Understanding yourself & others midterm 2

chapters 8, 9, 10, 12

What is interpersonal communication?

An interactional process in which one person sends a message to another. It involves at least two people and is bidirectional

Why is interpersonal communication considered an interactional process?

Because communication involves a series of actions and responses between people rather than simply sending information in one direction

What are the six components of the communication process?

Sender, receiver, message, channel, noise, and context.

What is the sender in the communication process?

The person who initiates the message.

What is the receiver in the communication process?

The person to whom the message is targeted.

What is the message in the communication process?

The information or meaning transmitted from the sender to the receiver.

What is the channel in the communication process?

The sensory channel through which the message reaches the receiver.

What is noise in the communication process?

Any stimulus that interferes with accurately expressing or understanding a message.

What is context in the communication process?

The environment in which communication takes place.

What is electronically mediated communication?

Interpersonal communication that takes place through technology.

What is pragmatics?

Knowledge of the practical aspects of using language, including the social rules and context surrounding communication.

Why is context important when interpreting language?

It provides additional information that helps determine the intended meaning of a message, even when the words remain identical.

How does pragmatics explain the question "Do you have the time?"

The meaning depends on context

• A passerby usually wants the actual time, while a student asking a professor may be asking whether they have time to explain something.

Why is answering "Yes" to a passerby asking "Do you have the time?" an example of poor pragmatic understanding?

Although technically correct, it ignores the intended meaning and social expectations of the question.

Why is effective interpersonal communication important for adjustment?

It is essential to many aspects of life and helps people develop and maintain satisfying relationships

How does good communication affect relationships?

Good communication enhances relationship satisfaction.

What is a major cause of relationship break-ups?

Poor communication.

What is nonverbal communication?

The transmission of meaning from one person to another through symbols or methods other than words.

Why is nonverbal communication important?

A great deal of information is communicated through nonverbal signals, including emotions, attitudes, and intentions.

What are the five general principles of nonverbal communication?

It conveys emotions, is multichanneled, is ambiguous, may contradict verbal messages, and is culture-bound.

How does nonverbal communication convey emotions?

Facial expressions and body posture communicate feelings without requiring words.

What does it mean that nonverbal communication is multichanneled?

It uses multiple channels simultaneously, including facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, vocal tone, and body language.

What does it mean that nonverbal communication is ambiguous?

Nonverbal signals can have multiple meanings and may be difficult to interpret accurately.

How can nonverbal communication contradict verbal communication?

A person's body language may communicate something different from what they are saying verbally.

What does it mean that nonverbal communication is culture-bound?

Nonverbal signals and their meanings can vary across different cultures.

What is proxemics?

The study of how people use the space around them.

What is personal space?

A zone of space surrounding a person that is felt to belong to that person.

What factors influence a person's preference for personal space?

The nature of the relationship, social norms and culture, specific situations, and social status.

What did Hall (1966) identify regarding personal space?

Hall described four specific personal space zones that vary according to the intimacy of interpersonal relationships.

What are the four personal space zones described by Hall (1966)?

Intimate, personal, social, and public distance.

How does relationship intimacy influence personal space?

People generally allow less personal space between themselves and individuals with whom they have closer, more intimate relationships.

How can situational factors influence personal space?

The appropriate amount of personal space changes depending on the circumstances and environment.

What is the attraction-proximity relationship?

The assumption that people who sit closer together are more attracted to each other or have a better interpersonal relationship.

Why should the attraction-proximity relationship be interpreted cautiously?

Physical closeness alone does not prove attraction or relationship quality because other situational and nonverbal factors influence proximity.

What is a sociopetal setting?

A setting that facilitates and encourages social interaction.

What is an example of a sociopetal setting?

A seating arrangement that encourages people to face one another and interact.

What is a sociofugal setting?

A setting that discourages or limits social interaction.

What is an example of a sociofugal setting?

A seating arrangement that discourages interaction, such as people sitting back-to-back.

How do libraries demonstrate the importance of personal space?

People prefer empty tables

If a table is occupied, they generally choose seats farthest from others or prefer sitting back-to-back rather than side-by-side.

What happens when a library becomes more than 60% full?

People may choose to leave and find another location rather than tolerate the increased density.

Are restaurants and bars sociopetal or sociofugal settings?

They can be both

• Some customers prefer social interaction, while others prefer privacy and limited interaction

How have restaurants adapted to different social preferences?

They attempt to provide seating arrangements that accommodate both sociopetal and sociofugal preferences.

What are the two types of density?

Spatial density and social density.

What is spatial density?

The amount of space available changes while the number of individuals stays the same.

What is social density?

The number of individuals changes while the size of the room or available space stays constant.

What is the difference between spatial density and social density?

Spatial density changes the amount of space available per person, while social density changes the number of people occupying a fixed space.

What is an example of increased spatial density?

The same number of people are placed in a smaller room.

What is an example of increased social density?

More people enter a room while its physical size remains unchanged.

What do facial expressions communicate?

Basic emotions that can generally be recognized by people around the world.

What are display rules?

Culturally determined rules specifying the conditions under which people should or should not express their emotions

What are the seven basic facial expressions of emotion identified?

Surprise, fear, disgust, anger, happiness, sadness, and contempt.

What does it mean to mask an emotional expression?

To hide or conceal an emotion that a person is actually experiencing.

What is an example of masking an emotion?

Trying not to laugh when someone trips.

What does it mean to modulate an emotional expression?

To modify the intensity of an emotion being expressed.

What is an example of modulating an emotion?

Laughing hysterically at a joke that is only slightly funny.

What does it mean to simulate an emotional expression?

To display an emotion that a person is not actually experiencing.

What is an example of simulating an emotion?

Expressing sorrow when a person does not genuinely feel sorry.

What did Ekman et al. (1972) investigate?

How cultural display rules influence the expression of emotions.

What did participants in the Ekman et al. (1972) study express when they were alone?

Both Japanese and American students generally displayed similar expressions of disgust.

What happened when participants watched the upsetting film in the presence of a visiting scientist?

Japanese students were more likely to mask their negative emotions with polite smiles.

What did the Ekman et al. (1972) study demonstrate?

Although certain facial expressions are widely recognized, cultural display rules influence how people express emotions in different social situations.

What is a microexpression?

A brief, involuntary facial expression that reveals an emotion a person is experiencing.

What is leakage in emotional expression?

The inability to completely mask the expression of a strong emotion.

How are microexpressions and leakage related?

Microexpressions can reveal emotions that a person is attempting to conceal, providing an example of emotional leakage.

What is the difference between a genuine and fake emotional expression?

A genuine expression reflects an emotion actually being experienced, while a fake expression is deliberately displayed without the corresponding genuine feeling.

Why can facial expressions be unreliable when detecting deception?

People can mask, modulate, or simulate emotions, making their visible expressions potentially misleading.

What are some common misconceptions about nonverbal signs of lying?

People often assume liars talk more, tell elaborate stories, and display obvious nervous behaviours, but research suggests these assumptions are not necessarily accurate.

What are some nonverbal and behavioural patterns associated with deception in the lecture?

Liars often say less, include less unusual content in stories, appear more tense, and make a more negative impression.

Do liars necessarily make better storytellers?

No

• Liars are not necessarily good storytellers and tend to include less unusual content in their stories.

What is a polygraph?

A device that records fluctuations in physiological arousal while a person answers questions.

What physiological responses does a polygraph monitor?

Heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, perspiration, and galvanic skin conductance.

What is galvanic skin conductance?

A physiological measure associated with changes in the skin's electrical conductance, commonly influenced by sweating.

What is the most meaningful aspect of eye contact as nonverbal communication?

The duration of eye contact.

How is eye contact generally interpreted among European Americans?

High levels of eye contact are often associated with effective social skills and credibility.

Is eye contact interpreted the same way across all cultures?

No

• Some cultures, including certain Native American tribes, may consider prolonged eye contact offensive

What is kinesics?

The study of communication through body movements.

What does an open body posture communicate?

A relaxed state, such as having uncrossed arms positioned down at the sides.

What does a closed body posture communicate?

Defensiveness or tension, such as crossing one's arms.

What role do hand gestures play in communication?

They emphasize and reinforce the words being spoken.

What influences where and whom people touch?

Social norms and expectations governing appropriate physical contact.

Which pairs generally touch more often: female-female or male-male pairs?

Female-female pairs generally touch more often.

How is cross-gender touch generally interpreted differently by females and males, according to the lecture?

Females may interpret it as support, while males may interpret it as power or sexual interest.

What is paralanguage?

All vocal cues other than the actual content of a verbal message.

How can paralanguage change the meaning of spoken words?

Variations in vocal emphasis, tone, and delivery can give the same words different meanings.

What are examples of paralanguage substitutes in online communication?

Capital letters for emphasis, emoticons, and emojis.

Who is generally better at accurately judging emotional expressions: men or women?

Women are generally more accurate across many cultures.

Why might women be more accurate at judging emotional expressions?

One explanation is that women may be more motivated to recognize and interpret emotional cues.

Can men develop the ability to accurately judge emotional expressions?

Yes

• Men in professions emphasizing these skills, such as psychotherapy and drama, can be just as accurate as women

What is nonverbal sensitivity?

The ability to accurately encode and decode nonverbal cues.

What does encoding mean in nonverbal communication?

Expressing nonverbal cues accurately.

What does decoding mean in nonverbal communication?

Understanding and interpreting nonverbal cues accurately.

What are encoding and decoding in the communication process?

Encoding is when speakers turn ideas into messages

Decoding is when receivers interpret the meaning of those messages.

Who generally tends to be better at encoding and decoding nonverbal cues?

Women (duh)

Why might women demonstrate greater nonverbal sensitivity?

It may stem from greater motivation to communicate and interpret nonverbal information.

Can anyone improve their nonverbal sensitivity?

Yes

• Nonverbal communication skills can be learned and improved through practice and experience.

What does effective interpersonal communication require from both participants?

Both speaking and listening effectively, since both individuals send and receive information.

What additional factors are included in communication context?

Physical environment, the participants' relationship, their moods, and their shared history.

How can noise interfere with interpersonal communication beyond physical distractions?

It can include behaviours or signals that interfere with understanding, such as profanity or arriving late, which may communicate disrespect.

How can social networking sites provide social support?

They allow individuals to connect with others and potentially receive support, particularly those who need social connections.

What is an interesting misconception people have about online privacy?

People often assume their own privacy is protected while believing that others are at risk.