COMMS Final Exam Study Guide

Communication

The process by which we use symbols, signs, and behaviors to transfer information.

Competent communication

Communication that is effective and appropriate for a given situation, evaluated and reassessed by communicators.

Linear model

A communication model that shows the sender originating communication with words or actions and does not include the receiver's role in interpretation.

Interaction model

A communication model that shows communication as a two-dimensional process with feedback but lacks complexity for competent communication.

Competent communication model

A communication model that includes feedback and views communication as an ongoing, transactional process.

Perception

A cognitive process through which we perceive and interpret our experiences, often influencing how we communicate.

Schemas

Mental structures that categorize and organize related bits of information.

Attribution

The judgments we make to explain behavior.

Self-concept

Your awareness and understanding of who you are, influenced by thoughts, actions, values, and ideals.

Gender identity

A personal sense of one’s own gender, which may not be tied to biological sex.

Racial identity

The sum of the physical, social, linguistic, and cultural aspects of self relating to race.

Social comparison theory

The theory that we compare ourselves to others to gain self-knowledge.

Self-esteem

How you feel about your worth as a person, influenced by attitudes and experiences.

Self-efficacy

the ability to predict actual success from self-concept and self-esteem

Identity management

Decisions about how to share or withhold personal viewpoints.

Self-disclosure

Revealing information about oneself to others.

Cognitive language

The internal system of symbols used to describe people, things, and situations.

Functions of Language

mean of control, share information, express feelings, express creativity, ritual

Denotative meaning

The basic, literal, and consistently accepted definition of a word. Dictionary Definition

Connotative meaning

The emotional or attitudinal response to a word; what it means personally.

Problematic Uses of Langugae

hateful/hurtful, labeling, biased, profanity vs. civility

Contexts

situational, relational, cultural, mediated

Nature of nonverbal communication

communicative, intentional or unintentional, ambiguous, more trustworthy than verbal communication

Functions of Nonverbal Communication

reinforcing verbal messages, substituting for verbal messages, contradicting verbal messages, managing and regulating interactions, creating immediacy, deceiving others

Nonverbal communication codes

gestures, body movements, facial expressions, eye behavior, voice, physical appearance, touch, space and environment, time

Culture

learned system of thought, language, and behavior that belongs to and typifies a relatively large group of people. shares beliefs, values, norms, practices, and provides rules

Communication and cultural variations

high and low context communication styles, collectivist and individualist orientations, approaches to power distance, flexible and stable self-concepts, time orientations, value of emotional expression

Co-cultural communication

communication across culture

Social identity theory

the part of your self concept that comes from your group memberships

Anxiety uncertainty management theory

agues that in order to have effective intercultural communication, we need to be able to manage our anxiety and uncertainty about people from other cultural groups

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's own culture over others.

Improving intercultural competence

we look at these things to help improve; cognition, affect, behavior, mindfulness, openness to other cultures, effective intergroup contact, appropriate accommodation, practice

Hearing

the physiological process of perceiving sound, the process through which sound waves are picked up by the ears and transmitted to the brain

Listening

The multidimensional process of recognizing, interpreting, and responding to messages.

Listening to meet goals

listening to ____ : relational listening, task-oriented listening, analytical listening, critical listening, social listening

Ineffective listening

defensive listening, biased listening, self-absorbed listening, pseudolistening

Interpersonal communication

The exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages to build relationships.

Impersonal communication

verbal and nonverbal messages that are not unique or designed to build a relationship; messages are instinctive or socially scripted responses based on people’s social roles

Para social interaction

children or adults feel close to and invested in a celebrity or media personality (or fictional character)

Why we form relationships

proximity, attractive qualities, similarity, personal and social needs, companionship, stimulation, meeting goals

Costs

the things that upset you or annoy you, cause you stress, or damage your own self-image or lifestyle

Dialectical tensions

Contradictory feelings experienced in relationships.

Rewards

the elements of a relationship that you feel good about- things about the person or your relationship that benefit you in some way

Dialectical tensions

contradictory feelings that tug at us in every relationship; autonomy vs. connection, openness vs. closedness, predictability vs. novelty

Social Penetration Theory

Describes how relationships move from superficial to deeper connections.

Stages of a relationship

initiating stage, exploratory stage, intensification stage, stable stage, declining stage, repair stage, termination stage

Initiating stage

starting conversations

Exploratory stage

seeking relatively superficial information form your partner; small talk; no deep personal connection

Intensification stage

relational partners become increasingly intimate and move their communication toward more personal self-disclosures (stage)

Stable stage

their relationship is no longer volatile or temporary; becoming one (stage)

Declining stage

when the relationship begins to come apart

Conflict management

Strategies and techniques for handling and resolving disputes.

Repair stage

attempts to change/repair behavior, interactions, or expectations to keep the relationship (a stage)

Termination stage

end of a relationship

Conflict

an interaction between two or more interdependent people who perceive that they have contradictory goals or scare resources

Conflict management

refers to the way that we handle conflict and address disagreements with our relational partners

Unproductive Conflict

conflict that is managed poorly and has a negative impact on the individuals and relationships involved.

Productive Conflict

healthy way for us to resolve disagreements in our relationships

Conflict Triggers

specific events, behaviors, or situations that provoke disagreements or disputes

Communication Climate

the general ‘atmosphere’ surrounding how we feel about our communication in different relationships

Cultural intelligence

your ability and motivation to recognize and appreciate cultural differences and adapt your communication behaviors accordingly

Escapist strategies

avoiding, obliging

Competitive strategies

direct and indirect fighting

Cooperative strategies

compromising and collaborating

Characteristics of Groups

more than two people who share some kind of relationship, communicate in an interdependent fashion, and collaborate toward some shared purpose

Primary groups

fundamental groups that influence your sense of self and belonging

Functional groups

specific functions to fulfill; support group, social group, problem-solving group

Stages of Group Development

forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning

Forming

group members learn about each other, define group goals, figure out roles

Storming

being to experience conflict

Norming

move beyond differences and learn to cooperate

Performing

members combine skills and knowledge to take action towards group goals and overcome obstacles

Adjourning

project comes to an end

Social Loafing

failing to invest the same level of effort in the group that they would put in if they were working alone or with one other person

Task roles

concerned with the accomplishment of the group’s goals

Social roles

managing how people in the group are feeling and getting along with each other

Group Climate

atmosphere of the group; groups cohesion, norms that emerge from behavior, clarity of goals, and differences as individuals

Analyze Your Audience

a highly systematic process of getting to know your listeners relative to the topic and speech occasion

Purpose statements

expresses both the topic and the general speech purpose in action form and in terms of the specific objectives you hope to achieve with your presentation

Thesis statements

a statement that clearly summarizes the specific takeaway points that you want the audience to get out of your speech

Types of Information to Consider

testimony, scholarship and statistics, anecdotes, and quotations

Evaluating Supporting Material

credible sources, up-to-date material, accurate information, compelling sources

Plagiarism

the crime of presenting someone else’s words, ideas, or intellectual property as your own

Identifying Your Main Points

identify and organize key ideas that will lead audience to accept or think about what you are asking them

Arranging Your Points

chronological pattern, topical pattern, spatial pattern, problem-solution pattern, cause-effect pattern, narrative pattern, motivated sequence pattern

Chronological pattern

presents main points in a systematic, time-related fashion

Topical pattern

main points organized into categories (persons, places, things, processes)

Spatial pattern

arranges main points in terms of their physical proximity

Problem-solution pattern

dramatizing an obstacle and then narrowing alternative remedies

Cause-effect pattern

organize the message around cause-to-effect or effect-to-cause relationships

Narrative pattern

vivid story, complete with characters, settings, plot, and imagery

Motivated sequence pattern

five-step plan for organizing speeches; attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action (pattern)

Connecting Your Points

use transitions, signposts, and internal previews and summaries

Strong conclusion

signal the end, reinforce topic and main points, make an impact, challenge audience to respond

Outlining Your Speech

use subdivisions properly, separate the parts of your speech, call out specific purpose and thesis, cite your sources, give your speech a title

Understand and Address Anxiety

identify anxiety triggers (upsetting experiences, fear of evaluation, distaste for attention), relax and prepare mentally, build your confidence

Methods of Delivery

speaking from manuscript, speaking from memory, speaking spontaneously, speaking extemporaneously

Guidelines for Effective Delivery

effective vocal delivery (vocal variation, use of pauses, speaking clearly and precisely), effective visual delivery (dressing for the occasion, effective eye behavior, facial expressions, gestures, body movements), connecting with your audience (expressing emotion, adapting to your audience, creating immediacy)

Effective Presentation Aids

props, models, media clips, images, graphs, charts, posters, flip charts, whiteboards, handouts, slideshows