Interpersonal & Intrapersonal Barrier to Communication

Interpersonal barriers are what ultimately keep us from reaching out to each other and opening ourselves up, not just to be heard, but also to hear others.

Although the Human evolution took a giant step forward with the advent of language, still there’s nothing more fundamental to human interactions as interpersonal communications.

Intrapersonal Barriers

• Perceptual Barriers

Perceptual Barriers are internal. If you go into a situation thinking that the person you are talking to isn’t going to understand or be interested in what you have to say, you may end up subconsciously sabotaging your effort to make your point. You will employ language that is sarcastic, dismissive, or even obtuse, thereby alienating your conversational partner. Think of movie scenarios in which someone yells clipped phrases at a person they believe is deaf. The person yelling ends up looking ridiculous while failing to communicate anything of substance.

• Emotional Barriers

We are often taught to fear the words coming out of our own mouths, as in the phrase “anything you say can and will be used against you.” Overcoming this fear is difficult, but necessary. The trick is to have full confidence in what you are saying and your qualifications in saying it. People often pick up on insecurity. By believing in yourself and what you have to say, you will be able to communicate clearly without becoming overly involved in your emotions.