1. Introduction to Human Communication

Topics covered:

• Fundamental concepts of communication

• Importance of communication

• Definition of communication

• Communication begins with you and extends to others

• Components of communication

• Communication contexts

2. Importance of Communication

Effective communication helps:

• Solve professional problems

• Improve personal relationships

Communication is:

• Consequential: Understanding communication affects personal and global interactions.

• Ubiquitous: It happens constantly; even silence communicates.

3. Advantages of Studying Communication

1. Improves self-perception:

2. Improves how others perceive you:

3. Enhances knowledge of human relationships:

4. Develops important life skills:

5. Promotes freedom of speech:

6. Enhances professional success:

7. Aids in navigating a diverse world:

1. Improves self-perception:

• Develops self-awareness and confidence through interpersonal experiences.

• Success in communication boosts self-esteem.

2. Improves how others perceive you:

• Better behavior control improves interactions.

• People prefer effective communicators.

3. Enhances knowledge of human relationships:

• Understand appropriate communication in various situations.

• Realize how interactions can help or harm relationships.

4. Develops important life skills:

Critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, team building, media literacy, and public speaking.

5. Promotes freedom of speech:

• Learn to speak effectively and analyze arguments.

• Influences societal betterment (e.g., Mandela, MLK).

6. Enhances professional success:

• Essential in job interviews and workplace interactions.

7. Aids in navigating a diverse world:

• Bridges language and cultural barriers.

4. Definitions of Communication

• General definition: The act of giving, receiving, or exchanging information for mutual understanding.

• Key elements: Sender, message, receiver, feedback.

• Laswell's Model: Who says what, in which channel, to whom, with what effect?

• Focus: Creating and sharing meaning through messages.

5. Communication Goals and Needs

• Communication goals:

  • Self-presentation: How we want to be perceived.

  • Relational: Building and maintaining relationships.

  • Instrumental: Gaining compliance and managing conflict.

• Schutz's interpersonal needs (1966):

  • Affection, inclusion, control.

6. Communication Models

• Shannon-Weaver Model (1949): Focuses on technical transmission of messages.

• Wilbur Schramm Model (1954): Highlights feedback and field of experience.

• Lasswell Model (1948): Emphasizes communication effects.

• Berlo's SMCR Model (1960):

  • Source: Communication skills, attitudes, knowledge, social system, culture.

  • Message: Content, elements, treatment, structure, code.

  • Channel: Five senses (hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting).

  • Receiver: Decodes messages based on similar elements as the source.

7. Communication Principles

• Begins with self: Self-view influences communication.

• Involves others: Dialogic and responsive to expectations.

• Content vs. relational dimension: What is said vs. how it's interpreted.

• Complicated process: Involves verbal, non-verbal, and situational factors.

• More communication ≠ better communication: Quality matters over quantity.

• Inevitable: Always occurs, even non-verbally.

• Irreversible: Cannot take back words or actions.

• Unrepeatable: Each communication is unique.

8. Communication Contexts

• Intrapersonal: Internal dialogue, self-evaluation.

• Interpersonal: Between two people, fostering relationships.

• Small-group: Among a few people with common goals.

• Public: One source to many, formal and planned.

• Mass communication: Media-based, large audiences.

• Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC): Digital communication, requires digital literacy.

9. Goals of Communication Study

• Communication competence: Effective exchange of meaning through symbols and behavior.

• Challenges: Discrepant goals, misunderstandings, cultural differences.