GHUM1087 Final Exam Review - Interpersonal Communication

GHUM1087 Final Exam Review - Interpersonal Communication

Final Exam Structure

• Multiple-choice and short-answer questions covering:

  • Key concepts from Interpersonal Communication (weeks 10-12)

  • Essay question integrating knowledge from the entire course

Week 10: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

• Reasons for Communication:

  • Physical Health:

  • Experiments show lack of communication can lead to death (e.g., Frederick II's experiment with babies).

  • Isolation reduces life span.

  • Identity Needs:

  • Communication plays a role in self-discovery and identity development.

  • Feedback from others influences self-perception (e.g., American Idol judges).

  • Social Goals:

  • Meets needs for pleasure, affection, companionship, and control.

  • Strong link between communication and happiness.

  • Instrumental/Practical Goals:

  • Used for achieving everyday objectives and career success (e.g., effective speaking and listening skills).

  • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

  • Physical Needs: Thirst, hunger, intimacy.

  • Safety: Protection from threats.

  • Love/Belonging: Need for connection.

  • Self-Esteem: Feeling valued.

  • Self-Actualization: Reaching personal potential.

Principles of Interpersonal Communication

• Qualitative vs. Quantitative Definitions:

  • Quantitative: Interaction involving any two people.

  • Qualitative: Recognizing individuals as unique, beyond numbers.

Characteristics of Interpersonal Relationships

• Uniqueness: Development of distinct roles.

• Implacability: Unique relationships cannot be replaced.

• Interdependence: Experience of one affects the other.

• Disclosure: Sharing private information fosters connection.

• Intrinsic Rewards: Enjoyment and personal fulfillment from relationships.

• Intentional vs. Unintentional Communication:

  • Nonverbal cues may contradict spoken words.

• Irreversible: First impressions are lasting.

• Automatic: Communication occurs even without speaking.

• Unrepeatable: Communication evolves over time; what worked previously may not apply now.

• Dimensions of Communication:

  • Content Dimension: Explicit information being discussed.

  • Relational Dimension: Implication based on tone and feelings.

  • Situational Dimension: Context affecting communication dynamics.

Misconceptions about Interpersonal Communication

• More is Better: Excessive communication can harm relationships.

• Meaning Is Only Found in Words: Context matters for understanding messages.

• Shared Understanding: Effective communication doesn’t always require total clarity.

Mediated Interpersonal Communication

• Pros:

  • Encourages offline interactions and relationship maintenance.

  • Breaks down barriers and facilitates disclosure.

• Cons:

  • Messages may lack emotional tone, leading to misinterpretation.

  • Permanent online records may cause issues.

Characteristics of Competent Communicators

• Show care for relationships.

• Recognize the situational and relational context of communication.

• Develop empathy and self-monitoring skills.

Week 11: Improving Communication Climates

• Climate Influences Outcomes:

  • The emotional tone can predict satisfaction in relationships.

• Types of Messages:

  • Confirming: Show value, care, and respect.

  • Types: Recognition, acknowledgment, endorsement.

  • Disconfirming: Convey disregard or lack of respect.

  • Types: Impervious responses, interrupting, irrelevance, tangents, impersonal, ambiguous, contradictory messages.

• Communication Dynamics:

  • Confirming messages create positive climates (positive spirals).

  • Disconfirming messages lead to negative outcomes (negative spirals).

• Preventing Negative Dynamics:

  • Adopt supportive behaviors (e.g., descriptive language over evaluative).

Week 12: Politeness Theory

• Recognizes cross-cultural communication norms.

• Politeness Strategies (Brown & Levinson):

  • Bald On-Record: Least polite, no minimization of threat.

  • Positive Politeness: Strengthens social bonds, includes compliments.

  • Negative Politeness: Reduces intrusion, indirectly requesting.

  • Off-Record: Implicit hints and vagueness.

Key Definitions

• Evaluative Communication: Judging the receiver, often leading to defensiveness.

• Descriptive Communication: Expressing one's position without judgment.

• Controlling Communication: Overly directive, impeding collaboration.

• Problem Orientation: Focusing on collaborative solutions.

Key Theories in Social Relations

• Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development: Stages (preconventional, conventional, and postconventional) describing how moral reasoning develops.

• Social Learning Theory (Bandura): Emphasizes learning via observation and modeling rather than purely through behavior rewards.

• Defensive Dynamics: Strategies to soften criticism, foster respect, and enhance interpersonal communication.

Workplace Communication

• Praise and encouragement boost employee morale.

• Open communication policies foster a collegial environment.

• Leadership Styles:

  • Authoritarian: Directive control.

  • Democratic: Shared decision-making.

  • Laissez-faire: Minimal intervention.

  • Transactional: Focused on achieving goals via feedback.

  • Transformational: Inspires collaboration toward a shared vision.

Final Exam Structure

• Multiple-choice and short-answer questions covering:
  Key concepts from Interpersonal Communication (weeks 10-12)

• Essay question integrating knowledge from the entire course

Week 10: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

Reasons for Communication:

• Physical Health:

  • Experiments show lack of communication can lead to death (e.g., Frederick II's experiment with babies).

  • Isolation reduces life span.

• Identity Needs:

  • Communication plays a role in self-discovery and identity development.

  • Feedback from others influences self-perception (e.g., American Idol judges).

• Social Goals:

  • Meets needs for pleasure, affection, companionship, and control.

  • Strong link between communication and happiness.

• Instrumental/Practical Goals:

  • Used for achieving everyday objectives and career success (e.g., effective speaking and listening skills).

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

• Physical Needs: Thirst, hunger, intimacy.

• Safety: Protection from threats.

• Love/Belonging: Need for connection.

• Self-Esteem: Feeling valued.

• Self-Actualization: Reaching personal potential.

Principles of Interpersonal Communication

• Qualitative vs. Quantitative Definitions:

  • Quantitative: Interaction involving any two people.

  • Qualitative: Recognizing individuals as unique, beyond numbers.

Characteristics of Interpersonal Relationships

• Uniqueness: Development of distinct roles.

• Implacability: Unique relationships cannot be replaced.

• Interdependence: Experience of one affects the other.

• Disclosure: Sharing private information fosters connection.

• Intrinsic Rewards: Enjoyment and personal fulfillment from relationships.

Intentional vs. Unintentional Communication:

• Nonverbal cues may contradict spoken words.

• Irreversible: First impressions are lasting.

• Automatic: Communication occurs even without speaking.

• Unrepeatable: Communication evolves over time; what worked previously may not apply now.

Dimensions of Communication:

• Content Dimension: Explicit information being discussed.

• Relational Dimension: Implication based on tone and feelings.

• Situational Dimension: Context affecting communication dynamics.

Misconceptions about Interpersonal Communication

• More is Better: Excessive communication can harm relationships.

• Meaning Is Only Found in Words: Context matters for understanding messages.

• Shared Understanding: Effective communication doesn’t always require total clarity.

Mediated Interpersonal Communication

• Pros:

  • Encourages offline interactions and relationship maintenance.

  • Breaks down barriers and facilitates disclosure.

• Cons:

  • Messages may lack emotional tone, leading to misinterpretation.

  • Permanent online records may cause issues.

Characteristics of Competent Communicators

• Show care for relationships.

• Recognize the situational and relational context of communication.

• Develop empathy and self-monitoring skills.

Week 11: Improving Communication Climates

Climate Influences Outcomes:

• The emotional tone can predict satisfaction in relationships.

Types of Messages:

• Confirming: Show value, care, and respect.

  • Types: Recognition, acknowledgment, endorsement.

• Disconfirming: Convey disregard or lack of respect.

  • Types: Impervious responses, interrupting, irrelevance, tangents, impersonal, ambiguous, contradictory messages.

Communication Dynamics:

• Confirming messages create positive climates (positive spirals).

• Disconfirming messages lead to negative outcomes (negative spirals).

Preventing Negative Dynamics:

• Adopt supportive behaviors (e.g., descriptive language over evaluative).

Week 12: Politeness Theory

• Recognizes cross-cultural communication norms.

Politeness Strategies (Brown & Levinson):

• Bald On-Record: Least polite, no minimization of threat.

• Positive Politeness: Strengthens social bonds, includes compliments.

• Negative Politeness: Reduces intrusion, indirectly requesting.

• Off-Record: Implicit hints and vagueness.

Key Definitions

• Evaluative Communication: Judging the receiver, often leading to defensiveness.

• Descriptive Communication: Expressing one's position without judgment.

• Controlling Communication: Overly directive, impeding collaboration.

• Problem Orientation: Focusing on collaborative solutions.

Key Theories in Social Relations

• Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development: Stages (preconventional, conventional, and postconventional) describing how moral reasoning develops.

• Social Learning Theory (Bandura): Emphasizes learning via observation and modeling rather than purely through behavior rewards.

• Defensive Dynamics: Strategies to soften criticism, foster respect, and enhance interpersonal communication.

Workplace Communication

• Praise and encouragement boost employee morale.

• Open communication policies foster a collegial environment.

Leadership Styles:

• Authoritarian: Directive control.

• Democratic: Shared decision-making.

• Laissez-faire: Minimal intervention.

• Transactional: Focused on achieving goals via feedback.

• Transformational: Inspires collaboration toward a shared vision.