Untitled Flashcards Set

Fundamental concepts of communication

Principles that guide human communication.

Post-positivism

Assumes objective reality and seeks causal explanations.

Interpretivism

Focuses on subjective meanings and human experience.

Critical Paradigm

Examines power, ideology, and societal structures in communication.

Criteria of a Good Theory

Includes explanatory power, predictive ability, simplicity, internal consistency, and practical utility.

Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT)

A theory that explains how people communicate to reduce uncertainty in interpersonal interactions.

Anticipation of future interaction

A motivation for reducing uncertainty, based on the expectation of future encounters.

Passive information-seeking

Gathering information by observing others.

Active information-seeking

Gathering information by asking third parties.

Interactive information-seeking

Gathering information through direct conversation with the person.

Extractive information-seeking

Gathering information by searching online.

Social Penetration Theory (SPT)

A theory describing the stages of relationship development through self-disclosure.

Dimensions of Disclosure

Includes breadth (range of topics) and depth (intimacy level) of self-disclosure.

Reciprocity in Disclosure

The norm that people match the level of disclosure in conversations.

Communication Privacy Management Theory (CPM)

A theory addressing how individuals manage their private information.

Ownership & Co-ownership

The concept that individuals have control over their private information.

Boundary Turbulence

Conflicts that arise in privacy management due to unclear boundaries.

Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT)

A theory exploring how people respond to unexpected behaviors in communication.

Positive valence

When unexpected behavior is perceived favorably.

Negative valence

When unexpected behavior is perceived unfavorably.

Politeness Theory

Explores strategies individuals use to manage their image and others' face in social interactions.

Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs)

Actions that challenge a person’s positive or negative face.

Front Stage vs. Backstage

Front stage refers to managing impressions, while backstage allows individuals to relax.

three primary factors that increase motivation to reduce uncertainty

anticipation of future interaction, incentive value, and deviance

Strategies To Seek Info

Passive, Active, Interactive, Extractive

Explicit Rules

Clearly stated or agreed-upon rules (don’t tell anyone about my job offer)

Implicit Rules

Unspoken or assumed rules based on social norms (not sharing a friend’s personal struggles without asking)

What would Petronio suggest about CPM Theory?

Both types of rules shape privacy boundaries, but explicit rules are stronger

Factors that influence Privacy Management

Privacy Orientation, Culture, Gender

Deliberate Confidant

A person with whom an individual intentionally shares private information, often trusted to keep that information confidential.

Reluctant Confidant

A person who receives private information unwillingly or without intention, often feeling pressured to keep it confidential.

Inferential Confidant

A person who is able to deduce or infer private information about someone without being directly told, often through observation or context.

Off record strategy

A communication approach where information is shared informally or unofficially, often to avoid accountability or maintain confidentiality.

Three Primary factors that affect the usage of politeness strategies and how

Degree of Imposition or the criticism

Social Distance

Power or status of the listener relative to the speaker

Penetration vs. De-penetration

Penetration refers to the process of increasing intimacy in a relationship, while de-penetration involves the reduction of intimacy and the withdrawal of personal information.