Final answer:
Interpersonal communication being inherently relational emphasizes the vital connections and interactions among individuals, influenced by the Symbolic Interactionist Theory. It acknowledges the active role individuals play in shaping social reality through the symbolic meanings they exchange, even in the realm of online interaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
For interpersonal communication to be inherently relational means that it underscores the essential connection and interaction between individuals. Within the Symbolic Interactionist Theory, communication is the exchange of meaning through language and symbols, which is how individuals make sense of their social worlds. This perspective posits that people are proactive in creating their social reality rather than just passively absorbing external influences.
Our increasing reliance on online interaction brings changes to how we manage conflict, see ourselves in relationship to our surroundings, and the roles social media play in our lives. Online communication transforms our understanding of meaning and symbols of social status and adjusts our interpersonal dynamics. As the theory of symbolic interactionism suggests, culture and interpersonal relationships are dynamic and are continuously shaped by the meanings we ascribe to our interactions and the symbols within our environment.
In the face of the evolving landscape with online communication, it is still crucial to recognize that at its core, interpersonal communication is relational and fundamental to the social organization at both micro and macro levels, affecting even the relationships within and between organizations and their employees.