SCOM Final Review

Communication

The process of creating meaning through verbal and nonverbal messages.

Intrapersonal Communication

Communication with yourself using internal thinking and self-talk.

Interpersonal Communication

Communication between people whose lives mutually influence each other.

Group Communication

Communication among three or more people working toward a shared goal.

Public Communication

A sender-focused form of communication where one person speaks to an audience.

Mass Communication

Communication sent to large audiences through media like TV

Transmission Model

A one-way model of communication focused on sender → message → receiver.

Interaction Model

A communication model that includes feedback and two-way interaction.

Transaction Model

A communication model where communicators simultaneously send and receive messages.

Noise

Anything that interferes with communication.

Environmental Noise

Physical sounds or distractions that interfere with communication.

Semantic Noise

Misunderstanding caused by confusing language or symbols.

Encoding

The process of turning thoughts into communication.

Decoding

The process of interpreting communication into meaning.

Communication Channel

The route a message travels through

Physical Context

The environment surrounding communication

Psychological Context

Mental and emotional influences on communication.

Social Context

Rules and norms that guide communication in society.

Relational Context

The history and relationship between communicators.

Cultural Context

Cultural identities that influence communication.

Communication as a Process

Communication is ongoing and always changing.

Irreversible Communication

Once something is communicated

Symbolic Communication

Words and symbols represent ideas rather than directly containing meaning.

Communication Ethics

Communication involves decisions about right and wrong behavior.

Communication Competence

The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in different situations.

Mindful Communicator

An active communicator who adapts and carefully processes information.

Perception

The process of selecting

Selection

The first stage of perception where we notice certain information.

Organization

The stage of perception where we arrange information into patterns.

Interpretation

The stage of perception where we assign meaning to information.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Blaming someone’s personality instead of considering the situation.

Self-Serving Bias

Taking credit for success but blaming outside factors for failure.

Self-Concept

How you see yourself.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

When expectations influence behavior and become true.

Stereotypes

Using assumptions or oversimplified beliefs about groups.

Nonverbal Communication

Communication without words.

Kinesics

Body movement and gestures.

Paralanguage

Tone

Haptics

Communication through touch.

Proxemics

The use of personal space in communication.

Chronemics

The use and perception of time.

Repeating

When nonverbal communication repeats verbal communication.

Complementing

When nonverbal communication adds meaning to verbal communication.

Contradicting

When nonverbal communication conflicts with verbal communication.

Substituting

When nonverbal communication replaces verbal communication.

Accenting

When nonverbal communication emphasizes a message.

Hearing

The physical process of receiving sound.

Listening

The active process of making meaning from sound.

Receiving

The first stage of listening where sound is received.

Understanding

The stage of listening where meaning is understood.

Remembering

The stage of listening where information is stored in memory.

Evaluating

The stage of listening where messages are judged or analyzed.

Responding

The stage of listening where feedback is given.

Informational Listening

Listening to learn information.

Critical Listening

Listening to evaluate or analyze messages.

Empathetic Listening

Listening to support someone emotionally.

Culture

Shared beliefs

Individualistic Culture

A culture that values personal achievement and independence.

Collectivistic Culture

A culture that values group harmony and cooperation.

High-Context Culture

A culture where meaning depends heavily on context and nonverbal cues.

Low-Context Culture

A culture where communication is direct and explicit.

Ethnocentrism

Believing one’s own culture is superior to others.

Intercultural Communication Competence

The ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultures.

Thesis Statement

The main idea or central argument of a speech.

Informative Speech

A speech intended to teach or explain information.

Persuasive Speech

A speech intended to influence beliefs

Supporting Materials

Examples

Attention Getter

An opening designed to capture audience interest.

Chronological Organization

Organizing a speech by time order.

Spatial Organization

Organizing a speech by location or direction.

Topical Organization

Organizing a speech by categories or topics.

Problem-Solution Organization

Organizing a speech by presenting a problem and then offering a solution.

Cause-Effect Organization

Organizing a speech around causes and effects.

Public Speaking Anxiety

Fear or nervousness associated with speaking in public.

Manuscript Delivery

Reading a speech word-for-word.

Memorized Delivery

Giving a speech entirely from memory.

Impromptu Delivery

Giving a speech with little or no preparation.

Extemporaneous Delivery

Giving a prepared but conversational speech.

Ethos

A persuasive appeal based on credibility and trustworthiness.

Pathos

A persuasive appeal based on emotion.

Logos

A persuasive appeal based on logic and evidence.

Proposition of Fact

A persuasive claim about what is true or false.

Proposition of Value

A persuasive claim about what is good or bad.

Proposition of Policy

A persuasive claim about what should be done.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

A persuasive organizational pattern with five steps: attention

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning that moves from specific examples to a general conclusion.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning that moves from a general statement to a specific conclusion.

Causal Reasoning

Reasoning based on cause-and-effect relationships.

Logical Fallacies

Errors in reasoning that weaken arguments.

Bandwagon Fallacy

A fallacy where someone argues something is true because everyone else believes it.

Slippery Slope Fallacy

A fallacy that assumes one event will lead to extreme consequences.

Ad Hominem Fallacy

A fallacy that attacks a person instead of the argument.

Hasty Generalization

A fallacy that makes a broad conclusion from insufficient evidence.