exam 1

tcu comm 10123

communication

collaborative process of using messages to create and participate in social reality. The most important aspects of our lives—our individual identities, relationships, organizations, communities, cultures, and ideas—are accomplished through communication.

collaborative process of using messages to create and participate in social reality

convergence

refers to the ways in which the many forms of technologically mediated and face-to-face communication overlap and intersect in our daily lives

communication contexts

face-to-face, mediated, interpresonal, small group, public

face to face communication

refers to situations in which physically or bodily copresent participants speak directly to one another during the interaction

mediated communication

refers to communication or messages that are transmitted through some type of medium.

interpersonal communication

refers to communication with or between persons

Between 2 ppl who respond to or interact with one another as unique individuals in a relationship  

intrapersonal communication

communication with yourself and how you process and undertsand

public communication

person delivers a message to an audience

communication metaphors

transmission, sender/receiver, code, channel, interaction, transaction, social construct

transmission

sender —— (message & feedback) —> receiver

A source sends a message through a channel or a medium to a receiver in an environment of noise that serves as interference with effective transmission of a message.

encoding and decoding of messages between S and R

interaction

describes communication as a two-way process of reciprocal action. It takes the basic elements of the transmission metaphor and adds two important components: feedback and fields of experience

feedback

refers to a receiver’s response to a sender’s message. Because of ___, senders may adapt their messages in real time to increase the chances of communication success.

transaction

acknowledge that people are connected through communication and that they accomplish something in communication beyond (trans-) merely relaying messages back and forth

using communication for shared learning or meaning

social construct

communication influences communicators, shapes and creates larger social realities

code

what is being said

channel

what is being used to send the message

context

all things about communication that aren’t the message itself

true

t/f: your perception = your reality

perception

The process of being aware of and understanding the world

3 parts of perception process

selection, organization, interpretation

selective perception

individuals filter what they see and hear to make it suit their own needs, biases, or expectations

organization

the way we intake information in a way that makes sense; often uses previous experiences and schemas to interpret

interpretation

giving meaning to information

interpersonal constructs

bipolar dimensions of judgment used to size up people or social situations

schema

mental structures developed from past experiences that help us respond to some stimuli in the future

act as road maps to help us understand and classify the world around us

self concept

general perception of who we are, past selves, and future selves

possible self

plan of who you hope to become

visions of what we might become, what we would like to become, and what we are afraid of becoming

self image

who you are now and how you see yourself today

is one’s mental picture of oneself

self esteem

value you place on yourself

refers to an individual’s assessment of their worth

self efficacy

combination of self image and self esteem that lead you to make decisions, what can I do

self presentation

making intentional, strategic decisions about communication to try to influence how others see us

self monitoring

adapting our communication to fit/match communication of those around us

self disclosure

revealing yourself by sharing information

attribution theory

process by which you try to explain people’s behavior or situation

internal v external 

• Ex: someone running a stop sign 

• Internal - We think they’re selfish and a jerk 

• External - We think they are in a hurry / rush 

fundamental attribution error

our tendency to use internal attributions when someone is doing something we don’t like

self serving bias

we use external attributions as excuse for us doing something (usually unfavorable)

selective distortion

adapting info that conflicts with earlier impession

halo and horns effect

halo effect - selective distortion

positive impression lead to positive impressions

horns effect - selective distortion

negative conflicts lead to negative impressions

symbolic interactionism

the person you are today is a result of your interactions and experiences with others

true

t/f: verbal communication = language

language

system of words represented by symbols used for a common purpose by a group of people

denotative meaning

a word’s formal / dictionary definition

connotative meaning

informal meanings associated with feelings and personal experiences: tone, power of words, emotion

linguistic relativity

language and thought are so interrelated that thought is rooted in and controlled by language

language creates and shapes our social reality

Sapir-Whorf

triangle of meaning

speaking, reference, thought

inclusive language

expressions and words that are broad enough to include all people and avoids expressions and words that exclude particular groups

nonverbal communication

• Involuntary, ambiguous 

• Communicate feelings and attitudes 

• Facial expressions, body language, eye contact, physical appearance, space, touch, time, gestures, voice, environment 

cooperative principle

describe how people normally behave in interactions

message design logics

distinct ways of thinking about communication situations, choosing which thoughts to express, and deciding how to express them in order to achieve goals

listening

discriminate b/w sounds in our environment

active process of receiving and understanding messages received either through listening to words or by reading text

hearing

sound waves are received by the ear and brain

1st step in the listening process

understanding

2nd step in listening process

interpret the words that are being said

remembering

3rd step, short term and long term

interpreting

4th step, assign meaning, understanding the message

evaluating

5th step, judging its worth

responding

6th step, doesn’t have to be immediate or verbal, the only sender to know the message was received in the correct way

diversity

unique differences between people

High and low context cultures

how members of a culture use context to create meanings 

low context culture

people will say what they are thinking

high context culture

people inexplicitly imply what they are meaning

high uncertainty avoidance

avoid places they aren’t certain on outcomes 

low uncertainty avoidance

comfortable not having all the information within relationships 

discriminative listening

involves the ability to understand the different stimuli around us in order to process the meaning

critical listening

occurs when you need to evaluate an argument or a stance and develop an opinion based on evidence

comprehensive listening

refers to trying to understand and make meaning of the message

appreciative listening

listening for pleasure

empathic listening

listening to others by responding nonjudgmentally to their needs (either physical or emotional)

cultural dimensions

it helps you understand communication choices, various verbal and nonverbal forms of expression, and the expectations you have given the cultural context

individualists culture

emphasis placed on individuals rather than groups

collectivist cultures

emphasis is placed on the group rather than the individual to promote group cohesion and loyalty

power distance

perceived equality or inequality felt between people in certain cultural or social contexts

uncertainty avoidance

deals with the way that a culture handles change and accepts uncertainty within social or cultural contexts

masculinity

described by traits connected to being assertive, competitive, and even aggressive

feminity

is explained by being caring or compassionate toward others.

long term time orientation

processes for accomplishing tasks

short term time orientation

efficiency, production, and fast results

ethnocentrism

placing your own cultural beliefs in a superior position, leading to a negative judgment of other cultures

intergroup bias

our tendency to compare the groups we are part of with the groups we aren’t part of  

intergroup contact

contact with those groups you aren’t a part of

relationship

A connection between two people based on ongoing communication  

• All go through periods of escalating intimacy and declining intimacy 

• forms based off an attraction 

matching theory

we also tend to form relationships with people who are comparable to us in terms of physical attractiveness

social exchange theory

relationships with a high cost but low rewards are unlikely to form and last. Relationships with a low cost and high rewards are likely to be more enjoyable and lasting.

equal give and take in a relationship

social penetration theory

how relationships progress toward intimacy as a result of self-disclosure from both partners

self disclosure

act of revealing information about one’s self to others

3 principles: reciprocal, appropriate, risk