Interpersonal Comm. Test 2

Chapter 5 - Cultures

  • Definition of Culture:

    • Culture is a complex system of beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors that shape how individuals within a society interact and understand their environment.

    • Reference: (136)

  • Co-cultures:

    • Co-cultures refer to smaller groups within a larger culture that hold their own distinct beliefs, values, and practices.

    • Example: Ethnic subgroups, professional communities, and social organizations.

    • Reference: (138)

  • Assimilation:

    • Assimilation is the process by which individuals from a co-culture adopt the norms of the dominant culture, often leading to a loss of their original cultural identity.

    • Reference: (138)

  • Individualistic vs. Collectivist Cultures:

    • Individualistic cultures emphasize personal freedom and individual responsibility (e.g., USA, Canada).

    • Collectivist cultures focus on group goals and interdependence (e.g., many Asian cultures).

    • Reference: (143)

  • Monochronic Time (M-time) and Polychronic Time (P-time):

    • M-time: A culture where time is seen linearly; schedules and punctuality are emphasized.

    • P-time: A culture that values relationships over schedules; flexibility in time management is typical.

    • Reference: (151)

  • Power Distance:

    • Power distance measures how less powerful members of a society perceive and accept unequal power distribution.

    • High power distance cultures accept hierarchy, while low power distance cultures value equality.

    • Reference: (145)

  • Uncertainty Avoidance:

    • Uncertainty avoidance refers to the extent to which members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous situations and have created beliefs and institutions to avoid them.

    • High uncertainty avoidance cultures prefer structured over unstructured situations.

    • Reference: (144)

  • High-context vs. Low-context Cultures:

    • High-context cultures rely heavily on nonverbal cues and the context of the message (e.g., Asian cultures).

    • Low-context cultures depend on explicit verbal communication (e.g., Western cultures).

    • Reference: (147)

  • Masculine vs. Feminine Cultural Values:

    • Masculine cultures value competitiveness, assertiveness, and material success.

    • Feminine cultures emphasize care, quality of life, and interpersonal relationships.

    • Reference: (149-150)

  • Attributional Complexity:

    • Attributional complexity is the degree to which individuals consider situational factors to explain a person's behavior, showcasing awareness of various influences at play.

    • Reference: (152)

  • Ethnocentrism:

    • Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture is superior to others and can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.

    • Reference: (152)

  • Communication Accommodation Theory:

    • This theory explains how individuals adjust their communication styles based on their interaction partner’s style, promoting understanding and acceptance.

    • Reference: (153)

Chapter 6 - Gender

  • Gender Polarization:

    • Gender polarization refers to the tendency to conceive gender as a binary categorization, leading to the reinforcement of distinct roles based on perceived differences between genders.

  • Gender Fluid and Genderqueer:

    • Gender fluid refers to a gender identity that may change or be dynamic over time, whereas genderqueer is an umbrella term for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine.

  • Differences Among Sex, Gender, and Gender Identity:

    • Sex refers to the biological characteristics (male and female), gender is the social and cultural roles associated with sex, and gender identity is an individual’s personal sense of their gender.

  • Formation of Gender Roles:

    • Gender roles are formed through socialization processes including family, media, and cultural norms.

    • Some gender roles get challenged through feminist movements, LGBTQ+ activism, and changes in societal values; examples include men participating in domestic duties.

Chapter 7 - Listening

  • Listening as a 5-Step Process:

    • The five steps of listening include:

    1. Receiving: The initial act of hearing and attending to sound.

    2. Understanding: Comprehending the message and its meaning.

    3. Remembering: Retaining the information for future use.

    4. Evaluating: Critically assessing the message.

    5. Responding: Giving feedback to the speaker.

    • Reference: (165)

  • Different Listening Functions:

    • Functions of listening include:

    1. Informational: Seeking to understand or learn.

    2. Critical: Evaluating the content.

    3. Empathic: Understanding emotions and feelings.

    4. Appreciative: Enjoying or gaining pleasure from the communication.

    • Reference:

  • Key Listening Terms:

    • Feedback: Responses that indicate understanding or misunderstanding, can be positive or negative (168).

    • Back Channel Cues: Signals indicating engagement from the listener (168).

    • Paraphrasing: Rewording what the speaker said to confirm understanding (169).

    • Mnemonics: Memory aids used to enhance retention (171).

    • Mental Bracketing: Setting aside distracting thoughts to focus on the message (167).

    • Clarifying Questions: Questions intended to clear up confusion (169).

  • Common Listening Styles:

    • The four common listening styles are:

    1. Action-oriented: Focus on organizing information.

    2. Content-oriented: Prefers detailed and complex information.

    3. People-oriented: Centers on emotional aspects and connection.

    4. Time-oriented: Values efficiency and quick messages.

    • These styles can affect communication dynamics.

    • Reference: (174-175)

  • Types of Ineffective Listening:

    • Selective Listening: Hearing only what one wants to hear.

    • Eavesdropping: Listening without the speaker's consent.

    • Pseudo-listening: Pretending to listen while being distracted.

    • Aggressive Listening: Listening to attack or criticize the speaker.

    • Narcissistic Listening: Listening for self-serving purposes.

    • Reference: (178-183)

Chapter 8 - Verbal Communication

  • Constitutive and Regulative Rules for Verbal Communication:

    • Constitutive rules help define what counts as communication, while regulative rules guide how interactions should proceed (191).

  • Personal Idioms:

    • Personal idioms are unique phrases or expressions used privately between individuals or groups, such as nicknames or sayings.

    • Examples may include specialized terminology within a team or unique inside jokes (193).

  • Denotative vs. Connotative Meaning:

    • Denotative meaning is the literal definition of a word.

    • Connotative meaning encompasses the associations, feelings, or emotional responses related to a word.

    • Understanding both meanings is essential for effective communication to avoid misinterpretations (197).

  • Cooperative Verbal Communication:

    • Cooperative communication involves mutual understanding achieved through clarity and efficiency in language.

    • Elements include clarity, relevance, brevity, and an adherence to the Cooperative Principle, which states that speakers should contribute information that is true, relevant, and informative (205).

  • “You” Language:

    • “You” language assigns blame or generates defensiveness, leading to conflict.

    • Example: “You always forget to call.”

  • “I” Language:

    • “I” language expresses one’s own feelings and experiences, fostering open communication.

    • Example: “I feel neglected when you don’t call.”

  • “We” Language:

    • “We” language emphasizes a collective experience or partnership, which can enhance feelings of belonging and connection in a relationship.

  • Types of Deception in Verbal Communication:

    • Deception can include lying, concealment, exaggeration, or equivocation (211).

  • Definition of a Conversation:

    • A conversation is a communicative exchange between two or more parties that involves a reciprocal sharing of thoughts and information.

  • Communication Plans:

    • Communication plans are structured approaches or strategies to ensure effective communication in specific situations (214).

  • Communication Apprehension:

    • Communication apprehension refers to the fear or anxiety related to real or anticipated communication with others (214).

Chapter 9 - Nonverbal Communication

  • Mixed Messages:

    • Mixed messages occur when verbal and nonverbal cues are inconsistent, leading to confusion.

    • People often trust nonverbal cues over verbal cues when interpreting these messages (225).

  • Eight Nonverbal Communication Codes:

    • The eight codes include:

    1. Kinesics: Body language and movements.

    2. Haptics: Use of touch in communication.

    3. Proxemics: Use of space and distance.

    4. Chronemics: The use of time in communication.

    5. Paralanguage: Vocal elements other than words such as pitch and tone.

    6. Appearance: How dress and grooming influence communication.

    7. Environment: Physical surroundings and how they influence interactions.

    8. Artifacts: Objects and personal items that communicate information (230-234).

  • Types of Kinesic Gestures:

    • Emblems: Gestures with specific meanings (e.g., thumbs up).

    • Illustrators: Gestures that accompany speech to clarify (e.g., using hands to show size).

    • Regulators: Gestures that control the flow of conversation (e.g., raising a hand to signal speaking).

    • Adaptors: Movements used to manage emotions (e.g., tapping fingers from anxiety) (231-234).

  • Types of Touch:

    • Functional-professional touch: Task-oriented touch used in professional settings.

    • Social polite touch: Culturally accepted forms of touching in social contexts.

    • Friendship/warmth touch: Touch that conveys warmth and closeness.

    • Love/intimacy touch: Physical closeness that signifies affection or intimate connection (234-236).

  • Distances Associated with Space:

    • Intimate Space: 0-18 inches, reserved for close relationships.

    • Personal Space: 18 inches-4 feet, for friends and family.

    • Social Space: 4-12 feet, used for acquaintances or formal settings.

    • Public Space: 12+ feet, suited for public speaking and interactions with strangers (236-237).

  • Differences Between M-time and P-time:

    • M-time cultures value punctuality and schedules, while P-time cultures emphasize flexibility and relationships (236-237).

  • Affect Displays:

    • Affect displays are nonverbal cues that communicate emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, or surprise (240).

  • Relationship Definition Through Nonverbal Communication:

    • Relationships are defined and conveyed through various nonverbal signals like eye contact, body language, and touch, which can enhance or detract from the spoken word (243-244).