Question

Bridges Not Walls uses a metaphor of breathing (inhaling/exhaling) to explore the process of interpersonal communication. Use stereotyping to define the concept and discuss why it is important for interpersonal communication to be effective, what skills are necessary, and implications when these skills are lacking. Support assertions with references to Stewart and his co-authors.

Answer 1

Bridges are used to connect people while a wall is a dead end. Stewart has used the metaphor of breathing inhaling and exhaling in communication. Inhaling and exhaling is a sign of life. It is the coming in and going out of the air from our system through our breathing. The same way in the communication taking in information and listening to others is inhaling and exhaling. Exhaling is throwing out unwanted thoughts and stereotypes to let the new information come in.

Inhaling is mindful listening, it is important in interpersonal communication. Mindful listening is focusing on the present and not multitasking. It is like inhaling information about what the other is giving and taking out unwanted thoughts by exhaling.

For having a quality life a good interpersonal communication is necessary more than just an exchange of information.

Stereotyping is having a preconception view that is not based on self-experience. It is the view that is carried on from the past.

In interpersonal communication, if the person has a stereotype mindset than he will have difficulty in accepting the new thought metamorphically inhaling will have difficulty because his thoughts are preoccupied with old ideas and perception. Unless these are removed or exhaled taking in and accepting new information and ideas becomes difficult. Some type it gives rise to discrimination and bias behavior.

To have effective interpersonal communication the exhaling is more important for inhaling unless the old stereotype ideas are removed new ideas cannot be accepted and the inhaling will be improper and imperfect.

To be an active listener one has to concentrate on what the other is telling at that moment. The listener is inhaling the information by listening, and the talker is exhaling his information. Unless the listener is active and concentrating there cannot be good and meaningful communication. Thus one has to focus on the talk keeping aside the stereotype thought and multitasking. During the time of conversation one should not have to be pre-judgmental it acts as a wall and hinders our thought process.

The listening process is not just hearing it involves other senses, we feel, hear, and see while listening to we focus on the non-verbal communication as well to understand the information and inhale it.

Focusing, understanding, and giving an understanding to the person talking that his talks, information, suggestion are carefully being heard, and the person is not involved in multitasking while communicating built a bridge in interpersonal communication.
According to (Stewart, 2012) the inhaling and exhaling happen sequentially but in communication, inhaling and exhaling take place simultaneously.

Inhaling and exhaling take place in one body, while metaphoric inhaling and exhaling involve or more people who can work simultaneously.