In preparation for Interpersonal Communication Midterm
folie a deux
A shared delusional mental state
public relationships
Impersonal and little exchange occurs over time -substitutable members -relatively autonomous -practical rather than sentimental -rules governing behavior are socially rather than individually determined. -rewards extrinsic rather than intrinsic
mediated public communication
broadcasting (situated approach)
social reality
can be changed and molded
cultural level rules
closest to impersonal (developmental approach)
dyadic communication
interpersonal communication (in a situated approach)
self talk
intrapersonal communication (situated approach)
developmental approach
the quality of RULES make communication interpersonal
relational prototype
(Wilmot and Baxter) consist of three things: 1. a natural language label 2.criterial attributes 3. communicative indicators
relationships as cognitive constructs
(answers the question what is a relationship) Exist in our minds when we think about one another - a relationship is the way we think about our behaviors - when we interact with another person, we form a mental image of the interaction and compare it to a relational prototype, an idealized image of how things should be
relationships as constellations of behaviors
(answers the question what is a relationship) a relationship is the equivalent to the interdependent actions of two people. Relationships are all the things people do when they are together. Ways two people behave toward one another in their relationship
relationships as contradictory forces
(answers the question what is a relationship) believe all relationships are made up of contrasting dialectics that pull us in different directions. In a sense, a relationship is the way a couple comes to terms with opposing forces
relationships as mini-cultures
(answers the question what is a relationship) relationships are not individual views but shared understandings -when two people form an interpersonal band, they create their own small-scale culture, developing shared perception and creating roles that allow them to coexist -it consists of more than the behaviors and individual images of each other. It also includes the rules and obligations that govern their interactions and of their shared understandings of each other and their social world.
culture
(arguably the most important context) that set of values, beliefs, customs, and codes that bind people together. A proverbial factor in determining communication practices. Complaining and other communication episodes both have their function and structure determined in part, by culture
interpersonal relationships develop through coordinated interaction
(characteristic of relationships) John Schoffer- JOINT ACTIONS- action belongs to both of the people ex fights -can produce the opposite of what we intended -actions have an impact on the other person -like a game, individual actions no longer stand alone
interpersonal relationships begin with awareness
(characteristic of relationships) William Wilmot-relationships begin the moment people become aware that others are aware of them "I see you seeing me"
our relationships are influenced by outside forces
(characteristic of relationships) influenced by 1. cultural norms and medial models- affect ways we conduct ourselves everyday 2. the involvement of family and friends-expectations and rules 3. economic and environmental conditions-relationships don't occur in a vacuum -crossover
our relationships can control us as much as we control them
(characteristic of relationships) relationships has life of its own
As relationships unfold, we begin to analyze and evaluate them
(characteristic of relationships) we create mental representations of unfolding interaction, and these mental representations help us identify the kind of relationships we have -MOPs -relational prototype -natural language label -criterial attributes -communicative indicators
4 points about relational model
(chart on pg 35) 1. The two types of relationships (public &private) we have described are extremes and many variations are possible. 2. Over time, relationships will fluctuate and change 3. Different skills and sensitivities are needed for different kinds of relationships -****interpersonal competence is often a matter of knowing whether to employ public or private rules of behavior 4. Relational profiles are negotiated over time- every time we communicate, we send two different kinds of messages: --- content and relational messages
psychological level
(developmental approach) Only when predictions are based primarily on a ? of analysis are the communicators actually engaged in interpersonal communication
approximeeting
(how technology affects cultural context) because people can contact one another so easily, they no longer make specific appointments
sociological level data
(in developmental approach) When people identify one another based on the reference or membership groups to which they belong, ex) both college students -ability to predict one another's interests and attitudes has increased.
psychological level data
(in developmental approach) provide the most information of all; they are data based on unique, personal attributes ex- sharing hopes and fears with one another.
cultural level data
(in developmental approach) very general information that applies to all members of a given culture -surface level ex middle-class Americans
private relationships
(pg34-35) Are close, personal relationships, become personal and unique -not easy to substitute -close and interdependent -rules of behavior we follow are individualistic, the product of negotiation -those relationships are considered to be remedy for their own intrinsic worth
satisfactorialy competent
(role competence) People who value flexibility, and who are willing to change if they sense the willingness is reciprocal. Most comfortable in familiar situations but lack the ability to work out problems in new and creative ways.
minimally competent
(role competence) individuals are inflexible, can't modify current roles or take on new ones. Force partners to take on a certain role or altercast
factors to consider in the situated approach
-number of interactants there are -the physical proximity between interactants -delivery of feedback (immediate or delayed) -interactants adaptation to each other's need is (specific general) - goals and purposes of interactants are (unstructured or structured)
five things needed to be good communicators (general)
1. Assign meanings to the world around them 2. take on social roles appropriately 3. Present valued images of themselves to the world. 4. Set goals strategically 5. Generate intelligent messages
characteristics of communication
1. Communication is a Process 2. Communication is uniquely human 3. Communication is a Collective Activity 4. Communication is a Creative Endeavor 5. Communication is regulatory
misconceptions about communication
1. Communication requires complete understanding 2. Communication will solve all problems 3. Communication is always good 4. Meaning comes from the words that are used. 5. Communication is simple 6. More communication is better communication
Implications of Communication Characteristics
1. Much of what we think of as real is actually the product of communication. This implies that there is no single reality. Instead, through communication we create our own reality. 2. The fact that reality is a product of communication also had another implication: Too often we allow what we have created through communication to control us. 3. Most of us are strongly influenced by the cultures in which we live. Communication always takes place in a cultural context. 4. Communication requires cooperation. This means that what is important in interpersonal communication is what people do when they are together, not what each does separately.
small group communication
2<12 Must be small enough that everyone can interact freely -members can communicate with one another in a variety of ways -one reason leaders emerge in groups is to allow groups to handle the difficult problem of coordinating activities.
non-interpersonal communication
According to Miller and Steinberg (pg 27), when individuals operate at the cultural or sociological levels in the developmental approach, they are engaged in?
cultural values
All the competencies depend on ? and beliefs
criterial attributes
Are the characteristics that a relationship must have to be classed by a given natural language label ex) six common attributes of friendship are trust, general comfort, respect, security in the other's presence, ease in communication, and openness. -communicative indicators are associated with each attribute
relational prototypes
As we create memories and think about relationships, we COMPARE individual memories to the ? that provide general models of what relationships should be like. When it matches ideal prototypes, we're happy, if not, unhappy
communication and competence
Chapter 1 is about?
creating, interacting, process, social life
Communication is ? not: transmitting sending and receiving purpose information
relationships are constructed and maintained through communication
Communication is lifeblood of relationships
cultural, historical, technological, relational
Competence is framed by four kinds of contexts
process competence
Consists of all the cognitive activity and knowledge necessary to generate adequate performance
natural language label
Consists of the word or words we use to describe a relationship ex) "acquaintance, friend, best friend"
altercast
Form relationships only with people who will accept them as they want to be
deliberate
Goffman dramaturgy reading: Our ? character is more truly ourself than is the flux of involuntary dreams.
face
Is an approved social identity, that aspect of ourselves that we present to others for that approval. Communication incongruent with this will be considered socially unacceptable.
implicit knowledge
Is knowledge we don't stop to think about, that we use unconsciously to guide our behavior
process
Is moving, it has no beginning and no end, and it is constantly changing. Communication is a process, not a thing. Like a river
communication competence
Is the ability to communicate in a personally effective and socially appropriate manner. Involves two separate level: 1) surface level- consisting of the part of competence that can be seen-the actual performance of day-to-day behaving (performance competence) 2) a deeper level, consisting of everything we have to know in order to perform (process competence)
communication
Is the process whereby humans collectively create and regulate social reality
memory organization packets MOPs
James Honey Colt These changing mental models consist of scenes from the relationship, for example-first date memories -help us stabilize relationships -thus "even though relationships are in constant motion, relationship memory structures provide a perceptual anchor so that individuals can determine when they are in a relationship."
three levels of role competence
Linda Hunning? 1. minimally competent 2. satisfactorily competent 3. optimally competent
crossover
Occurs when stress in the workplace affects the spouse at home
size
Of all the factors in the situational approach to interpersonal communication, what probably has the biggest effect?
situational approach
Rest of textbook after chapter two takes which approach to interpersonal communication?
verbal competence
The ability to process and use linguistic devices to convey content in effective ways
face-to-face public communication
Single speaker addresses large group -speaker doesn't know audience members personally and must therefore compose the message or a hypothetical receiver. -speaker is sender audience is receiver
nonverbal competence
The ability to process and use nonverbal codes to convey contact in effective ways.
role competence
The ability to take on social roles and to know what is appropriate behavior given these roles
psychological level rules
Specific for eachother (closest to interpersonal developmental approach)
relationshipping
Steve Ducke- the process of building healthy relationships
interpretive competence
The ability to label, organize, and interpret the conditions surrounding an interaction
listening competence
The ability to process and understand the messages that are sent to us.
optimally competent
The most interpersonally skilled, know when to adapt and when not to. Because they are aware of the way their interpersonal systems operate, they handle relational problems creatively and effectively.
situational approach and developmental approach
Two interpersonal communication approaches to answer question, "What is interpersonal communication?"
private and public relationships
Two kind of relationship paths (intimacy and distance)
interpersonal communication
The textbook uses this term to refer to dyadic communication in which two individuals, sharing the roles of sender and receiver, become connected through the mutual activity of creating meaning.
hierarchy emerges
organizational communication (situated approach)
developmental approach
This approach to interpersonal communication states that to distinguish what is really interpersonal communication, we need to look at three levels of information (data) -cultural level -sociological level -psychological level
organizational communication
This form of communication occurs in complex organizations such as large businesses and industries and government institutions. Roles tend to be more specialized and differentiated than at other levels, and rules for behavior are more formalized. -organizational culture
process perspective
This means becoming aware of what's going on when you communicate and beginning to recognize how the underlying processes involved in communication manifest themselves in everyday performance. Means concentrating ON FORM in addition to CONTEXT. Means sitting back and watching yourself as you communicate
competence
This word shows how complex it is to be good at communication. Means to be effective, having individual needs seen to, but also means it's appropriate and follows or doesn't rules of society. Means effectiveness. appropriateness
what's needed to be relationally competent
We need interpretive competence to understand and monitor our relationships -We also nee goal competence -Role competence is another ability that helps us as we build and maintain a relationship. -message competence is necessary -need self-competence as well to build relationships
mediated public or mass communication
When the audience is large but the transmission is indirect. -whenever a medium replicates, duplicates, and disseminates identical content to a geographically widespread population, mass communication is taking place.
Suggestions for healthy relationships
a) In a healthy relationship, there is a shared vision of where the relationship is and where it is going. b) In a healthy relationship, there are clear rules that have been mutually negotiated and that work to the benefit of the relationship itself c) in a healthy relationship, there is a shared work ethic d) In a healthy relationship, metacommunication (communication about communication) is valued.
relational messages
are messages about the relationship itself
content messages
are messages about the topic at hand
Erving Goffman
associate face with this guy
interpersonal communication
communication between two people, generally in face-to-face interaction. Another name for this is dyadic communication. Is generally spontaneous and informal, participants receive maximum feedback from each other -roles as sender and receiver are generally flexible (if link between the two is severed the relationship no longer exists-this is not true for small group communication)
situational approach
define interpersonal communication in terms of its external characteristics, you look at factors like the number of people involved and their physical proximity.
situated approach
external situation factors help determine communication interpersonally.
mutuality decreases
face-to-face public communication (situated approach)
interpretive, role, self, goal, message
five things needed to be good communicators (the five different competences)
relationships
how we think about these: -A constellation (system) of behaviors -A set of cognitive constructs -A mini-culture- rules, roles, rituals, norms of behavior -A collection of contradictory forces (dialectics)
sociological level rules
in the middle of impersonal and interpersonal (in the developmental approach)
as performance competency
means doing
process competency
means knowing
public private continuum
public on right, private on the left -(substitutable) partners are to each other (irreplaceable) -(universal) information partners share with each other is (particular) -(normative) rules that guide the relationship are (individualistic) -(practical) Emotions in the relationship are (sentimental) -(extrinsic) partners' rewards from the relationship are (instrinsic)
dialectics
push and pull of two mutually connected but opposing ideas/values- connection to self-identity
dialectical approach
see relationships as dialogues between opposing values each expressing a different and contradictory impulse. USED IN seeing relationships as collections of contradictory forces
intrapersonal communication
self talk both sender and receiver; is also typically believed to be more disconnected and repetitive and less logical than other forms of communication
>2 but <12
small group communication (situated approach)
the process whereby humans create and regulate social reality
textbook definition of communication
self competence
the ability to choose and present a desired self-image
message competence
the ability to make message choices that others can comprehend as well as to attend to and understand the message choices of others. Components 1. verbal competence 2. nonverbal competence 3. listening competence
goal competence
the ability to set goals, anticipate probable consequences and choose effective lines of action
communicative indicators
the behaviors that display an attribute (pg 32)
situational
use this over situated
developmental approach
you define interpersonal communication in terms of its content; you look at the kind of information people exchange and how well they know one another.