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.