Key Communication Terms for Exam Preparation

These flashcards cover key communication terms that are essential for exam preparation.

Enclothed Cognition

The influence that clothing can have on a person's psychological processes.

Illusion of Transparency

The belief that our inner states are more visible to others than they actually are.

Attribution

The process of explaining the causes of behavior and events.

Asynchronous Channel

A communication medium where messages are sent and received at different times.

Warranting Value

The degree to which online information about a person is considered trustworthy.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge and justified belief.

Law of Reciprocity

The social norm of responding to a positive action with another positive action.

Breadth of Penetration

The range of topics discussed in a relationship.

Depth of Penetration

The degree of intimacy of disclosure in a relationship.

Objective Approach vs. Interpretive Approach

Two differing perspectives in communication theory.

Social Exchange Theory

A theory that weighs the costs and benefits of interpersonal relationships.

Postmodern vs. Modern

Contrasting cultural or theoretical frameworks.

Truth vs. Truthiness vs. Post-Truth

The difference between factual truth, the appearance of truth, and a context in which objective facts are less influential.

Medium is the Message

The medium used to convey information influences how the message is perceived.

Amputation & Amplification

Concepts regarding the loss or enhancement of communication content.

Narcissus as Narcosis

A metaphor for how self-love can lead to a lack of awareness about others.

Comparison Level (CL)

The standard by which a person judges the desirability of a relationship.

Comparison Level of Alternatives (CLalt)

The lowest level of relational satisfaction acceptable for a person.

Relational Dialectics

The theory that relationships are dynamic and full of contradictions.

Symbolic Interactionism

A theory that emphasizes the role of symbols and language in human interaction.

Social Constructivism

A theory that suggests knowledge and meaning are constructed through social processes.

Benjamin Franklin Effect

The phenomenon where a person who has done someone a favor is more likely to do another favor for them.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Transmission Model vs. Constitutive Model of Communication

Different frameworks for understanding how communication functions.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

The idea that language shapes thought and perception.

Social Information Processing Theory

A theory that explores how people develop interpersonal relationships through electronic communication.

Self-fulfilling Prophecy

The phenomenon whereby a belief or expectation brings about its own fulfillment.

Dunbar's Number

The theoretical cognitive limit to the number of people with whom one can maintain stable relationships.

Social Penetration Theory

A theory explaining how relational closeness develops.

Introvert vs. Extrovert

Terms used to describe personality types based on their preference for solitude or social interaction.

Embodied Cognition

The theory that our thoughts and behaviors are influenced by our bodies and environment.

Interpersonal Impression

The perception and evaluation of another individual in a social context.

Inconsistent Messages

Communication that conveys conflicting information.

Anticipated Future Interaction

The expectations of future exchanges that can influence current behavior.

Selective Self-Presentation

The process of controlling the information one shares to influence how one is perceived.

Elaboration

The process of developing or presenting an idea in detail.

Central Route

A method of persuasion that involves careful and thoughtful consideration of the arguments.

Objective Elaboration

An unbiased analysis of an issue.

Biased Elaboration

An analysis that is influenced by personal motivations or preexisting beliefs.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's beliefs.

Peripheral Route

A method of persuasion that relies on superficial cues rather than careful consideration.

Groupthink

A psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony in a group leads to poor decision-making.