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