COM220 Exam 1

Interpersonal Communication Concepts

• Content Meaning – The literal meaning of what is said in communication.

• Dual Perspective – The ability to understand both your own and another person’s point of view.

• Ethics – Principles that guide what is right or wrong in communication.

• Feedback – Verbal or nonverbal responses to a message.

• I–It Communication – Treating others as objects rather than individuals.

• Interactive Models – Communication models that include feedback from both sender and receiver.

• Interpersonal Communication – The exchange of messages between people to build relationships.

• Interpersonal Communication Competence – The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately.

• I–Thou Communication – Deep, meaningful interactions where people are valued as unique individuals.

• I–You Communication – Treating people based on their social roles rather than as unique individuals.

• Linear Models – A one-way communication model where a sender transmits a message to a receiver.

• Metacommunication – Communication about communication (e.g., discussing how we communicate).

• Model – A representation of how communication works.

• Monitoring – The ability to observe and regulate your own communication.

• Noise – Anything that disrupts or distorts communication.

• Person-Centeredness – Tailoring communication to the unique needs of an individual.

• Process – The idea that communication is continuous and ever-changing.

• Relationship Meaning – The deeper message about the nature of a relationship conveyed through communication.

• Symbols – Words, gestures, or images that represent something else.

• Systemic – The concept that communication happens within a larger system that affects meaning.

• Transactional Model – A communication model where people send and receive messages simultaneously.

Personal Identity & Communication Concepts

• Anxious/Ambivalent Attachment Style – Insecurity in relationships due to inconsistent caregiving in childhood.

• Attachment Styles – Patterns of how people form emotional bonds based on early experiences.

• Cyberbullying – Online harassment or bullying through digital communication.

• Direct Definition – How others explicitly label us and shape our identity.

• Dismissive Attachment Style – Avoiding close relationships due to early neglect or rejection.

• Face – The public image we present to others.

• Fearful Attachment Style – A style where individuals fear rejection and avoid relationships.

• Generalized Other – Society’s overall beliefs and values that shape self-perception.

• Identity Scripts – Rules we learn from others about who we are and how we should behave.

• Impression Management – Efforts to control how others perceive us.

• Johari Window – A model for understanding self-awareness and disclosure.

• Particular Others – Important people in our lives who shape our self-concept.

• Reflected Appraisal – How we see ourselves based on how we think others see us.

• Secure Attachment Style – A healthy attachment style developed from consistent and loving caregiving.

• Self – The perception of who we are.

• Self-Disclosure – Sharing personal information with others.

• Self-Fulfilling Prophecies – Expectations that influence behaviors to make the expectation come true.

• Self-Sabotage – Negative self-talk or behaviors that undermine personal success.

• Social Comparison – Evaluating ourselves by comparing to others.

Perception & Communication Concepts

• Attribution – Explaining why things happen or why people behave in certain ways.

• Cognitive Complexity – The ability to understand multiple perspectives and layers of meaning.

• Constructivism – A theory that we interpret experiences using mental structures called schemata.

• Culture – Shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group.

• Empathy – Understanding and sharing another person’s feelings.

• Fundamental Attribution Error – Overestimating personality traits and underestimating situations when explaining others' behavior.

• Implicit Personality Theory – Assumptions about what traits go together in a person.

• Inattention Blindness – Failing to notice something because attention is elsewhere.

• Interpretation – Assigning meaning to what we perceive.

• Mind Reading – Assuming we know what someone else is thinking.

• Müller-Lyer Illusion – A visual illusion that demonstrates perceptual biases.

• Perception – The process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting information.

• Personal Construct – A category we use to classify people and situations.

• Prototype – An ideal example of a category (e.g., "perfect boss").

• Script – A learned sequence of behaviors for particular situations.

• Self-Serving Bias – Attributing successes to ourselves and failures to external factors.

• Standpoint – A perspective shaped by social position and experiences.

• Stereotype – A generalized belief about a group of people.

Mediated Communication Concepts

• Hyperpersonal Model – The idea that online communication can create deeper relationships due to selective self-presentation.

• Face Theory – The idea that people work to maintain a positive public image.

• Self-Selection – Choosing what information to share or engage with.

• Social Media Self-Concept – How people present themselves on social media.

• Self-Presentation – Controlling how others perceive us.

• Masspersonal Communication – Blending personal and mass communication (e.g., a personal message posted publicly).

• Parasocial Relationships – One-sided relationships with media figures or influencers.

• Perception – How we interpret and make sense of mediated messages.

• Influencers – People who affect the opinions and behaviors of others online.

• Deception – Misleading or false communication online.