Interpersonal Relations Midterm

Communication needs

1. physical- socially connected people are healthier and live longer

2. relational(social)- life satisfaction and happiness

3. identity- identity relies on who we interact with

4. practical- we need communication to ask for directions or order food

Transactional Communication Model

The dynamic process in which communicators create meaning together through interaction (communication depends on the other person’s behavior). In this model, sending and receiving are simultaneous and interpretations are happening instantly. Different environments (physical and cultural), noise, and channels (in person/video) can make a difference. 

Action Model

One-way communication. In this model, the messages and meanings are fixed and the sender and receiver are unchanged. An example could be listing to a radio broadcast, as the broadcaster is not impacted by the listener. 

Interaction Model

In this model, both the sender and receiver are involved. The sender will receive feedback, potentially after some time (texting for example). 

Self-monitoring

The process of attending to one’s behavior and using these observations to shape the way one behaves

Cognitive complexity

The ability to construct a variety of frameworks for viewing an issue

Communication competence

The ability to achieve one’s goals in a manner that is, ideally, both effective and appropriate

High-Context culture

A culture with a less direct communication style and more sensitivity to non-verbals and the feelings of others. There is a lot of emphasis on unspoken messages. 

Low-Context culture

A culture with a specific, detailed and precise communication style which may be poorer at decoding unspoken messages or body language.

Individualistic cultures

A culture which focuses on personal achievement and competition

Collectivist cultures

A culture which emphasizes family and work group goals. People feel loyalties and obligations to “in-groups”

High-power distance

These cultures follow a centralized and concentrated authority. An example could be a cultural respect for elders. 

Low-Power distance

These cultures avoid a concentration of authority

Achievement culture

a culture which prioritizes material success, assertiveness, and competition

Nurturing culture

a culture which emphasizes cooperation, relationships, and quality of life

co-culture

A group within an encompassing culture with a perceived identity. 

Out-groups

a group that an individual sees as different from themself

In-group

a group with which an individual identifies

ethnocentrisim

evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture.

Self-concept

The relatively stable set of perceptions each individual holds of him/her/theirself

Self-esteem

The part of self-concept that involves evaluations of self-worth

reflected appraisal

a mirroring of the judgements of other people; part of how the self-concept develops

distorted feedback

The filtering of external feedback to fit a person’s, often negative, thought patterns

Obsolete Information

Information that is not longer accurate or relevant but which continue to influence a person’s thoughts, memories, and behaviors.

foggy mirror syndrome

when one sees themself more positively than others do

Social penetration model

A model that describes relationships in terms of their breadth and depth. This process occurs over time as different relationships become more and more intimate.

Characteristics of self-concept

1. subjective- the way we view ourselves could be different from how others view us

2. flexible- it can change over time and in different contexts

3. multifaceted- there are many layers, some of which may not be visible to others

4. resists change- the need to have others confirm how you see yourself

Impression Management

communication strategies people use to influence how others view them

Cognitive Conservatism

The tendency to seek information that confirms an existing self-concept

Johari Window

A framework for sorting identity information

First-order reality

Physically observable qualities of a thing or situation

Second-order reality

attaching meaning or making sense of things or situations (also known as attribution)

The perception process

1. selection- determining which information receives attention

2. organization- arranging information meaningful ways to make sense and understand

3. interpretation- assigning meaning to whats happening, the person, or situation. 

4. negotiation- sense making that happens between people outside your mind

Fundamental Attribution Error

the tendency to give more weight to personal qualities than to the situation or underlying meanings

Confirmation Bias

when we cling to first impressions, future subsequent interactions tend to spiral until original impressions are strengthened.

Self-serving Bias

when we perform poorly, we blame external forces, while when we perform well, we credit ourselves rather than the situation.

Primacy Effect

the tendency to pay more attention to, and better recall things that happen first in a sequence

Halo Effect

describes the tendency to form an overall positive impression on the basis of one positive characteristic. 

Horn Effect

the tendency to form an overall negative impression on the basis of one negative characteristic

self-fulfilling prophecy

The causal relationship that occurs when a person’s expectations of an event and their subsequent behavior based on those expectations make the outcome more likely to occur than would otherwise be true.

The four components are:

1. Holding an expectation

2. behaving in accordance with that expectation

3. the expectation coming to pass

4. reinforcing the original expectation

Phonological 

The way words sound when they are arranged together

Syntax

the way words are ordered (structural arrangement)

Semantics

the meaning of words and how messages are received

Pragmatism

Using words appropriately in the right context

Convergence

“language affiliation”- the process of adapting one’s speech style to match that of others (to identify with) 

Divergence

Speaking in a way that emphasizes differences

denotative language

exact, literal meanings of words or phrases

Connotative Language

Figurative and subjective meaning of a word or phrase, influenced by associations and emotions

The Abstraction Ladder

This shows how we can use a range of specific to abstract terms to describe objects, events, or situations

Euphemisms

innocuous or “safer” terms substituted for blunt language (e.g. she is no longer with us instead of she died)

Powerful language

More direct, forthright, commands, declarations, and assertions

Powerless language

tentative, less direct word choices. However, evasive approaches like this also show signs of being polite (saving face)

Disclaimers

a type of powerless speech that attempts to distance a speaker from remarks that might be unwelcome (no offense, but…)

Linguistic Relativity

a language both shapes and reflects the worldview of those who use it. 

The Pinocchio Effect

a claim that you can target a single nonverbal behavior to determine deceptiveness

Managing Impressions

1. Manner- the way you act

2. Appearance- the way you dress and groom yourself

3. Setting- the physical items you surround yourself with

First Impressions

early decisions based on non-verbvals, particularly from personal appearances (the first 15 seconds)

Vocal Fry

A vocal effect produced by very slow vibration of the vocal chords and characterized by a low guttural pitch

Emblems

Immediately understood non-verbals that act as substitutes/replacements for verbal expressions