COM 110 MIDTERM

Chapters 1-6

Why do we communicate?

We need human contact and connection. We connect through communication.

What is the Interpersonal needs Theory?

We create and sustain relationships to meet 3 basic needs.

What does communication fulfill according to the Interpersonal Needs Theory?

1. affection: to give and receive love/liking

2. inclusion: to be social and included

3. control: the desire to influence people and events

What is interpersonal communication continuum?

It splits communication from impersonal to interpersonal ranging from I-It, I-You, and I-Thou.

What is I-It?

Impersonal communication: you talk to someone because they have something you want. (ie: waiter)

What is I-You?

Surface level communication: you don’t talk about anything too personal. (ie: classmate)

What is I-Thou?

Interpersonal communication: very personal you know these people very well and you can tell them everything. (ie: best friend)

What is Interpersonal Communication?

A selective systemic process that allows people to reflect and build personal knowledge of one another and create shared meanings.

What are the features of interpersonal communication?

1. selective: we choose who we want to interact deeply with

2. systemic: systems or contexts affect communication

3. process: evolves over time; linked to the past and future

4. personal knowledge: each relationship is unique

5. meaning: creating shared meaning between people; the heart of interpersonal communication

What is the first principle of communication?

We cannot not communicate. We are always communicating as people are always interpreting our behavior.

What is the second principle of communication?

Interpersonal communication is irreversible. You cannot take interpersonal communication back.

What is the third principle of communication?

Interpersonal communication involves ethical choices. Should you say something knowing the weight of your words.

What is the fourth principle of communication?

People construct meanings in interpersonal communication. What do your words mean to different people?

What is the fifth principle of communication?

Meta-communication affects meanings. Communication about communication clarifies what you mean.

What is the the sixth principle of communication?

Interpersonal communication develops and sustains relationships.

What is the seventh principle of communication?

Interpersonal communication is not a panacea. Interpersonal communication cannot solve everything.

What is the eighth principle of communication?

Interpersonal communication effectiveness can be learned.

What is interpersonal communication competence?

The ability to communicate effectively, appropriately, and ethically.

How do you develop interpersonal communication competence?

Develop a range of skills, adapt communication appropriately, understand peoples perspective, monitor your communication, commit to ethical communication.

What is the linear model of communication?

Depicts communication as a linear one way process. The sender is acting upon the receiver who is passive.

Why is the linear model of communication lacking?

It does not account for the back and forth communication between both the sender and receiver.

What is the interactive model of communication?

Communication is a process which listeners give feedback. It recognizes that communicators create and interpret messages within personal fields of experience.

What is the transactional model of communication?

Emphasizes the dynamic nature of interpersonal communication. There are multiple roles people assume during the process. Communicators share responsibility for effectiveness.

What is noise?

Anything that can distort the communication or interfere with people’s understanding of one another.

What is Physiological Noise?

When how you are feeling prevents you from understanding something (ie headache, its hot)

What is external noise?

Any sound outside that is preventing you from understanding something. (ie sirens, construction)

What is internal/psychological noise?

Your mind is preoccupied with something so it prevents you from understanding something. (ie you are nervous, daydreaming)

What is semantic noise?

Not understanding due to not knowing what the words mean (ie a textbook with technical words)

What is self?

A constantly evolving processual understanding of oneself

What is self-concept?

A set of perceptions you hold of yourself

What is self-esteem?

The part that involves evaluations of self-worth

How do we come to know who we are?

1. We communicate with others and learn info about ourselves

2. We internalize these external perspectives

3. They become a part of who we are and how we see others

Who are particular others?

Specific people who are important in our lives

What are direct definitions?

Communication that tells us explicitly how others see us by labeling us and our behaviors. These labels can enhance or reduce our self-esteem, and we learn what other people value and what we should value in ourselves

What is reflected appraisal?

Our perception of another’s view of us. How we think others appraise us affects how we see ourselves.

What is social comparison?

The process of assessing ourselves in relation to others to form judgments of ourselves.

How does social comparison happen?

1. are you alike or different?

2. how do we measure up?

How does the self-fulfilling prophecy affect our behavior?

1. We internalize others’ expectations or judgements about us

2. We behave in ways consistent with those expectations/judgements

What are identity scripts?

Rules for living and identity that we learn from others. Our roles, values, and how to live our lives.

Who is the generalized other?

General or overall society

What is face?

impression of self that we want others to accept when we interact in social situations.

What is impression management?

How we use communication to persuade others to believe in the face we present.

Do we have full control over our face?

No, as everyone is always interpreting our actions even our nonverbal actions which can be interpreted differently.

What are the 4 windows of the Johari window?

Open (known to others and known to self): Surface level information

Blind (known to others and not known to self): information you were trying to hide but others can tell.

Hidden (not known to others and known to self): your secrets

Unknown (not known to others and not known to self): what you don’t know about yourself

What is self-disclosure?

Intentionally revealing information about ourselves

What are the benefits of self-disclosure?

1. you can learn about yourself

2. it can be cathartic

3. validation

4. may be ethical

What are the risks of self-disclosure?

1. may not accept what we reveal

2. may like us less

3. may reject us

4. might use it against us

What is perception?

The active process of selecting organizing, and interpreting people, objects, events, and other phenomena

What is selection?

Select stimuli we pay attention to

What factors affect what stimuli we select?

1. intensity: louder, larger, brighter

2. repetitious: repeated exposure

3. contrast or change: changes in stimulation

4. deliberate focus: choose to specifically focus on something

5. who we are: what we need/want

6. culture: determines what is unusual

What is schemata?

cognitive structures that help us organize or interpret experiences

What are prototypes?

The most representative example of a category

What are personal constructs?

Bipolar mental yard sticks that we use to measure a person or situation

What are stereotypes?

Predictive generalization applied to a person or situation

What are scripts?

A guide to action

What is interpretation?

Subjective process of explaining our perceptions in ways that make sense to us.

What are attributions?

An explanation of why someone acts in a certain way

What are the four dimensions of attributions and how do these help us make sense of others’ behavior?

Locus: Attributes a person’s actions to internal or external factors (ie the test was easy bc I’m smart (internal) vs bc the questions were easy (external))

Stability: explains actions as a result of factors that are stable or unstable (they are always grumpy (stable) they are tired that’s why they are grumpy (unstable))

Specificity: explains behaviors in global implications or only under specific conditions

responsibility: do you think others are responsible for their behavior?

What is the self-serving bias?

We hold a bias toward ourselves and our interests. If we do well it reflects our personal qualities and efforts. If we do bad we blame external forces.

What is the fundamental attribution error?

We overestimate internal causes and underestimate external causes for others’ behavior. If they do poorly it is because of their qualities and efforts.

What influences perception?

Physiology: senses, mood, health issues

Expectations: what do you expect to happen?

Age: older vs younger people

Cognitive abilities": How elaborately can we think? Can you be person centered?

Culture: guides our expectations, a person’s social standing in society, roles (mother, teacher)

Self: how we perceive ourselves affects how we perceive the world

ALL PERCEPTIONS ARE PARTIAL AND SUBJECTIVE

How does language relate to communication?

Language is one of the most essential components of human communication

How is language symbolic?

We created words that are symbols for things in our world. They are arbitrary, ambiguous, and abstract representations of phenomena.

How do language and culture reflect each other?

Language helps define phenomena and reflects cultural history, values, and perspectives. Language can help define things to alter understanding (cultural values or social movements).

What is linguistic relativity?

Language shapes our world and our world shapes our language. Language is always changing.

What are regulative rules?

Rules that specify when, where, and with whom to talk about certain things.

What are constitutive rules?

How to interpret and perform different kinds of communication. What we do when we want to be perceived a certain way (flirty, friendly)

What can language do?

1. Shape perception

2. can be loaded

3. can totalize, degrade or stereotype others

4. shape and reflect relationships

5. allow for hypothetical/abstract thought

What are speech communities?

Exists when people have shared understandings of how to communicate

What are gendered speech communities?

Men and women are socialized into different understandings of how communication functions

feminine talk: more expressive and focused on feelings and relationships

masculine talk: more instrumental and competitive

What is a disclaimer?

Problematic language that distances ourselves from the remarks that may be unwelcome. (no offense…)

What is a but statement?

Problematic language that the “but” cancels the thought that precedes it; face saving but confusing (I think you are great BUT…)

What is relative language?

Problematic language that gains meaning by comparing it to something else but it can fail to link it to something measurable (it was big that’s relative to the person)

What is static evaluation?

Problematic language that uses descriptions or evaluations that use the word “is”. Implies that it is unchanging when it could change (she is mean)

What is evaluative language?

Problematic language that describes something and shows the speaker’s attitude toward it.

What is sexist language?

Problematic language that unnecessarily differentiates between females or males or diminishes or excludes or demeans either

What is racist language?

Problematic language that classifies members of one racial group as superior and others as inferior

What is Language of Responsibility?

Reflects speakers willingness to take responsibility for beliefs feelings or actions

What is you language?

Expresses judgement of other person (YOU are so messy)

What is I language?

Identifies the speaker’s thoughts feelings and emotions. (I get so mad when you…)

What is we language?

Implies issue is the concern and responsibility of both. (WE have a problem)

What is nonverbal communication?

All aspects of communication other than words. What we do can convey more meaning than what we say.

What are the characteristics of nonverbal communication?

1. symbolic and ambiguous

2. rule governed

3. may be intentional or unintentional

4. reflects culture

5. is continuous (you are always nonverbally communicating)

6. multi-channeled

7. perceived to be more believable

What can nonverbal communication do?

Coincides with verbal messages and can: repeat, highlight, complement, contradict, and substitute

Can establish and maintain relationships. Immediacy: behavior that increases perceptions of closeness and liking

Regulates interactions (taking turns is regulated nonverbally)

Manages impressions. Choose how we act, what we wear

What is kinesics?

How people communicate through their body. (body movement, facial expressions, eye contact, posture, gestures)

What is an Emblem?

A type of kinesics that are substitutions for verbal expressions (ie waving, the middle finger)

What is an illustrator?

A type of kinesics that help visualize or emphasize a verbal message (ie showing with your hands how big something was)

What is a affect display?

A type of kinesics that are nonverbal expressions of emotions (ie smiling)

What is a regulator?

A type of kinesics that indicate how you want others to behave of what you want them to do (ie packing up to show you want to leave)

What is an adaptor?

A type of kinesics that is used to satisfy a personal need. It can signal comfort or discomfort. (ie fixing your hair)

What is haptics?

The study of touch

What is positive affect?

A type of haptics that conveys support, appreciation, or attraction (ie hug and kisses)

What is playful haptics?

A type of haptics that conveys playful affection, aggression, or roughhousing (ie playfully hitting someone)

What is control haptics?

A type of haptics that is used to gain compliance or attention (ie pulling someone)

What is ritualistic haptics?

A type of haptics that is used to greet or say goodbye to someone (ie handshake)

What is hybrid haptics?

A type of haptics that is used to greet or say goodbye and express affection (ie kissing goodbye)

What is task related haptics?

A type of haptics that is used to get something done (ie a doctor touching you)

What is accidental haptics?

A type of haptics that is unintentional or potentially meaningless

What is proxemics?

The study of space and distance in communication

What is does personal space depend on?

Our individual bubbles that surround us varies based on culture, situation, or the other person.