Interpersonal Communication (Final Exam) 100% CORRECT 2024 EDITION

Why We Communicate - Communication meets physical needs. - Communication meets relational needs. - Communication fills identity needs. - Communication meets spiritual needs. - Communication serves instrumental needs. Instrumental Needs Practical, everyday needs. (Ex. ordering a drink, getting a job, etc.) Communication as Action Communication thought of as a one-way process. The SOURCE comes up with a thought or idea, ENCODES (conveys with language or gesture) it, and creates a MESSAGE the MESSAGE is then sent through a channel to the RECEIVER the RECEIVER finally DECODES it NOISE may interfere. NOISE can be psychological, physiological, or physical. Communication as Interaction Contains the same elements as the action model, but includes FEEDBACK, which are verbal and nonverbal responses to a message, and CONTEXT, which is the physical or psychological environment in which communication occurs. Both of these elements shape the interaction process. Communication as Transaction No distinction between SOURCE and RECEIVER. Both members of an interaction are simultaneously SOURCES and RECEIVERS. Conversation flows in both directions at the same time, as well. FEEDBACK is a message in and of itself. Six Characteristics of Communication - Communication relies on multiple channels: the different ways in which people convey messages, such as facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice, etc. Channel-rich contexts vs. channel-lean contexts. - Communication passes through perceptual filters: we filter what we are hearing through our different ideals, experiences, etc. I may listen to the same speech as a Republican, but take away different things than the Republican did. - People give communication its meaning: we decide what words mean. Includes symbols. - Communication has literal meanings and relational implications: involves content dimension vs. relational dimension. - Communication sends a message, whether intentional or unintentional. - Communication is governed by rules: involves explicit rules vs. implicit rules. Channel-Rich Context A communication context involving many channels at once. For example, in face-to-face interactions you can hear your conversational partner's voice, see their facial expressions, etc. Channel-Lean Context A communication context involving few channels at once. For example, in text messaging, text is the only channel. Symbol A representation of an idea. Content Dimension Literal information that is communicated by a message. Relational Dimension Signals about the relationship in which a message is being communicated. Communication Myths - Everyone is an expert in communication. - Communication will solve any problem. - Communication can break down. - Communication is inherently good. - More communication is always better. Being a Competent Communicator - Self-awareness: involves self-monitoring, of an awareness of one's behavior and how it effects others. High self-monitors pay attention to how they look, sound, and act, while low self-monitors don't. - Adaptability. - Empathy. - Cognitive complexity: the ability to understand a given situation in multiple ways. - Ethics: a code of morality or a set of ideas about what is right. Components of Culture - Symbols. - Language. - Values. - Norms. Co-Culture Groups of people who share values, customs, and norms related to mutual interests or characteristics beyond their natural citizenship. For example, you can be apart of co-cultures based on your age, ethnicity, etc. Low-Context Culture A culture in which verbal communication is expected to be explicit and is often interpreted literally. For example, in the U.S., being straight to the point is preferred. High-Context Culture A culture in which verbal communication is often ambiguous, and meaning is drawn from contextual cues, such as facial expression and tone of voice. For example, countries like Korea emphasize harmony, which can involve being less direct. Low-Power-Distance Culture A culture in which people believe that no one person or group should have excessive power. (Ex. U.S.) High-Power-Distance Culture A culture in which certain groups, such as the royal family or the members of the ruling political party, have much greater power than the average citizen. (Ex. Mexico, Brazil.) Monochronic Time is treated as a finite commodity that can be earned, saved, spent, and wasted. Polychronic Time is treated as an infinite resource. Uncertainty Avoidance The degree to which people try to avoid situations that are unstructured, unclear, or unpredictable. Masculine Gender Role Emphasizes strength, dominance, competition, and logical thinking. Female Gender Role Emphasizes expressive, nurturing behavior. Androgynous Gender Role A combination of masculine and feminine characteristics. Self-Concept The set of stable ideas a person has about who he or she is; also known as identity. - They are multifaceted: I am Jennifer. I am a woman. I am a musician. Many different pieces and layers contribute to our self concept. - They are partly subjective: some things are facts, such as our heights and hair colors. Others are subjective, seen differently by different people. - They are enduring, but changeable: can be due to significant life events or developmental changes. Johari Window Visual representation of components of the self that are known or unknown to the self and to others. - Open: known to self and others. - Blind: known to others, but not to self. - Hidden: known to self, but not to others. - Unknown: not known to self or others. (Ex. what kind of parent will you be? Neither you nor the other people in your life will know until it happens.) How the Self Concept Develops - Personality and biology: personality is defined as the pattern of behaviors and ways of thinking that characterize a person. - Culture and gender roles. - Reflected appraisal: the process whereby a person's self-concept is influenced by his or her beliefs concerning what other people think of the person. - Social comparison: the process of comparing oneself with others. We compare ourselves to reference groups. Self-Esteem One's subjective evaluation of one's value and worth as a person. The Self and Interpersonal Needs - Need for control: one's need to maintain a degree of influence in one's relationships. - Need for inclusion: one's need to belong to a social group and be included in the activities of others. - Need for affection: one's need to give and receive expressions of love and appreciation. Face A person's desired public image. Face Needs Components of one's desired public image. Facework The behaviors one uses to project one's desired public image to others. Fellowship Face The need to feel liked and accepted by others. Autonomy Face The need to avoid being imposed upon by others. Competence Face The need to be respected and viewed as competent and intelligent. Face-Threatening Act Any behavior that threatens on or more face needs. Self-Disclosure The act of giving others information about oneself that one believes they do not already have. CONTINUED.......