Ch. 2 - Human Communication

Process of selectively attending to information and assigning meaning to it

Perception

Choice of sensory stimuli depends on:

• needs

• interests

• expectations

Attention & Selection

Our brains arrange stimuli so that they make sense according to:

• simplicity

• pattern

As the brain selects and organizes information, it also interprets the information by assigning meaning to it

Interpretation of Stimuli

• Interpretation of personal experiences

• Reactions and responses of others

• Ideal self-concept

Forming and Maintaining a Self-Concept

What we would like to be

Ideal Self-Concept

A person’s culture has a strong influence on the self-perception process

True

Types of Cultures

• individualistic

• collectivist

• masculine

• feminine

Men and women may be socialized to view themselves differently, and to value who they are based on cultural expectations of gender

Gender and Self-Perceptions

Improving your self-perception will…

• Improve how you interact with others

• Improve your interactions with others

Gap between our inaccurate self-perceptions and reality is magnified through:

• Self-fulfilling prophecies

• Filtering messages

• Media images

Effects of Self-Perception

• Moderate how we talk to ourselves

• Influence how we talk about ourselves with others

• Affect communication apprehension

When we interact with others, most of us mask some of who we think we are so that we meet others’ expectations

Self Presentation

Internal process of being aware of yourself and how you come across others

Self Monitoring

We are most likely to __________ in new relationships or unfamiliar situations

Self-monitor

Pattern of learned behavior that meets the perceived demands of a particular context

Social Construction of Self - Role

Uncertainty Reduction

Process of monitoring the social environment to learn more about self and others

Our first impressions are usually based on:

• How people look

• How people act

A generalization, usually oversimplified and often offensive, used to describe or distinguish a group

Stereotypes

A rigid attitude that is based on group membership and predisposes an individual to feel or think in a negative way toward another person or group

Prejudice

Involves a negative action towards a group or individual based on stereotype and prejudice

Discrimination

Our emotions:

• Cause us to engage in selective perceptions

• Affect our attributions

We can interpret the content and intent of the speaker based on this

Context

Participants in communication may not have identical perceptions of specific words, visual images, or nonverbal cues

Shared Language

Message that reflects your understanding of the meaning of another person’s nonverbal behavior

Perception Check

Ways to Improve Perceptions

• Question the accuracy of your perceptions

• Seek more information to verify perceptions

• Realize that your perceptions of a person will change over time

• Use the skill of perception checking