Communication 101 Midterm| Latest Updated 2025/2026 (Graded A+)
perception ✔️a cognitive process through which we interpret our experiences and come to our own unique understandings. influence how and
what we communicate
communication processing ✔️the means by which you gather organize and evaluate the information you receive
Steps of Perception/Communication Processing ✔️select info, organize (schemas), interpret, improve
Schemas ✔️Part of Perception: mental structures that put together related bits of info. form patterns to create meaning at a more complex
level. help you understand how things work or anticipate how they will proceed. retrieve from memory to interpret situations.
Challenges with Schemas and Perception ✔️Mindlessness, selective perception, undue influence
Mindlessness ✔️Not focussed at the task at hand; Process info passively. Schemas may make you less critical and cause this.
Selective perception ✔️biased nature of perception; active and critical thought
ex: focussing on issues that interest you in a debate
undue influence ✔️give greater credibility or importance to something shown or said than should be the case
ex: males when discussing sports
attributions ✔️Part of perception: personal characteristics used to explain behavior. Used to justify your perceptions
ex: wow he's mean (internal) wow he's in a bad mood (external)
fundamental attribution error ✔️Part of Attribution: explains our tendency to overemphasize the internal and underestimate external causes of
behaviors we observe in others
ex: she failed because she was lazy
self-serving bias ✔️Part of Attribution: attribute our own success to internal factors and our failures to external factors
ex: I got an A because I am smart, I failed because my professor stinks
interaction appearance theory ✔️Part of attribution: explain how people change their attributions of someone, particularly their attractiveness,
the more they interact
Improving your perceptions ✔️Part of Perception: verify perceptions (take time to confirm), Be thoughtful when you seek explanations (don't
fall on most obvious answer), look beyond first impressions
cultural myopia ✔️a form of nearsightedness grounded in the belief that ones own culture is appropriate and relevant in all situations and to all
people
stereotyping ✔️fitting individuals into an existing schema without adjusting the schema appropriately. Generalize peoples attitudes behaviors
skills morals and habits by groups of people
prejudice ✔️deep seated feeling of unkindness and ill will toward particular groups based on negative stereotypes and feelings of superiority
cognition ✔️perceiving yourself
self-concept ✔️your awareness and understanding of who you are as interpreted and influenced by your thoughts actions abilities values goals
and ideals (overall view of self)
, direct evidence: compliments or insults
indirect evidence: gossip, nonverbal cues
social comparison theory ✔️compare ourselves to others as we develop our ideas about ourselves. can influence how we think about ourselves
and what were willing to do to close the gap created by this comparison
self esteem ✔️how you feel about yourself. a set of attitudes that people hold about their own emotions thoughts abilities skills behavior and
beliefs that fluctuate according to the situation (evaluation of self)
self-efficacy ✔️Ability to predict actual success from self-concept and self-esteem. Perceptions of self-efficacy guide ultimate choice of
communication situations.
interpreting events ✔️Self efficacy's effect on ability to cope with failure and stress.
low self efficacy: dwell on shortcomings then fail
self-fulfilling prophecy ✔️a prediction that causes an individual to alter his or her behavior in a way that makes the prediction more likely to
occur.
ex: believe you aren't well liked you are more likely to stand in a corner at a party which causes you to believe you aren't well liked. Want to
improve grades you will work harder and get better grades.
self-actualization ✔️feelings and thoughts you get when you know that you have negotiated a communication situation as well as you possibly
could.
Self-adequacy ✔️when your communication was not as good as it could have been, but it was good enough; competent sufficient or acceptable
self-denigration ✔️most negative assessment that you can make about communication. Criticizing or attacking yourself when you place undue
importance on their weakness.
self-presentation ✔️letting others know about yourself through intentional communication designed to show elements of self for strategic
purposes.
Ex: if you are an editor you choose to talk about authors you like
self-monitoring ✔️ability to watch your environment and others in it for cues as to how to present yourself in a particular situation.
self-disclosure ✔️reveal information about yourself to others. Can help confirm self concept or help improve self esteem
hearing ✔️the physiological process of perceiving sound
listening ✔️the process of recognizing understanding and accurately interpreting and responding effectively to the messages you hear
The listening process ✔️Selecting, Attending, Understanding, Remembering, Responding
selecting ✔️when you choose which sounds to focus on and process over others
ex choosing to listen to a voice over the TV and sink in the background
attending ✔️the additional step of listening of being willing to focus attention on both the presence and the communication of someone else
understanding ✔️a listening step where you interpret and make sense of messages
Remembering ✔️a step of listening where you recall information to contribute to interaction
perception ✔️a cognitive process through which we interpret our experiences and come to our own unique understandings. influence how and
what we communicate
communication processing ✔️the means by which you gather organize and evaluate the information you receive
Steps of Perception/Communication Processing ✔️select info, organize (schemas), interpret, improve
Schemas ✔️Part of Perception: mental structures that put together related bits of info. form patterns to create meaning at a more complex
level. help you understand how things work or anticipate how they will proceed. retrieve from memory to interpret situations.
Challenges with Schemas and Perception ✔️Mindlessness, selective perception, undue influence
Mindlessness ✔️Not focussed at the task at hand; Process info passively. Schemas may make you less critical and cause this.
Selective perception ✔️biased nature of perception; active and critical thought
ex: focussing on issues that interest you in a debate
undue influence ✔️give greater credibility or importance to something shown or said than should be the case
ex: males when discussing sports
attributions ✔️Part of perception: personal characteristics used to explain behavior. Used to justify your perceptions
ex: wow he's mean (internal) wow he's in a bad mood (external)
fundamental attribution error ✔️Part of Attribution: explains our tendency to overemphasize the internal and underestimate external causes of
behaviors we observe in others
ex: she failed because she was lazy
self-serving bias ✔️Part of Attribution: attribute our own success to internal factors and our failures to external factors
ex: I got an A because I am smart, I failed because my professor stinks
interaction appearance theory ✔️Part of attribution: explain how people change their attributions of someone, particularly their attractiveness,
the more they interact
Improving your perceptions ✔️Part of Perception: verify perceptions (take time to confirm), Be thoughtful when you seek explanations (don't
fall on most obvious answer), look beyond first impressions
cultural myopia ✔️a form of nearsightedness grounded in the belief that ones own culture is appropriate and relevant in all situations and to all
people
stereotyping ✔️fitting individuals into an existing schema without adjusting the schema appropriately. Generalize peoples attitudes behaviors
skills morals and habits by groups of people
prejudice ✔️deep seated feeling of unkindness and ill will toward particular groups based on negative stereotypes and feelings of superiority
cognition ✔️perceiving yourself
self-concept ✔️your awareness and understanding of who you are as interpreted and influenced by your thoughts actions abilities values goals
and ideals (overall view of self)
, direct evidence: compliments or insults
indirect evidence: gossip, nonverbal cues
social comparison theory ✔️compare ourselves to others as we develop our ideas about ourselves. can influence how we think about ourselves
and what were willing to do to close the gap created by this comparison
self esteem ✔️how you feel about yourself. a set of attitudes that people hold about their own emotions thoughts abilities skills behavior and
beliefs that fluctuate according to the situation (evaluation of self)
self-efficacy ✔️Ability to predict actual success from self-concept and self-esteem. Perceptions of self-efficacy guide ultimate choice of
communication situations.
interpreting events ✔️Self efficacy's effect on ability to cope with failure and stress.
low self efficacy: dwell on shortcomings then fail
self-fulfilling prophecy ✔️a prediction that causes an individual to alter his or her behavior in a way that makes the prediction more likely to
occur.
ex: believe you aren't well liked you are more likely to stand in a corner at a party which causes you to believe you aren't well liked. Want to
improve grades you will work harder and get better grades.
self-actualization ✔️feelings and thoughts you get when you know that you have negotiated a communication situation as well as you possibly
could.
Self-adequacy ✔️when your communication was not as good as it could have been, but it was good enough; competent sufficient or acceptable
self-denigration ✔️most negative assessment that you can make about communication. Criticizing or attacking yourself when you place undue
importance on their weakness.
self-presentation ✔️letting others know about yourself through intentional communication designed to show elements of self for strategic
purposes.
Ex: if you are an editor you choose to talk about authors you like
self-monitoring ✔️ability to watch your environment and others in it for cues as to how to present yourself in a particular situation.
self-disclosure ✔️reveal information about yourself to others. Can help confirm self concept or help improve self esteem
hearing ✔️the physiological process of perceiving sound
listening ✔️the process of recognizing understanding and accurately interpreting and responding effectively to the messages you hear
The listening process ✔️Selecting, Attending, Understanding, Remembering, Responding
selecting ✔️when you choose which sounds to focus on and process over others
ex choosing to listen to a voice over the TV and sink in the background
attending ✔️the additional step of listening of being willing to focus attention on both the presence and the communication of someone else
understanding ✔️a listening step where you interpret and make sense of messages
Remembering ✔️a step of listening where you recall information to contribute to interaction
