Symbolic Interactionism and Expectancy Violations Theory Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core theoretical concepts, definitions, and spatial dimensions from Symbolic Interactionism and Expectancy Violations Theory.

Symbolic Interactionism

An interpersonal communication perspective emphasizing that communication is complex, situated, and social, and that humans act toward people or things based on assigned meanings.

Social Construction of Reality

The concept that reality and sense of self are created through communication, where events do not occur unless humans are there to witness and talk about them after the fact.

Symbolic Interaction

Communication in anticipation of the response that goes back and forth as a continuous process.

Symbols

Arbitrary signs based on random choice that carry a learned meaning and value for people.

Schemata

Mental filing cabinets that help organize information and shape a person's interpretation of symbols through thought processes.

Minding

Paying close attention to another person's feelings and thoughts through inner dialogue and rehearsal.

The Looking-glass Self

The image of ourselves that we believe is seen by others, which shapes our performance in the world.

Dramaturgy

A perspective by Goffman that views social interaction as a performance involving facework and front stage versus back stage behaviors.

Facework

Which of your faces you present in any given context during social performance.

The Generalized Other

The imagined audience made up of a composite of experienced responses and known social norms.

The I

The aspect of the self that is spontaneous, novel, and unpredictable.

The Me

The aspect of the self that is an image reflected back from the reactions of others, resulting from the looking-glass self playing out in reality.

Proxemics

The study of how humans use space or proximity.

Fixed-feature Space

A type of space defined by immobile objects.

Semi-fixed-feature Space

A type of space defined by mobile objects.

Informal Space

The space around one's body.

Intimate Distance

Informal spatial zone ranging from $0-1.5\,\text{feet}$, used for touching or whispering.

Personal Distance

Informal spatial zone ranging from $1.5-4\,\text{feet}$, used for interactions among friends.

Social Distance

Informal spatial zone ranging from $4\,\text{to}\,12\,\text{feet}$.

Public Distance

Informal spatial zone starting at $12\,\text{feet}$, used for public speakers and public speaking.

Threat Threshold

The imagined outer boundary representing the maximum amount of danger a human system can tolerate.

Arousal

A heightened physiological state of alertness that can have positive or negative valence.

Orienting Response

A process that switches with arousal to begin interpretation of an expectancy violation by directing attention to novelty in the environment.

Communicator Reward Valence (CRV)

An evaluation of whether further interaction with a communicator has a net positive or net negative valence based on attractiveness, liking, and reward power.

Violation Valence

The evaluation of an unexpected behavior itself, which combines with communicator reward valence to determine a response.