships and the most common type of relationship. These are the relationships we have with classmates or teammates, people we see often at the grocery store or workplace friends. You treat these people civilly and acknowledge them as individual people. Then there are I-Thou relationships. These are the most intimate type of relationship. This would be your best friend, significant other or a close family member. These are the people you are truly yourself around and can share things with.

            In my life, the people I see in class but do not talk to or even acknowledge. An I-You relationship would be someone I see and talk to in class but not outside. An I-Thou relationship I have would be my roommate or mom who I share everything with.