Why are interpersonal relations important?

Interpersonal relationships are the heart and soul of human experience. Interpersonal relationships are not only necessary for procreation, but also for the survival of our society. Healthy interpersonal relationships, i.e., relationships which are cooperative, interdependent, and supportive, contribute to our well-being but unhealthy interpersonal relationships, i. e, dependent, coercive, and non-supportive, can be one of life's greatest source of stress.

David W. Johnson states that we are not a "thousand points of separate light, but rather, part of a larger brightness". [1]

Imagine your life for a moment as a nexus as represented in the cluster of stars depicted above. You should draw at lease one circle if you cannot draw the circles within a circle. Some students have copied this image and then just inserted text in this diagram. Place those with whom you feel most important in the middle of the inner circle. Now place those with whom you feel less important in the next outer circle. Be sure and list the names of the persons as this will increase your self awareness as you focus on a specific person. Finally, place those who are least important to you in the outer circle. You can reveiw a similar diagram 1.1 in your text.

*If you are taking this course online then send your diagram via email to your instructor and answer the following questons that are listed below.

*If you are taking the course in the real classroom setting then hand your paper to your instructorin the real classroom setting on the due date.

2. Your instructor would also like to know how you heard about the course and would like you to indicate why you are interested in taking the course.

Indicate the inferences that you are making, if you intend the opinion to represent anyone, or anything, other than yourself or your own experience

Extra credit ( 10 points ).Search the internet and find an article that is related to the importance of relationships. Provide a brief summary, the hyperlink, and indicate how you think it applies to you.

( List the URL exactly at it is given. e.g. Author's name, title of the document, title of complete work, date of posting, <URL beginning http://> ( date of access)

1. David W. Johnson, Reaching Out: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Self-Actualization, 10th ed., Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2009, page 3