Com-110 Midterm Study Guide

Evaluative Language

Describes something, but also shows the speaker's attitude toward it. Negative and positive connotations make a difference

Static Evaluation

Descriptions or evaluations that use the word "is". How we describe people in a way that's static when really we are only describing that situation right now (Joe is mean)

What is control in terms of the Interpersonal Needs Theory?

Desire to influence people and events

Why do we communicate?

Fundamentally, we need human contact and companionship. We connect with others through communication and when we can't have interaction, we struggle to create artificial relationships

Relative Language

Gains meaning by comparing to something else (Fails to link to something more measurable

What are gendered speech communities?

Gendered speech communities show how men and women are socialized into different understandings of how communication functions (women are more expressive while men are more task-focused)

Who is the generalized other?

Generalized other is general and overall society; all aspects of identity are intertwined; social perspectives are constructed in specific cultures at specific times

Minimal Encouragers

Gently invite elaboration by saying "really?", "oh wow", "go on"

What does "Process" mean in the definition of Interpersonal Communication?

Evolves over time; linked to past and future (think about how you met your friend, and how that affected what's happening in the future)

What is kinesics

Kinesics is how people communicate through body. This can be done with emblems, illustrators, affect displays, regulators, and adaptors

"I" Language

"I get so frustrated when you don't listen"

"But" Statement

"I think you're great but we should just be friends"

"It" Statement

"It's a bad idea"

"We" Language

"We have a problem with keeping tidy"

How do we come to know who we are?

(1) Self arises out of communication with others, (2) we internalize these external perspectives and (3) we become part of who we are and how we see ourselves

What is nonverbal communication?

All aspects of communication other than words

Public Distance

12 feet and beyond

Intimate Distance

18 inches

Personal Distance

18 inches to 4 feet

Social Distance

4 feet to 12 feet

Standpoint theory influence on perception

A person's social location in a society can shape his/her view of the world

What is hearing

A physiological activity that occurs when sound waves hit our eardrums

What needs does communication fulfill according to the Interpersonal Needs Theory?

According to the Interpersonal Needs Theory, communication fulfills our needs of affection, inclusion, and control

What are artifacts?

Artifacts are personal objects used to announce identities and heritage, and to personalize environments (stickers, piercings, tattoos, jewelry, taylor swift merch, we personalize our environment with artifacts)

Questioning

Asking speaker for additional information (Sincere or counterfeit questions)

Disclaimer

Attempts to distance a speaker from remarks that might be unwelcome. Can backfire because it sensitizes listeners (I don't want to be mean but...)

What are attributions?

Attributions are an explanation of why something happened and why someone acts in a certain way

What is chronemics?

Chronemic is the study of how people use and structure time

Racist Language

Classifies members of one racial group as superior and others as inferior

Politeness

Communicating to save face for both senders and receivers

I-You Communication

Communication where we acknowledge humanity but the conversation is not interpersonal in nature. An example would be small-talk with coworkers

I-It Communication

Communication with different people where we do not acknowledge their humanity. We use it as a device to get what we want. An example of this are people at drive throughs

What are constitutive rules?

Constitutive rules are how to interpret and perform different kinds of communication. What counts as respect, friendliness, affection, etc. (if a friend is going through a hard time, what do we say to be supportive)

What are direct definitions?

Direct definitions are communication that explicitly tells us how others see us and our behaviors (you are smart; you are funny; you are amazing; you are stupid; you aren't capable)

Responsibility (Attributions)

Do we think others are responsible for behavior?

Public Territory

Don't own it, but claim it for the period of time (table at a restaurant, park bench)

Secondary Territory

Don't own it, but is yours for a specific period of time due to repeated use (seat sitting in in class)

Locus (Attributions)

Explains a person's control over actions (Can be internal or external)

Stability (Attributions)

Explains actions as a result of factors that are stable/unstable

Specificity (Attributions)

Explains behavior either in global implications or under certain circumstances

Supporting

Expressing care or concern for speaker's situation (Agreement, offers to help, praise, reassurance)

What is face?

Face is our impressions of self that we want others to accept when we interact in social situations. We do not have full control over our face

Culture Influence on Perception

Guides our expectations. What our culture says should or can happen

What is haptics?

Haptics is the study of touch. Touch can be used as positive affect, playful, control, ritualistic, hybrid, task-related and accidental.

Cognitive Abilities influence on perception

How elaborately we think about things and our cognitive complexity. We look at things differently from toddlers because they don't see things the same; we organize and interpret differently

Self Influence on Perception

How we perceive ourselves affects how we perceive the world around us. If you have low esteem and people are laughing, are they laughing at you? If you have high self esteem the people might be laughing with you

Empathizing

Identifying with speaker's emotions and perceptions

What are identity scripts?

Identity scripts are rules for living and identity that we learn from others (what our roles should be, what we should value, what should be important to us, how we are supposed to live our lives) ex: treat others the way you want to be treated

What is impression management?

Impression management is how we use communication to persuade others to believe in face we present (choose our identities to present; hide some parts of ourselves)

Euphemism

Innocent terms substituted for blunt ones - often used to soften impact (Death? Vomit? Sexual intercourse?)

What is interpersonal communication competence?

Interpersonal Communication competence is the ability to communicate effectively, appropriately, and ethically (goal of class)

Interpersonal Communication Definition

Interpersonal Communication is a selective, systematic process that allows people to reflect and build personal knowledge of one another and create shared meanings

What is the interpersonal communication continuum?

Interpersonal Communication is based on a continuum that ranges from impersonal to interpersonal. This includes I-It, I-You, and I-Thou communication

What is the Interpersonal Needs Theory?

Interpersonal Needs Theory states that we create and sustain relationships to meet three basic needs, affection, inclusion, and control

What is interpretation?

Interpretation is the subjective process of explaining our perceptions in ways that make sense to us (try to explain it if it doesn't make sense or figure out why something happened)

What can language do?

Language can shape perception, totalize, reflects relationships, be loaded, degrade others, stereotype, allow for hypothetical/abstract though

How is language symbolic?

Language is symbolic because words are symbols which are arbitrary, ambiguous, abstract representations of other phenomena.

How do language and culture reflect each other?

Language reflects cultural history, values, perspectives (every man for themself can now be updated to every person for themself)

How does language relate to communication?

Language works because we agreed to a meaning; language is symbolic and arbitrary and ambiguous and abstract

What is linguistic relativity?

Linguistic relativity is how language shapes our world and our world shapes our language. The language we use can define the world around us but the world around us also defines the language that we have (shopping mall example)

Principle 5: Metacommunication affects meanings

Metacommunication is communication about communication. An example of this is "We don't really talk like we used to". Metacommunication can work through conflict

What can nonverbal communication do?

NVC can repeat, highlight, compliment, contradict or substitute

Related to the components of the communication model, what is noise?

Noise is anything that can distort communication or interfere with people's understandings of one another. There is physiological noise, external noise, internal noise, and semantic noise

Is nonverbal communication present in social media?

Nonverbal communication is present in social media through emojis and ways of texting

What are the obstacles to mindful listening?

Obstacles to mindful listening include information overload, noise, internal obstacles, prejudgement, reacting to emotionally-loaded language, and a lack of effort

Advising

Offering advice to a problem (Have you talked to them); can be helpful, not helpful, or unwanted

Analysing

Offering different interpretations of a speaker's message

Age influence on perception

Older vs. younger individuals. Older individuals will perceive the world differently than younger people

What is paralanguage/vocalics?

Paralanguage is communication that is vocal, but does not use words - the way a message is spoken (sounds, vocal qualities, disfluencies)

Who are particular others?

Particular others are specific people who are important in our lives; change throughout life

What is perception?

Perception is the active process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting people, objects, events and other phenomena; we interpret everything and perceive them; perception is always happening

What are personal constructs?

Personal Constructs are bipolar mental yardsticks that we use to measure a person/situation (one end is the most attractive person you've ever met and the other end is the least attractive person you've ever met)

What does personal space depend on?

Personal space depends on culture, situation and the other person

Why is physical appearance a nonverbal category?

Physical Appearance is a nonverbal category because we notice how others look; base our initial evaluation on appearance. We use artifacts on our bodies to communicate with others

Why is physical environment a nonverbal category?

Physical environment is a nonverbal category because the environment refers to the physical place that the communication takes place

What are the influences on perception

Physiology, Expectations, Age, Culture, Standpoint Theory, Cognitive Abilities, Self

What are prototypes?

Prototypes are the most representative example of a category (we all have different prototypes; I have a prototype of what I expect from a roommate)

What is proxemics?

Proxemics is the study of space and distance in communication.

What is reflected appraisal?

Reflected appraisal is our perception of another's view of us; how we think others appraise us affects how we view ourselves

Language of Responsibility

Reflects the speaker's willingness to take responsibility for beliefs, feelings or actions.

What are regulative rules?

Regulative rules specify when, where and with whom to talk about certain things. They vary across cultures, social groups, contexts

What are schemata?

Schemata is the cognitive structures that help us organize and interpret experiences (looks like a dog, barks like a dog, probably a dog)

What are scripts?

Scripts are a guide to action (script for when you meet someone for the first time) (can be negative if given unhealthy script; if parents had conflict that was healthy, then you learn that script)

What is selection?

Selection is how we choose the stimuli we will pay attention to. This is determined by anything intense, repetitious, changed, focus, who we are, and culture

What is self?

Self is a constantly evolving, processual understanding of oneself

What is self-concept?

Self-concept is a set of perceptions you hold of yourself; qualities you think you have

What is self-disclosure?

Self-disclosure is the intentional reveal of information about ourselves; anything that people don't know right away. The benefits are that it allows us to learn about ourselves, can be cathartic, receive validation and may be ethical. The risks are that they might not accept what we reveal, they might like us less, they might reject us altogether, they might use the info against us

What is self-esteem?

Self-esteem is the part that involves evaluations of self-worth

Physiological influence on perception

Senses, mood, health issues (Some mornings when you spill something it's okay, but some mornings it's not)

How can chronemics be used to express messages and identify who has power?

Showing up early vs. late expresses messages and whoever is the one being waited on has the power.

Is silence nonverbal communication?

Silence is nonverbal communication because no words are being spoken

What is social comparison?

Social comparison is the process of assessing ourselves in relation to others to form judgements of ourselves (comparing ourselves to others). This happens by determining if we are alike or different, and how do we measure up

How has social media affected language?

Social media has created new language and can be even more ambiguous online. Regulative rules and constitutive rules also play a part on social media (if you want to appear a certain way, how do you do that on social media? emojis?)

Primary Territory

Space you own or have control over (my room in AZ)

What are speech communities?

Speech communities exist when people have a shared understanding of how to communicate (defined by social location)

Silent Listening

Staying attentive wand nonverbally responsive without offering any verbal feedback (nodding, smiling, eye contact)

What are stereotypes?

Stereotypes are predictive generalizations applied to a person/situation (way to help predict what a person will do/act/say) (can be bad when based on incorrect assumptions)

Paraphrasing

Summarizing in own words what the speaker said (shows your following and clarifying if that is what the speaker is saying)

What does "Systematic" mean in the definition of Interpersonal Communication?

Systems, or contexts, affect communication (gift example... why are you giving the gift?)

Powerless Language

Tentative and indirect word choices with hedges and hesitations

How can we use the Johari Window to learn more information about ourselves?

The Johari Window helps us gain and use knowledge to support personal growth. The quadrants are open (what is known to others and known to yourself), blindspot (if you can't keep up your face), hidden (where your insecurities lie), and unknown (untapped potentials that you and everyone doesn't know until you find it out)

What are the eight principles of communication?

The eight principles of of communication are: we cannot not communicate, interpersonal communication is irreversible, interpersonal communication involves ethical choices, people construct meanings in interpersonal communication, metacommunication affects meanings, interpersonal communication develops and sustains relationships, interpersonal communication is not a panacea and interpersonal communication effectiveness can be learned

What is territoriality?

The establishment and maintenance of space that people claim for their personal use

What is the fundamental attribution error?

The fundamental attribution error is when we overestimate internal causes and underestimate external causes of other's behaviors (If someone yelled at you it's because they have a temper and aren't a good person when in reality they are really tired or stressed out or have external things)

I-Thou Communication

The highest interpersonal communication possible. We accept them and they accept us as truly unique and special individuals. An example of this are conversations with family or significant others. This communication type tends to be less in numbers

What is the interactive model of communication?

The interactive model shows that communication is a process in which listeners give feedback. It recognizes that communicators will create and interpret messages within the person's fields of experience. The problem with this is that is outlines communication as a step-by-step process

What is the linear model of communication?

The linear model of communication depicts communication as a linear, one-way process. One person acts on another person (will start with one person and they will communicate to someone else. The receive is passive. This model is lacking the role of the receiver being more important

What is the listening process?

The listening process consists of being mindful, physically receiving messages, selecting and organizing messages, interpreting messages, responding, and remembering

What are the poor listening habits?

The poor listening habits are pseudolistening (pretending to listen), monopolizing (focusing on yourself), selective listening (only focusing on one part), defensive listening (taking innocent comments as personal attacks), ambushing (listening to attack speaker) and literal listening (ignoring relationship content)

What is listening?

The process of actively receiving and responding to other's messages

How does the self-fulfilling prophecy affect our behavior?

The self-fulfilling prophecy affects our behavior because we internalize others expectations or judgements about us and then we behave in ways that are consistent with those expectations or judgements

What is the transactional model of communication?

The transactional model emphasizes the dynamic nature of Interpersonal Communication. It shows that it is not a step by step process; lots of things happening simultaneously. It implies that communicators share responsibility for effectiveness

Principle 6: Interpersonal communication develops and sustains relationships

There cannot be a relationship without communication. When communication declines, that's a signal that something is happening in the relationship

Principle 3: Interpersonal Communication involves ethical choices

There is always an inner dialogue on what is right to do and what isn't. We decide if we should share that information or not

Principle 7: Interpersonal Communication is not a panacea

Though interpersonal communication is essential in establishing and sustaining relationships it is always not to cure to every problem or situation in our lives

What is inclusion in terms of the Interpersonal Needs Theory?

To be social and be included

What is affection in terms of the Interpersonal Needs Theory?

To give and receive love/liking

Sexist Language

Unnecessary differentiates between females or males, or diminishes, excludes, demeans either

Abstraction

Ways of generalizing objects, people, events, ideas. Can be useful, hurtful or confusing - "Thanks for cleaning up" (instead of thank you for making dinner, thank you for making my bed, thank you for doing my laundry)

Principle 8: Interpersonal Effectiveness can be learned

We can become better communicators and take that to make our own relationships better. We can be more aware of when people are really bad at it

What does "Selective" mean in the definition of Interpersonal Communication?

We choose who we interact deeply with

What is the self-serving bias?

We hold a bias toward ourselves and our interests (If we do well on a test it's because we studied well and are smart and talented, if we did bad it's because the test was just way too hard and the teacher didn't prepare us)

Expectations influence on perception

What do we expect to happen? This is guided by scripts we follow; if we go into a situation with expectations, we look for things to confirm them

Principle 4: People construct meanings in interpersonal communication

When we speak or communicate there are connotations and symbols within our words. When we communicate we have the intent to convey an emotion or information. People interpret these messages

Principle 2: Interpersonal Communication is irreversible

When you communicate to someone you cannot turn back time and reverse what you said. Once you said something to person you cannot take it back

Principle 1: We cannot NOT communicate:

You are always communicating no matter what. Lack of communication can be interpreted as a message