Interpersonal Communication: Models, Competence, and Relationships

Vocab Word

Meaning

Channel

The medium through which a message passses from sender to receiver

Cognitive Complexity

The abikity to construct a variety of frameworks for viewing an issue

Communication

The use of messages to generate meanings

Communication Competence

Ability to achieve one's goals in a manner that is, ideally, both effective and appropriate

Content Dimension

Dimension of a message that communicatees information about the subject discussed

Environment

Physical setting communication occurs in + personal perspectives of people invoved

Feedback

A discernable response of a recevier to a sender's message. Back and forth series of text messages.

Interpersonal communication

Self-Monitoring

Noise

External, physiological, and psychological distractions that interfere with the accurate transmission and reception of a message

Relational Dimension

Expresses the social relationship between 2 or more individuals. How you feel about the other person.

Self-Monitoring

Process of attending to one's behavior and using these observations to shape the way one behaves (multiple observations)

Transactional Communication

Process in which communicators create meaning together through interaction

4 needs at to why we communicate

Physical, Identity, Social, and Practical

Why we communicate: Physical

Body releases stress when we communicate, the likelihood of cancer goes down, no social help/reaching out

Why we communicate: Identity

Who am I as a human being?

Why we communicate: Social

Why we communicate: Practical

Getting a haircut (can you shorten the length), safety (communicate danger), and asking for a phone

Transactional Model

In receiving role you take in messages and respond ex) Sending text messages

Noise

Environmental + Physiologcal noise

3 types of noises

External, physiological, and psychological

Noise: External

Ex) music is loud

Noise: Physiological

Food, water, sleep,etc.

Noise: Psychological

Internal monologue. Cognitive factors that make communication less effective.

Non-Verbal Communication

Body langauge, physical face expression

Content

Just the words (like a script)

Relational

Seeing beyond, para-language, relationship suggested

Para-Language

Vocal elements of communication that accompany spoken words, such as tone of voice, pitch, volume, rate of speech, and pauses.

Maslow's Needs of Hierachy (5)

Self-Actualization, self-esteem, love & belonging, safety & security, physiological needs (food, water, sleep, etc.)

How long socially would it take to improve memory and boost intellectual function?

10 min

"I want to be with others; others want to be with me," is an example of?

Positive self talk and awareness

What is the foundation to life satisfaction?

Social needs

Family convo-oriented leads to

more satisfying friendships as adults

Linear Communication

Sender who encodes ideas and feelings into a message, then conveys message to a receiver who decodes it. Shared noise can occur at any stage of communication.

Transactional Communication

2 communicators sending and receiving messages simultaneously

Communication

Messages to generate meanings

When face-to-face, it can be hard to distinguish _____________

Sender from reader

Communicate diff w/diff partners + competent communicator=

adaptability

Ambiguity & Deception ->

Doesn't seek understanding

Dyad

Two person exchange

Qualitative approach to interpersonal communication

Treating one another as unique individuals rather than impersonally

Impersonal (rewards) =

extrinsic rewards

Personal (Rewards) =

Intrinsic rewards

Sharing positive or neagtive feelings w/ a friend ->

form of self-disclosure

Qualitatively interpersonal relationships

Interdependent (lives affect each other)

Relational Culture

Each relationship is define by its own specific language, customs, and rituals

Effective communication leads to...

desired results

Appropriate Communication

In a way that avoids damaging a relationship

What is most important when different cultures meet?

Flexibility

Analyze audience + adapt response =

adaptability

Code-Switching

Adapting your message to the audience and context (can be improved by practicing)

Conversation Sensitivity

More ways to interpret behavior of others, more ways to see & communicate about the world from their perspective

4 Common Misconceptions

Not all communication seeks understanding, more communication isn't always better, communication will not solves all problems, effective communication is not a natural ability

Qualitative Characteristics

Uniqueness, interdependence (Sharing feelings - emotional attachment, Self-disclosure (2 ppl sharing, 1 can be a little more than the other then it is reciprocated)

Ex) Going out to do errands and asking a friend to go with you

More intrinsically rewarding

Nonverbal Communication: Vocal

W/ voice

Nonverbal Communication: Verbal

W/ Words

Nonlinguistic

What people do is more important that what people say (shapes perception, unfamiliar lanaguage, use of facial expression, posture, gesture, tone, etc.)

Verbal Communication (list)

Mostly voluntary & conscious, can be clear or vague, primarliy shaped by culture, single chanel (words only)

Nonverbal Communication (list)

often unconscious, continuous, multichanel, usually relational

What's impossible not to do?

Communicate

What behavior has the potential to create messages?

ALL non-verbal behavior

Self-Concept

Relatively stable set of perceptions you hold of yourself

Self Esteem

Involves evaluations of self worth. Begins at a young age and is crucial for communication development.

If you feel good normally what might you expect?

Expectation to receive positive

When do infants begin recognizing "self" as distant from its surroundings. What did they marvel at?

6/7 months "Marveled at their own feet or hands"

Reflected Appraisal

Reflected appraisal is how you see yourself based on how you think other people see you. (Reflection)

Significant Other

Describes a person whose evaluations are especially influential

Social Comparison

Evaluating ourselves in comparison with others

Reference Groups

Reference groups are groups of people you use as a standard to evaluate yourself, your beliefs, your behaviors, or your appearance.

Self Concept is subjective:

The way we view ourselves may be at odds w/ others' perceptions

Self Evaluations Distorted (4)

Obsolete, Distorted Feedback, Perfectionism, Social Expectations

Self Evaluations Distorted: Obsolete

Past failures that linger info

Self Evaluations Distorted: Distorted Feedback

Overly certain message from others or distorted feedback

Self Evaluations Distorted: Perfectionism

Naive belief in perfection. Either your own or others' can distort the self concept

Self Evaluations Distorted: Social Expectations

Successful, but humble. Self promotion, but modest.

Healthy self-concept is

flexible, multifaceted, and can change as you get better

Characteristics of healthy self-concept

Large and readily available, while others are small and hidden below the surface. Each representing a distinct and real piece of who we are.

Self Concept resists change

Should reflect the way you change over time, but often doesn't

Cognitive conservatism

Resist revising self-concept and seek out people who confirm how you see yourself. Some still have the self tendency to cling to an outmoded self perception, even when the new image would be more favorable

Self-fulfilling prophecy and communication: Self-Concept

Effects both yourself and the other person

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Occurs when a person's expectations of an event, and subsequent behavior based on those expectations make the expected outcome more likely to occur

Circular Process

1) Holding an expectation (for yourself and others), 2) Behaving in accordance w/that expectation, 3) the expectation coming to pass, 4) reinforcing the original expectation

Types of self-fulfilling prophecies (2)

1) own expectations can influence your behavior, 2) 1 person's expressed expectations can affect another's behavior

_______ is part of the ___________ that inolves evaluations of __________

Self esteem is part of the self concept that inovles evaluations of self-worth

Impression Management

Communication strategies people use to influenece how others view them - creating desired impression

Public self and private self

The way you communicate about youself depends on the context

Perceived Self

Person you believe yourself to be, though it may not be accurate in every respect

Presenting Self

Public image. The way you want to appear to others. Socially approve image, public image shifts depending on the context

Face

Desired image

Facework

The verbal and nonverbal actions you use to maintain, protect, or repair that image.

Backstage behavior

When you're alone or w/ diff audiences you may be different

Characteristics of Impression Management

Strive to manage a multifaceted identity, some portions of your multifaceted identity might be conflicting at times, balancing 2 impressions is a skillful act, competent communicators are multifaceted people w/ a variety of roles and identities

Impression management is collaborative

members of your audience are also trying to create their own characters, your character reacts with others

Impression management can either be ______ or _________

Impression management can be either deliberate or unconsious

Manage Front in 3 ways

1) Manner, 2) Appearance, 3) Setting

Manage Front in 3 ways: Manner

Consists of a communicator's words and nonverbal actions

Manage Front in 3 ways: Appearance

Personal items people use to shape an image

Manage Front in 3 ways: Setting

Use of the physical environment to influence how others view us. ex) decorating living room, music you play

Mediated Communication

Mediated communication is communication that happens through a technology or medium rather than directly face-to-face.