study guide test #1

chapter 1

1. Linear Model of Communication: A model where communication is a one-way activity, emphasizing a sender who transmits a message to a receiver without any feedback or interaction.

2. Types of Noise:

   • Physical/External Noise: Extraneous sounds or distractions in the environment that interfere with the reception of a message (e.g., background chatter, traffic noise).

   • Physiological Noise: Biological factors that impede communication, such as hearing impairments or physical discomfort.

   • Psychological Noise: Internal distractions stemming from an individual's thoughts, feelings, or biases that affect how messages are received.

3. Environment: The surrounding context in which communication takes place, encompassing physical, social, and cultural factors that influence the interpretation of messages.

4. Transactional Model of Communication: A model where communication occurs in a two-way manner, involving simultaneous verbal and nonverbal exchanges between communicators.

5. Intrapersonal vs Interpersonal Communication:

   • Intrapersonal Communication: Communication that occurs within oneself, involving internal dialogues and self-reflection.

   • Interpersonal Communication: Communication that takes place between two or more individuals, characterized by direct interaction and feedback.

6. Most Verbal Feedback: Interpersonal Communication offers the most verbal feedback, enabling dynamic exchanges and real-time responses between participants.

7. Least Verbal Feedback: Public Communication tends to have the least verbal feedback, as speakers address larger audiences where individual responses may be minimal or absent.

8. Dynamics/Characteristics of Small Groups:

   • Coalitions: Alliances formed within the group that can influence group dynamics.

   • Increased Creativity: Small groups often foster collaborative brainstorming and idea generation.

   • Risk Taking: Members may feel more comfortable taking risks and proposing innovative ideas within a trusted group.

   • Peer Pressure: Group members may experience pressure to conform to the views or behaviors of others.

   • Leadership: The presence of leaders can shape the direction and productivity of the group interactions.

chapter 2

Masspersonal Communication

• Definition: Describes the blending of personal and public communication in social media contexts. Individuals can broadcast messages publicly while also interacting on a personal level.

• Examples: Platforms like YouTube and Twitch highlight this concept by allowing personal experiences to reach a mass audience.

Media Richness and Leanness

• Definition: Refers to the capacity of a communication medium to convey information effectively.

• Message Richness: Face-to-face communication is considered rich due to the abundance of nonverbal cues and immediate feedback.

• Media Leanness: Mediated communication (e.g., emails, texts) tends to be leaner, possessing fewer cues and being less effective for conveying complex messages.

Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication

• Synchronous Communication: Occurs in real-time where participants communicate simultaneously (e.g., face-to-face conversations, live video calls).

• Asynchronous Communication: Involves delays between the sender and receiver (e.g., emails, recorded videos), allowing individuals to communicate at their convenience.

• Implications: Synchronous communication allows for immediate interaction and feedback, while asynchronous communication can support thoughtful responses but may lack immediate engagement.

chapter 3

Reflected Appraisal

• Definition: Reflected appraisal is the influence that the perceptions and messages from others have on an individual's self-concept. It involves understanding how one believes others perceive them and using this information to shape their self-image.

2. The Perception Process: S.O.I.

• Three Steps: The perception process consists of three stages:

  1. Selection: Choosing which stimuli to focus on from the environment.

  2. Organization: Arranging selected stimuli into meaningful patterns.

  3. Interpretation: Assigning meaning to the organized stimuli.

3. Factors in Selection

• Four Parts of Selection:

  1. Intensity: The strength of a stimulus, where more intense stimuli are more likely to be selected.

  2. Contrast/Change: Noticing differences or changes in stimuli that stand out against the background.

  3. Motive: Personal motivations or goals that influence what an individual chooses to focus on.

  4. Repetition: Repeated exposure to a stimulus can lead to increased likelihood of selection.

4. Factors in Interpretation

• Four Parts of Interpretation:

  1. Past Experience: Previous encounters that shape how stimuli are interpreted.

  2. Mood: Emotional state influencing how stimuli are perceived and understood.

  3. Knowledge/Awareness: Existing knowledge and awareness that affect interpretation of stimuli.

  4. Self-Concept: How one's understanding of themselves influences their interpretation of experiences.

5. Common Perceptual Tendencies

• Six Common Tendencies:

  1. Clinging to First Impressions: Holding onto initial perceptions regardless of later evidence.

  2. Categorizing People: Sorting individuals into stereotypes or predefined categories.

  3. Negative Bias: Giving more weight to negative aspects than positive ones.

  4. Self-Serving Bias: Evaluating oneself in a more favorable light compared to others.

  5. Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of another, crucial for communication.

  6. Perspective-Taking: The ability to see situations from another person's viewpoint.

6. Empathy

• Definition: Empathy refers to the capacity to share and understand another person's feelings and experiences, fostering better communication and connection.

7. Parts of Perception Checking

• Three Parts of Perception Checking:

  1. Observation: Noticing specific behaviors or signals from others.

  2. Interpretation: Forming a hypothesis about what those behaviors mean.

  3. Clarification: Asking questions or seeking feedback to confirm interpretations and avoid misunderstandings.

chapter 4

Individualism and Collectivism

• Individualism:

  • Focus on personal identity, independence, and self-expression.

  • Common in countries like the USA, where personal achievements are highly valued.

  • Communication reflects personal goals and autonomy.

  • Introductions often use first names, emphasizing personal identity.

• Collectivism:

  • Prioritizes group loyalty, community, and harmony over individual goals.

  • Seen in countries like China and Japan, where relationships and group needs are prioritized.

  • Communication emphasizes the group’s collective identity, often using family names first during introductions.

High and Low Context Cultures

• Low-context Cultures:

  • Rely heavily on explicit verbal communication; clarity and precision are emphasized.

  • Examples include the USA and Canada; messages are conveyed openly without relying on situational context.

• High-context Cultures:

  • Communication depends on context, nonverbal cues, and relational history.

  • Common in many Asian cultures; much is communicated through subtle cues and implications.

  • Understanding relies on shared experiences and background knowledge.

Uncertainty Avoidance

• Cultures differ in their comfort with uncertainty:

  • High Uncertainty Avoidance Cultures:

    • Seek clear rules, structure, and predictability in social and professional interactions.

    • Example: Germany, where strict norms are valued to minimize ambiguity.

  • Low Uncertainty Avoidance Cultures:

    • More adaptable to unpredictability; exhibit comfort with risk-taking and ambiguous situations.

    • Examples include many cultures in Latin America and Scandinavia.

Power Distance

• Refers to how power is distributed and accepted in societies:

  • Low Power Distance:

    • Emphasizes equality and collaboration in relationships (e.g., Nordic countries).

    • Communication is often informal, with less hierarchy.

  • High Power Distance:

    • Accepts hierarchical structures with inequalities (e.g., many Asian cultures).

    • Communication often involves formal titles and clear deference to authority figures.

chapter 5

Denotative vs. Connotative Meanings

• Denotative Meaning: This refers to the explicit, literal, dictionary definitions of words. It is the factual meaning without any emotional or personal interpretation; for example, the denotative meaning of ‘dog’ is a domesticated canine of the family Canidae.

• Connotative Meaning: This encompasses the emotional, cultural, and social associations tied to words, which can vary significantly among different individuals and communities. For instance, the word ‘home’ may evoke feelings of warmth and comfort for some, but others may associate it with negative memories, showcasing how context can influence meaning.

Four Rules of Language

1. Phonological Rules: These are the guidelines relating to the pronunciation and sound patterns of a language, determining how sounds can be combined to create meaningful spoken words. This includes aspects such as intonation, stress, and rhythm, which can change the meaning of a word or phrase.

2. Syntactic Rules: Govern the arrangement and order of words in sentences, ensuring grammatical correctness and clarity in communication. For example, in English, the standard order is Subject-Verb-Object (e.g., "The cat (S) sat (V) on the mat (O)."). Breaking these rules can lead to misunderstandings or ambiguity.

3. Semantic Rules: These focus on the meanings attributed to words, phrases, and sentences, ensuring effective communication by specifying which meanings are intended in various contexts. It allows speakers to convey precise ideas and avoids confusion caused by ambiguous language.

4. Pragmatic Rules: Dictate how language is used in context and influence our understanding of indirect messages and implicature. Pragmatics examines how context affects language interpretation, including the social norms that dictate acceptable communication practices in various situations.

Equivocal Language/Words

• Equivocal Language: This refers to words or phrases that have multiple interpretations, which can lead to confusion during communication. For instance, the phrase "I saw her duck" could mean seeing a woman lower her head, or witnessing a woman with a pet duck, depending on the context or tone.

Relative Words

• Relative Words: These are terms that require a comparative context to convey meaning accurately. For example, descriptors like “big” or “small” are relative and can mean different sizes depending on what is being compared (e.g., a big elephant versus a big mouse).

Disruptive Language

• Fact-Opinion Confusion: This occurs when personal opinions are presented as objective facts, leading to misunderstandings in discussions or debates. It is crucial for effective communication to distinguish personal beliefs from verifiable information.

• Fact-Inference Confusion: This happens when an inference, or an interpretation derived from facts, is mistaken for the facts themselves. Clarifying this distinction is vital for clear communication, especially in persuasive contexts.

Euphemism

• Euphemism: A euphemism is a word or phrase that softens the impact of blunt language, often used to discuss sensitive subjects such as death, disability, or personal shortcomings. For example, saying “passed away” instead of “died” is a common euphemism intended to soften the emotional blow.

Slang

• Slang: This comprises informal language often specific to particular social groups, evolving rapidly with cultural trends and changes. Slang can signify belonging to a specific community but may create barriers for those outside that group.

Jargon

• Jargon: Specialized terminology associated with specific professions or fields of expertise. While jargon can convey complex ideas succinctly to those in the same field, it can also create barriers to understanding for those unfamiliar with the terms, making clear communication challenging across different audiences.