Barriers to Communication: A Comprehensive Breakdown

Barriers to Communication

Introduction

  • NELL Module Three discusses barriers to communication.
  • Barriers are categorized as:
    • Emotions (tone, perception, intent, bias)
    • Gender differences
    • Jargon or slang
    • Generational differences
    • Cultural differences
    • Hearing (selective hearing, physical disability)
    • Misinterpretation or miscommunication (expectations, prejudice)

Emotions

  • Emotions can cloud judgment and affect communication.
Tone and Perception
  • Emotions can alter tone interpretation.
  • Example: Reacting aggressively if upset and perceiving an aggressive tone, versus reacting calmly when not upset.
  • Emotional state affects tone perception, impacting responses.
  • This can harm personal and workplace relationships.
  • Example: Perceiving constructive criticism as an attack due to having a hard day, leading to an aggressive response and risking job security.
Intent
  • Speakers and listeners may have differing intentions, distorting meaning.
  • Similar to tone and perception, resulting from emotional miscues.
  • Mismatched emotions and intentions can cause miscommunication.
Bias
  • Bias is a preconceived opinion.
  • Biases can form based on similarities or differences.
  • Biases influence emotions, creating communication barriers.
  • Example: Defensiveness when someone critiques your child due to parental bias, hindering effective communication.

Language

  • Language can create barriers in communication due to:
Gender
  • Communication styles may vary based on gender due to experiences, culture, and personal feelings.
  • Example: Speaking roughly to a brother but softly to a sister due to cultural norms, which can create communication barriers.
Jargon
  • Jargon/slang is informal language spoken among those who understand the context.
  • Using jargon with those unfamiliar can cause confusion and communication barriers.
Generational Differences
  • Miscommunication between generations can arise due to differing jargon, slang, or colloquialisms.
  • Colloquialisms: Informal words/phrases not used in formal language.
  • Example: Elderly person using formal language vs. a teenager responding with slang.
Cultural Differences
  • Cultures use different phrases/sayings.
  • Words/phrases may be endearing in one culture but offensive in another.

Hearing Related Barriers

Selective Hearing
  • Choosing what to hear.
  • Example: Ignoring requests to clean up toys but immediately responding to "ice cream."
  • Can cause frustration and be a communication barrier in relationships.
Physical Disability
  • Often unnoticeable, leading to misunderstandings.
  • The presence of a physical disability can inherently cause a barrier.
  • Frustration can arise due to lack of awareness.
  • Tool: Ask the person to repeat what you said to ensure clarity.

Miscommunication/Misunderstandings

Expectations
  • Strong beliefs about future events.
  • Met expectations lead to excitement, unmet expectations lead to disappointment and communication barriers.
  • Disappointment can arise from unmet expectations of both parties.
  • Example: A mother expects her child to defrost chicken, but upon returning home, the chicken is still frozen solid, leading to frustration and miscommunication.
  • Not meeting expectations can imply disrespect.
Prejudice
  • Preconceived opinions not based on experience.
  • Similar to bias, prejudices create significant communication barriers.