What is an interpersonal gap?

• A. The physical distance between two people
• B. The time delay between gesture and response
• C. The distance between a sender's intent and a receiver's impact of a message
• D. The difference in cultural background between people

Answer: (C)

An interpersonal gap is the mismatch between what the sender intends to convey and the effect or interpretation it actually has on the receiver. The speaker may have a clear intent—say, praise, concern, or humor—but the listener’s own experiences, mood, and context shape how that message lands. If the impact doesn’t align with the intended meaning, a gap appears, which is a core reason miscommunication happens and why feedback and clarification are important. For example, saying “Nice job” in a flat tone might be intended as encouragement, but the listener could interpret it as sarcasm or dismissal, creating a gap. The other options describe physical distance, response delay, or cultural differences, which are separate factors in communication.