Chapter 1: Introduction to Human Communication

Introduction to Human Communication

Communication process

creating shared meaning through verbal and non-verbal messages

the goal of communication

shared meaning

two levels of meaning

content and relationship

messages

content being transmitted

Symbols

words and non-verbal behavior

seven components of the communication process

Setting, participants, message creation, meaning creation, channel, noise, and feedback

Linear model of communication

one way, public speaking

Two developments that shifted how we view communication

Communication is both transactional and ongoing

Transactional communication

Each participant is a sender and a receiver at the same time, meaning is created as people communicate together

Ongoing communication

Previous communication events and relationship influence future communication

Second communication model

Transactional model

Third major development of communication

Context

Context

The setting of the physical environment, who is present, what is the occasion

Context > Individual forces

Demographics, personality, cognitive ability, physical ability, field of experience

Context > societal forces

Racial identity, gender roles, ethnic identity, social norms

Third communication model

Synergistic model

Communication competence

Appropriateness and effectiveness

Communication ethics

The standards of right and wrong that one applies to messages that are sent and received

Definition of communication

A transactions process in which people generate meaning through the exchange of verbal and non-verbal messages in specific contexts, influenced by individual and social forces, and embedded in culture

messages

The building blocks of communication

encoding

Converting ideas into messages

decoding

Receiving a message and interpreting its meaning

content meaning

The concrete meaning of the message and the meanings suggested by or associate with the message, as well as the emotions triggered by it

relationship meaning

What a message conveys about the relationship between the parties

setting

The physical surroundings of a communication event

participants

The people acting during communication

channel

The means through which a message is transmitted

noise

Any stimulus that can interfere with or degrade the quality of a message

feedback

The response to a message

field of experience

The education and experiences that a communicator posesses

culture

Learned patters of perceptions, values, and behaviors shared by a group of people

absolutism

The belief that there is a single correct moral standard that hold for everyone, everywhere, every time

relativism

The belief that moral behavior varies among individuals, groups, and cultures and across nations

approtiateness

Following the rules, norms, and expectations for specific situations or relationships

effectiveness

Achieving one’s goal successfully