Comm 101: Test 3 (The Final)

Listening

is cognitive; is active; and requires energy, desire, focus, and attention

Pressure to Fail

A fifth disadvantage is that the weaker group members control the outcome and therefore require others who might want to excel to do only the minimum necessary to get the job done and no more. In fact, members who do not cooperate and do excel beyond other group members might find themselves teased, chastised, or worse for breaking the group's norm

According to the Harfield Model, what makes listening a cognitive function?

A number of synaptic/mental activities take place in the brain while we listen.

Aggressive Behavior

A preliminary warning sign a relationship is heading toward trouble occurs when one of the parties becomes a little too aggressive by aiming hurtful communication at the other. At some time we all say something we wished we hadn't said to someone about whom we care. However, whether intentional or not, when people communicate hurtful statements to one another with increasing frequency, it is a sign that their relationship may be in trouble

Time-Consuming Nature of Group Work

A second disadvantage of groups is that the decision-making or problem-solving process can be time consuming. It almost always takes longer to accomplish something when a group does it. The more members in a group, the more time it takes to achieve the group's objectives

Self-Disclosure and Rhetorical Sensitivity

According to communication scholars Roderick Hart and Don Burks, rhetorical sensitivity is an alternative form of communication that can be applied to situations in which wide-open self-disclosure could be harmful.

Eric Simon and Leslie Baxter, communication scholars, describe the following positive strategies for romantic exchanges:

Act cheerful and positive when talking to the other. Do favors for the other or help with tasks. Initiate celebrations of special events from your shared past, such as the first time you met. Do things to surprise the other person. Suggest that you go out to eat together at a favorite or special restaurant. Create a romantic environment, perhaps with candlelight and flowers. Give the other person items of sentimental value, such as gifts or cards. Suggest ways to spend time doing things together.86

Betrayal

Another warning sign of a relationship in trouble is betrayal. For example, if you tell a friend a personal secret and especially ask for complete confidentiality, and the friend then spreads the story to others, you have been betrayed

Dewey's Reflective Thinking

Clearly identify or define the problem you are trying to solve. Analyze the problem: What are its causes, or the conditions underlying the problem? Suggest possible solutions. Select the best solution, then discuss why it is the best and how it will solve the problem. Once the best solution is decided upon, the group now must decide how it will be put into operation.47

The positive outcomes of conflict, according to Gloria Galanes and Katherine Adams, are as follows:

Conflict can produce better understanding of both issues and people. Conflict can increase member motivation. Conflict can produce better decisions. Conflict can produce greater cohesiveness among group members.43

media multiplexity theory

Developed by Caroline Haythornthwaite, explains the presence of strong and weak social ties in an individual's relational network

Ethical Behavior and Conflict

Express disagreements openly and honestly. It is important to put disagreements on the table for discussion. Stick to the issues. Be direct and get to the point. Use rhetorical sensitivity when presenting your disagreements. Don't simply put down others' ideas or views. Criticize the idea and not the person. Base disagreements on solid evidence and good reasoning, not on rumor, emotions, or unsubstantiated information. Be receptive to disagreements. Don't become defensive simply because someone disagrees with you. Keep an open mind and listen carefully. Always remain calm even if someone attacks you. Take a reasoned approach and do nottake the attack personally. Look for ways to integrate ideas and to negotiate differences whenever possible.

Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates social loafing?

Genna seemed excited to take on her share of work, but she soon stopped contributing in meetings and didn't volunteer to create any Powerpoint slides.

Which question will best help listeners judge the accuracy of the speaker's conclusions?

Have I heard this information before?

Differentiating

In differentiating, the first stage of coming apart, the differences between the individuals are highlighted and become forces that slow or limit the growth of the relationship. The pair's communication tends to focus on how each differs from the other, and tolerance of these differences decreases

Circumscribing

In the circumscribing stage, information exchange is reduced, and some areas of difference are completely avoided because conversation would only lead to a deepening of the conflict.

Which of the following best demonstrates an ability to accurately process information?

Kate finds her friend's new house after listening to directions.

Why Do We Self-Disclose?

Many abilities differentiate human beings from other animals, one of which is to keep and share information about ourselves. We self-disclose for a variety of reasons: for others to better understand who we are, to gain sympathy, to see what others think, to gain trust, or to connect with others and establish relationships

Nurture a Supportive Environment

Many of us listen to others express their feelings and then immediately express our own. This gives the impression we don't even acknowledge the other's existence, let alone what he or she has said. In contrast, skilled and caring communicators do not usually respond immediately with ideas, judgments, or feelings or express their own views.

Negotiating

Negotiating usually involves a give-and-take process and leads to each party having some satisfaction and some dissatisfaction with the outcome. In other words, "Give a little and get a little"

Connecting with Others via Interpersonal Communication

Objective 13.1 Explain what it means to connect with others through interpersonal communication. Connecting with others and forming relationships are what interpersonal communication is all about. Interpersonal communication is creating and sharing meaning between persons who are in a relationship. Interpersonal communication allows relationships to become established and to grow, satisfying our social needs.

The Functions of Listening

Objective 7.3 Differentiate among three functions of listening behavior. We listen to obtain information, to evaluate, to be entertained, and to be empathic with others.

__________ is pretending to listen.

Pseudolistening

Traditional mass communication is generally understood to include __________.

Radio

Connection-Autonomy

Relationships require both the desire to connect to another person and the desire to retain autonomy as an individual. We want to connect to others, such as partners, friends, parents, siblings, or coworkers, but we also want to retain some control and independence or autonomy over our lives.

Social exchange theory

Social psychologists John Thibaut and Harold Kelley originated which is based on the assumption that people weigh the costs and benefits associated with entering a relationship and seek out relationships that benefit them while avoiding those that don't

Critical thinking and critical listening are closely linked

The critical thinker knows how to analyze and assess information. The critical listener knows how to make connections between messages and issues. The critical listener also uses the ability to analyze and evaluate messages to determine whether ideas are logically presented and whether the speaker is well informed and exhibits clear thinking. Critical thinking and critical listening are closely related parts of a complex process. Listening with a critical ear involves two phases: (1) assessing the speaker's values and intent and (2) judging the accuracy of the speaker's conclusions

What does your "social media footprint" mean?

The trail you leave behind every time you post something to social media

Novelty-Predictability

To develop and build healthy relationships, a certain amount of predictability is needed. Without some stability or constancy, the potential for uncertainty and ambivalence is too great for a long-term relationship to survive. Therefore, we need relationships that accommodate a certain amount of predictability.

Avoiding

Up to this point, participants in the relationship still see each other or share the same living quarters. But physical or emotional distancing and eventual separation mark the fourth stage, the avoiding stage.

Self-Disclosure and Gender

Using the terms women and men as identifiers to describe or distinguish communication between the sexes is troublesome. The terms imply sameness across all women and all men that might or might not be true.

Here are some ways in which conflict can or may be destructive:

When the resolution of a conflict ends with a winner and a loser When individuals act too aggressively, when they withdraw from each other, when they withhold their feelings from each other, or when they accuse each other of causing their problems When it prevents people from doing their work or feeling good about themselves When it forces people to do things that they do not want to do When the outcome is more important than the relationship When conflict is a form of bullying and there is a power difference between parties—"the winner takes all"70

Listening

a continuous cognitive activity and is defined as the active process of receiving stimuli through the senses, constructing meaning from and responding to those stimuli

The most lean communication channel below is __________.

a text

résumé

a written document that briefly and accurately describes an individual's personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experiences. A well-written résumé increases a person's chances of making a good impression.

What skill is most essential for building interpersonal communication competence in our daily lives?

ability to adapt

Listening is best described as a(n) __________ process.

active

Leadership

an influence process that includes any behavior that helps to clarify a group's purpose or guide a group to achieve its goals

Self-presentation

an intentional self-disclosure tactic used to reveal certain aspects about ourselves for specific reasons

The Social Identity Model of Deindividuation posits that __________ lets people communicate in accordance to social rather than personal identities.

anonymity

Most online interaction is an example of __________ communication because it is not done face-to-face.

asynchronous

Sending a tweet is considered a(n) __________ method of communication.

asynchronous

The absence of specific social cues with lean social media devices

can create interpersonal challenges and misinterpretations.

Nate and Drew rarely speak to each other any more, and when they do, it's superficial. Around their group of friends, however, they both seem fine, only to return to strained behavior when alone again. This describes which phase of relationship dissolution?

circumscribing

Successful groups tend to take on a(n) __________ orientation.

collectivistic

At the group's final planning meeting for the car wash fundraiser, members agreed that they all had to work both Saturday and Sunday to reach their goal. Which characteristic of a small group are members concerned with?

commitment

uncertainty reduction theory

developed by communication scholars Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese, is that, when people meet, they seek to reduce the unknowns about each other. The more attracted they are to others, the stronger the desire to know more about them. A desire to reduce uncertainty about those individuals motivates people to have further communication with them.

Information processing

evaluation, interpretation, and understanding to address comprehension when listening

As a speech pathologist, Liz listens closely to the children who come to her office for assessment and analysis. What is the primary type of listening which occurs in this situation?

evaluative

synchronous

forms of communication whereby each person simultaneously serves as sender and receiver Ex: Face-to-face conversations, phone calls, and online instant messages

paralanguage

how things are said. Paralanguage—nonverbal components like intonation—and gestures or body language can also be significant factors in how we interpret a message

A clear disadvantage of vastly increased opportunities for connecting with others and using multiple platforms is __________.

information overload

Renata and Tre do everything together When they are not together, their friends ask where the other one is. Which stage of Knapp and Vangelisti's model does this demonstrate?

integrating

The term relationship refers to the association between people, which may be described in terms of intimacy or __________.

kinship

In certain situations, a leader can give up control and give members freedom to make policies and decisions. What type of leadership style does this describe?

laissez-faire

listening for information

listening to gain comprehension. You listen as your teacher discusses process, perception, nonverbal and verbal communication, famous speakers, and similar topics to learn about speech skills.

The most productive approach to locating jobs is __________.

networking

Maddie observe others from a distance before deciding if she wants to meet them. According to the uncertainty reduction theory, Maddie's behavior can be classified as __________.

passive

Pseudolistening

pretending to listen

Adjusting your communication in order to balance your self-interests with the beliefs, values, and moods of others is best described as __________.

rhetorical sensitivity

Alda's boss at the car dealership decided to form a committee to examine the reasons for a loss of sales. This committee is a type of __________.

secondary group

In the social penetration model, the innermost circle represents __________.

small talk

Values

strongly held beliefs central to the communication process and to each individual's perceptual system. They affect perception and interpretation of both the messages we send and the messages we receive

Reaffirmation

the strategy in which individuals recognize that dialectical tensions will always be present, and therefore they should accept them and even embrace the challenges such tensions produce

Networking

the systematic contacting of people who can provide information about available jobs or who can offer jobs. Relatives, friends, classmates, colleagues, alumni, and people at social and professional gatherings are all potential sources of information

Social loafing

the tendency for individuals to lower their work effort after they join a group.57 For example, suppose you and several other communication majors are forming a communication club

Improving Communication Competence via Social Media

the use of social media as effective methods of communication challenges historic assumptions that the most important interpersonal communication occurs in face-to-face contexts.27 Social media offer many opportunities. Social media facilitate self-disclosure and social connection; are convenient; and, at times, easy to use. Unfortunately, these media also have a dark side and can foster aggression, loneliness, and depression. As you think about how you use social media to connect with others, consider the following guidelines.

media multitasking

using more than one media type at the same time

Using terms such as negotiated, discussed, and presented in a job interview while discussing your résumé helps demonstrate your __________ abilities.

verbal

Rather than get into an argument with her sister about the sweater, Tiffani decided to change the subject. Which strategy for conflict management is Tiffani using?

withdrawing

Guidelines: Handling Media Convergence Effectively

Actively participate in your democracy. One benefit of media convergence is the great possibility for individuals and groups to participate more actively in political processes. Through new technologies, you have the opportunity to discover and provide competing voices to those of traditional media and connect with others on local, state, national, and global levels. Avoid information overload. Feel empowered to contribute.

Effective communicators:

Address issues clearly and try to avoid ambiguous or abstract statements. Are likely to treat others with respect and therefore would not deliberately yell abuses or throw temper tantrums. Know that praise, making the other person feel special, and telling that person what he or she wants to hear will most likely produce desired responses.84

Does Conflict Have to Be Destructive?

Conflict does not have to be destructive. It becomes so when the involved parties are unwilling to negotiate their differences and instead engage in harmful and hurtful tactics—a win-at-any-cost approach.

What Causes Conflict?

Conflict occurs on many different levels, in all aspects of our lives, whether in our classes, our university, our communities, our organizations, or our country. Conflict is a natural and normal part of any relationship.

Brainstorming

During the brainstorming session, group members suggest as many topic-related ideas as they can think of, no matter how farfetched they might seem. One person records the ideas for later analysis. The leader lets the comments flow freely and may prompt the group by suggesting extensions of new ideas that have been voiced.

Self-Disclosure and Culture

In general, people from different cultural backgrounds tend to follow similar patterns of self-disclosure. For example, people from various cultures are likely to begin relationships with small talk and progress to more intimate levels of interaction as the relationship continues. Of course, differences do exist, especially in the initial contact stage, in some cultures; but, in general, as people become friends, those differences seem to diminish.

A list of interpersonal needs was developed by psychologist Will Schutz to explain what motivates individuals to form relationships. What are these three needs?

Inclusion, affection, and control

maintenance

Initiating— preparing members for discussion Organizing— Maintaining effective interaction— Ensuring member satisfaction— Facilitating understanding— Stimulating creativity and critical thinking—

Judge the Accuracy of the Speaker's Conclusions

Is the speaker qualified to draw the conclusion? Has the speaker actually observed the concept or issue about which he or she is talking? Does the speaker have a vested interest in the message? Does the speaker present adequate evidence to support the conclusion? Is the evidence relevant to the conclusion? Is there contrary evidence that refutes the information presented? Does the message contain invalid or inadequate reasoning?

When Is Conflict Beneficial?

It can be beneficial to have disagreements or conflicting views about ideas because of the potential to exchange valuable information or to gain a better understanding of an issue. It can bring out problems that need to be solved. It can bring people together to clarify their goals and look for new ways to do things. It can eliminate resentments and help people understand each other. It can bring out creativity in solving our differences. It can produce acceptable solutions that allow people to live more in harmony with each other. It can help people pay attention to other points of view. It can bring new life into a relationship and strengthen it.

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the size of a group?

Large groups reduce the time and amount of individual interaction.

When deciding on the most effective size for a group, consider the following points:

Large groups reduce the time and amount of individual interaction. Large groups provide a greater opportunity for aggressive members to assert their dominance. As a result, less assertive members might feel isolated and might withdraw from the group altogether. Large groups make it difficult to follow a set agenda. It is easy for someone in a large group to switch topics or introduce subjects that are not related to the group's original priorities.

__________ is defined as an influence process that includes any behavior that helps clarify a group's purpose or guides the group to achieve its goals.

Leadership

Which social networking site focuses on providing support for professionals and potential employees and is a good resource for a job search?

LinkedIn

Factors Leading to Rejection

Negative personality or poor impression; more specifically, lack of motivation, ambition, maturity, aggressiveness, or enthusiasm, or lack of respect—not knowing the interviewer's name or using his or her first name shows disrespect. Inability to communicate; poor communication skills. Lack of competence; inadequate training. Exaggerated skills and experience on the résumé. Lack of specific goals, Sloppy appearance, Failure to clean social media sites; digital junk—pictures that might be either good or bad or seem scandalous. Lack of interest in type of work, showing a bad attitude, or exhibiting a slight arrogance during the interview. Unwillingness to travel or relocate. Poor preparation for the interview and/or showing up late. Lack of experience. Demonstrating emotional distress.25

Under functional theory, what is the expected action undertaken by the group if a decision is found to be flawed?

Start over again.

Calling your roommate on your smartphone.

Synchronous

Talking to your instructor after class.

Synchronous

Stagnating

The relationship reaches a standstill at the stagnating stage. The participants avoid interaction and take care to sidestep controversy

Right brain

The right hemisphere is visuospatial and emotional, and involves simultaneous processing, pattern recognition, creative and holistic thinking, spatial perception, and geometry. Mental map making and our ability to rotate shapes in our mind are predominantly performed in the right hemisphere. A right-brain strategy seeks out insight, images, concepts, patterns, sounds, and movement, all to be built into an intuitive sense of the whole.

Openness-Closedness

The second dialectic tension is the desire to be open and expressive on the one hand and closedand private on the other. But even at the beginning of new relationships, when we seek as muchinformation as we can about the other person, a counterforce cautions against revealing too much too soon about ourselves.

leader

a person who is assigned, selected, or emerges to take the leadership role. In most cases, only one person has the title of leader, although at times the assigned or appointed leader, should there be one, does not show leadership. It is also possible that when no leader is appointed or assigned, someone emerges as the leader or two or more people emerge and share the leader responsibilities via their leadership behaviors.

Principled negotiation

a procedure that helps group members negotiate consensus by collaboration through the expression of each different need and a search for alternatives to meet those needs

transcorporeal communication

a process through which a living person sends a digital message to a deceased person through a website or social networking site Trans indicates that communication occurs beyond the state of human life, and corporeal indicates a relationship to a physical material body.

work team

a special form of group, characterized by close-knit relationships among people with different and complementary abilities and by a strong sense of identity. Similar to groups, work teams involve interaction, interdependence, common goals, personality, commitment, cohesiveness, and rules. Work teams do differ from groups, however, in three ways:

Collaboration

a strategy of conflict management that requires cooperation and mutual respect. It usually involves a problem-solving approach and addresses all concerns of both parties to arrive at a mutually satisfying solution. It is a "we" rather than a "me" approach to negotiation.

Reframing

a strategy that allows tensions to be redefined so that tension is diluted, is made less obvious, or is even made to disappear

Forcing

a strategy where one person has power and dominance over another. It can result in aggression and could include threats, criticisms, hostile remarks, jokes, ridicule, sarcasm, intimidation, fault finding, coercion, or manipulation.

strategy of segmentation

a tactic in which a couple compartmentalizes different aspects of their relationship

Conflict

according to communication scholars William Wilmot and Joyce Hocker, "is an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals

Listening is considered a(n) __________ behavior because it requires conscious participation.

active

Withdrawing

When we choose to avoid further conflict by either psychologically or physically removing ourselves from the situation, we are withdrawing. This can be done by changing the topic, cracking jokes, ignoring, or leaving the situation altogether. Usually, when a withdrawal strategy is used, the conflict is temporarily avoided, but it really doesn't go away. Withdrawal is a temporary escape from the conflict, but both parties know it has not been resolved.

listen for enjoyment

When we listen purely for pleasure, personal satisfaction, and appreciation

Asynchronous

When we use email, send a text message, or direct-message someone on Twitter, delays often occur and we must alternate being the sender and receiver of a message.

When phrasing discussion questions, whether for a classroom learning experience or another context, keep the following in mind

The wording should reflect the discussion purpose or task at hand; for example, what should be done to make our campus a green campus? The wording should focus attention on the real problem; for example, what can be done to establish a recycling program on campus? The wording should specify whose behavior is subject to change; for example, how can we encourage students to recycle?

What is the most frequent complaint from students about group assignments, according to the text?

The workload is unfair.

Relationship Building

We self-disclose to start or maintain relationships. Self-disclosure via small talk or social conversation is one way we enter into relationships with others. The level of self-disclosure at some point can move to more intimate and self-revealing talk as the relationship develops.

Physical Attributes

You tend to like the stranger simply on the basis of a superficial resemblance to someone else. In other instances, the cue might not be related to a specific person in your past but to a subgroup of people to whom you respond positively—the stranger has a Wisconsin accent and you have a fondness for people from your home state.

group

a collection of individuals who influence one another, have a common purpose, take on roles, are interdependent, and interact

groupthink

a dysfunction in which group members see the harmony of the group as more important than considering new ideas, critically examining their own assumptions, changing their own flawed decisions, or allowing new members to participate

Mateo writes down every date, name, and definition his professor lists during the lecture on the Great Wall of China. But when test time comes, Mateo is unable to complete an essay question about why the Great Wall was built. Which barrier to communication has he run into?

concentrating on details, not main ideas

Internal filters

concepts such as the values, attitudes, ego, and cultural and educational influences that affect our listening. They are generated and exist based on our own life experiences and life condition

While Tessa is excited about her upcoming wedding, she is also concerned she might lose her own sense of self once she is married. Which aspect of the dialectical theory does this demonstrate?

connection-autonomy

At the end of a series of meetings, the group thoroughly discussed the proposal on the table and examined a few details quite closely. After deliberation and finding areas of agreement, the group accepted a modified proposal. This group has likely experienced __________.

consensus

Sam doesn't like his required psychology class because he's not majoring in it and doesn't think he'll benefit from it. Which obstacle to effective listening is Sam experiencing?

considering the topic uninteresting

We refer to the understanding of how computer-mediated communication and other forms of communication come together as media __________.

convergence

The first step in the reflective thinking process is to __________.

define the problem

Even though Carson is the department manager, he involves his staff in making decisions. Which leadership style does this represent?

democratic

Media richness theory

describes communication channels by the amount of verbal and nonverbal information that can be exchanged through a particular channel.

social penetration theory

developed by social psychologists Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor, provides a view of how people connect with each other and how their communication moves from small talk to more intimate and self-revealing talk. Social penetration is the process of increasing disclosure and intimacy in a relationship

Shradda's group is employing Dewey's reflective thinking steps to problem solving. First, the group defines the problem as inadequate parking for building tenants. Next, the group should __________.

devise possible solutions

Troy and his wife Sarah have begun pointing out things about each other that annoy them, even arguing about their differences. They are in the __________ stage of coming apart.

differentiating

According to Knapp and Vangelisti, the stages of relationship development and dissolution __________.

don't always occur in order

A good résumé includes an individual's personal, professional, and __________ qualifications and experiences.

educational

Talia was upset when she found out she failed her test. Abby listened to Talia explain her feelings, demonstrating __________ listening.

empathetic

Aiden, a statistics major, looked at the charts and graphs to check their accuracy and whether they helped support the group's proposal. He is functioning in a(n) __________ role.

evaluator/critic

norms

expected and shared ways group members behave are called

A thank-you note should be sent to an interviewer __________.

after every interview

Joseph is the type of leader who focuses on getting the job done. He is good at organizing, setting goals, and making sure the rules are followed. Which leadership orientation is Joseph demonstrating?

autocratic

As a college student, when should you attend your first campus career fair?

before your senior year

During a job interview, which nonverbal strategy will most help you appear confident?

eye contact

Preferred Thinking

can create barriers in the listening process from the perspective of giving or receiving information. Each quadrant of the brain has its own language, and an individual whose primary thinking is in one quadrant can grossly misinterpret an individual whose primary thinking is in the opposite quadrant. The result can be exacerbated if the listener has a very low preference in the quadrant from which the speaker is delivering the information

Social information processing theory examines the nature of online interactions and how they __________.

can lead to relationships

weak ties

casual contacts that are more loosely connected to an individual's social network and are not characterized by intimacy.14 According to media multiplexity theory, the number of different social media that friends use is strongly associated with whether a tie is weak or strong. Specifically, strong ties use several forms of social media, but weak ties use only one or two social media

Kwan felt less guilty after telling his parents that he had sold the car they bought him for graduation because he needed money to pay his rent. Kwan's confession demonstrates the concept of __________.

catharsis

strategy of moderation

characterized by compromises in which deals are struck to help reduce tensions

Which kind of Internet use involves a person's inability to control, reduce, or stop utilizing the Internet?

compulsive

Communication facilitated by social media and email is known as __________ communication.

computer-mediated

Which theory suggests that when seeing someone we're interested in meeting, our need to know about them tends to make us draw inferences from what we see?

uncertainty reduction theory

Self-disclosure

voluntary sharing of information about ourselves that another person is not likely to know, can be as simple and nonthreatening as telling our name or as complex and threatening as revealing deep feelings

One of the biggest weaknesses of beginning group participants is __________.

wanting to be liked

Which activity does NOT take place during critical listening?

withholding all judgment

According to research, the most important part of the job interview probably occurs __________.

within the first 30 seconds

Primary groups

focus on social or interpersonal relationships among members and exist primarily to satisfy what are labeled primary needs, such as those we discussed in terms of interpersonal communication: the need for inclusion (belonging) and affection (esteem, likeability, love)

laissez-faire leader

gives up control

According to research cited by the Collegiate Employment Institute Newsletter, recruiters say well-rounded individuals are described as having _______.

good decision-making skills

One positive outcome of conflict is identified as __________.

greater involvement by group members

Liz feels her department made a mistake when recommending the new product to the sales team. Rather than upset everyone in the office, she decides not to say anything in order to maintain harmony at work. This demonstrates the disadvantage of __________.

groupthink

autocratic leader

has complete control

A group is a collection of individuals who interact together, take on roles, and __________.

have a common purpose

Self-perceptions, prejudices, and personal biases

include a barrier or anything that prevents understanding a speaker's messag

Strong ties

include relationships such as those with friends, romantic partners, and family members. These relationships exhibit behavior that reflects heightened emotion, interdependence, intimacy, and high levels of closeness.

Which of the needs in the interpersonal needs theory encompasses our need to feel significant and worthwhile?

inclusion

According to Wilmot and Hocker, conflict is a struggle based on people's perception of __________.

incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others 13.7 Explain what interpersonal conflict is, what causes it, why it can be beneficial, and strategies to manage and resolve it.

A suggested employment-related search engine for job listings is __________.

indeed.com

Chris and Hallie have been a couple for three months. They share more personal information about themselves now and even have nicknames for one another. Which of Knapp and Vangelisti's stages of a relationship does this behavior represent?

intensifying

Small-group characteristics

interdependence, commitment, cohesiveness, and the gender makeup that give each group its uniqueness. These characteristics also help to determine who will join a group, how well the group functions and achieves its goals, and how members interact.

What college-level experience will be especially valuable in your future career, according to Dr. Kelli Smith, former assistant director of career services at the University of Nebraska‒Lincoln?

internships

Which type of communication involves creating and sharing meaning between persons who are in a relationship?

interpersonal

An effective strategy for developing meaningful relationships is to __________.

invite more communication

Compulsive Internet use

involves a person's inability to control, reduce, or stop utilizing the Internet

Critical listening

involves analyzing and assessing the accuracy of the information presented, determining the reasonableness of its conclusions, and evaluating its presenter.

Small-group communication

involves the exchange of information among a relatively small number of people, ideally five to seven, who have a common purpose, such as solving a problem, making a decision, or sharing information. Effective group communication requires an honest, flexible, assertive, enthusiastic, and tolerant communication style.

relationship

is an association between at least two people. It can be new or old, momentary or long-lasting, superficial or involved, casual or intimate, friendly or unfriendly, relaxed or tense, hateful or loving, important or unimportant, good or bad, happy or unhappy, and so on. Relationships can also be described in terms of the level of intimacy or kinship—girlfriend, boyfriend, lover, partner, wife, husband, mother, father, child, uncle, cousin, stepparent, or stepchild

benefit

is anything we perceive to improve our self-interest. It refers to things or relationships that bring us pleasure, satisfaction, or gratification. For example, outcomes such as good feelings, status, prestige, economic gain, or fulfillment of emotional needs are considered benefits of a relationship

strategy of selection

is one in which one end of the dialectical tension is chosen over the other

Interpersonal attraction

is the desire to interact with someone based on a variety of factors, including physical attractiveness, personality, rewards, proximity, or similarities.

Group culture

is the pattern of values, beliefs, norms, and behaviors shared by group members that shape a group's individual 'personality.'"14 Group culture is created by many factors, including the interaction patterns of group members, the roles members are assigned, the purpose for the group, the mixture of people included in the group, members' behaviors, and norms and rules followed by the group.

Breadth of penetration

is the range or spread of what an individual discloses to another about him- or herself. Thus, to have lasting relationships, what is disclosed must have both depth and breadth.

Interpersonal conflict can be considered beneficial in all of the following ways EXCEPT __________

it ends with a winner and a loser

Evaluative listening

listening to judge or to analyze information

Accommodating

means for managing or resolving conflicts does not assert his or her own needs but rather prefers to go along to get along. This form of conflict management requires one person to yield or give in to another person's needs and desires

media convergence

merging of traditional mass communication with new technologies like social media is often referred to as or how the many forms of technologically mediated and face-to-face communication come together in our everyday lives

Costs

negative things or behaviors we perceive to be not beneficial to our self-interest. For example, to enter or maintain a relationship takes time and physical and emotional energy, which are considered costs of the relationship. The theory suggests that when we first meet someone, we mentally weigh the potential rewards and costs of creating a relationship with that person

While Janelle and her husband were happy they figured out how to share the housework, they were also both a little unhappy because they had to do things they didn't want to do. Which approach to conflict management did they use to solve the housework problem?

negotiating

All members of Cyndi's book club expect each other to read the book, be on time for the meeting, and be ready to contribute to the discussion. These factors demonstrate group __________.

norms

Either by formal or informal agreement, groups deem behaviors such as style of dress and formality of communication as acceptable. These agreed-upon behaviors are group __________.

norms

Empathic listening

occurs when you listen to what someone else is experiencing and seek to understand that person's thoughts and feelings. It is not sympathy, which means that you feel sorry for the other person. Empathy means that you try to put yourself in another person's place to understand what is happening to that person

Rich forms of communication, such as Skype, FaceTime, and face-to-face communication,

offer a full range of social cues, while other lean tools, such as a telephone, provide fewer.

When you are submit references for a job, usually they are __________.

on seperate piece of paper

According to data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the largest gaps in proficiencies between what employers consider essential and what applicants possess were in the areas of critical thinking/problem solving, professionalism/work ethic, and __________.

oral and written communication

Our senses take information in through

our auditory, olfactory, visual, taste, and tactile senses (even the fine hairs on our skin are included) and transmit information to our brains for processing. The brain converts those electrical impulses to information by way of our thinking preferences, ability to focus, and the brain's ability to compare the information with stored data in memory.

Tara told Billy the details of the situation, and he asked questions to make sure he understood what she was saying. What process was Billy going through?

perception checking

The main focus of a __________ group is on social and interpersonal relationships.

primary

What procedure helps group members negotiate consensus by enabling expression of differing needs and the search for alternatives to meet those needs?

principled negotiation

During the ending of a relationship, summary statements are used to __________.

provide a rationale for termination

When considering the timeline of communication technology from the late 1800's to the 2000's, the most striking feature is the __________.

rapid development in recent years

go viral

reach enormous audiences by "infecting" viewers and users with the message

remembering

recalling something from stored memory

Computer-mediated communication

refers to communication that is facilitated by a wide range of new technologies, including email, social media, chat rooms, blogs, apps, and even online games. The experience of connecting with others through new technologies in a wide-ranging and, at times, anonymous environment encourages users to create online profiles, write descriptions of who they are, and construct avatars that can be used when text messaging or using social media.

cohesiveness

refers to the attraction group members feel for one another and their willingness to stick together

Group Size

refers to the number of participants and has important ramifications for the group's effectiveness. Although a group has no perfect number of members, groups of certain sizes seem appropriate for certain kinds of tasks

temporal structure

refers to the time it takes to send and receive messages

perception checking

reflect and clarify feelings by with the speaker and ask questions in order to be sure to correctly understand the points made

Maintenance needs

related to organizing and developing a group so that members realize personal satisfaction from working together. Maintenance needs pertain to intangibles such as atmosphere, structure, role responsibility, praise, and social-emotional control

Task needs

related to the content of the task and all behaviors that lead to the completion of the task, including defining and assessing the task, gathering information, studying the problem, and solving the problem

consideration

relationship-oriented leaders

Alex's blog, Life with Stanley, is about his dog's funny antics. Many of his friends have passed on the link to other friends. This reflects which defining aspect of social media?

replicability

depth of penetration

represented as penetration from external factual information (the outer ring) to inner feelings (the center of the circle or bull's-eye) revealing more private information about the self

When you tell a prospective employer you are suited for the job because you are organized and a natural leader, the text refers to this as __________.

self-presentation

democratic leader

shares control

As a job applicant, Enzo knows he must make a good first impression. He realizes his primary task in the interview is to __________.

show how he can help the company

As Danai was texting her boyfriend, she added emojis so he would know she was trying to be funny. Using emojis added __________ that helped clarify her message.

social cues

Aneesh's computer is not working right. His next-door neighbor, Debbie, works in tech support for the university, so Aneesh knocks on her door to see if he can give her a Starbucks' gift card in trade for fixing his computer. This is an example of the __________ theory.

social exchange

Reach

social media have tremendous reach, or the ability to connect with individuals in local and long-distance places

The theory with a model that resembles an onion or dartboard is the __________.

social penetration theory

In self-disclosure, we reveal information about ourselves to others that __________.

they wouldn't readily know about us

replicability

means that communication can occur in an environment that makes it easy to record and redistribute past messages.

Information processing

means that you weigh information and assign meaning to the stimuli you sense (hear, see, smell, taste, or touch)

As she settles in to watch The Bachelor one night, Madelyn texts her friends about the program and searches for related posts on Instagram. Madison's communication habits are an example of __________.

media multitasking

The best way to improve our communication competence via social media is by __________.

monitoring our use and exposure

Guidelines: Avoiding Flaming/Trolling Online

Ignore the flame/troll entirely. Your first impulse may be to privately or publicly respond to the poster. People who post offensive content may simply be crying out for attention. Many flamers/trolls may be experiencing online communication for the first time and/or lack basic social etiquette. A return flame may be just what the poster wants. In all likelihood, your flame won't change the person's behavior. Respond privately. Ask an authority to intervene.

Connecting with Others via Social Media and New Technologies

Objective 6.1 Define computer-mediated communication and social media. Computer-mediated communication refers to communication that is facilitated by a wide range of new technologies, including chat rooms, email, blogs, and even online games. Social media are often considered online platforms that allow people to create a public profile and maintain and view a list of users who share a common interest.

History of New Technologies

Objective 6.2 Explain the history of new technologies. The rapid development of new technologies has led to media convergence, or how the many forms of technologically mediated and face-to-face communication come together in our every day lives, and media multitasking, or how we tend to use more than one media type at the same time.

Distinguishing Social Media from Face-to-Face Communication

Objective 6.3 Differentiate social media from face-to-face communication. Several concepts help us distinguish different forms of social media from one another and from face-to-face communication. These concepts help us understand how we make connections with others in an age in which we rely more and more on social media. Interactivity refers to the ability of a communication tool to facilitate social interaction between groups or individuals. A social media device's temporal structure refers to the time it takes to send and receive messages. Social cues are the verbal and nonverbal features of a message that offer more information about the context, the meaning, and the identities of the involved parties. Social media's replicability means that communication can occur in an environment that makes it easy to record and redistribute past messages. Unlike face-to-face communication, social media's storage capability allows messages to be digitally saved and made accessible to other people. Unlike face-to-face communication, social media have tremendous reach, or the ability to connect with individuals in both local and long-distance places. Social media feature varying degrees of mobility, or the extent to which a device is portable or stationary.

Theories of Social Media and New Technologies

Objective 6.4 Summarize theories of social media and new technologies. Lucky for us, popular theories of new technologies and social media can help explain how communication functions in various communication contexts. Social information processing (SIP) theory suggests that electronically mediated relationships grow only to the extent that people gain information about each other and use it to form impressions. Media multiplexity theory contends that we carry out relationships through more than one form of social media, and those in closer relationships use more forms of social media. Media richness theory describes communication channels by the amount of verbal and nonverbal information that can be exchanged through a particular channel.

Managing the "Dark Side" of Social Media and New Technologies

Objective 6.5 Explain factors that comprise the "dark side" of social media and new technologies. Among the most popular questions addressed in research about communication and new technologies is the extent to which Internet use fosters undesirable outcomes such as depression, loneliness, and reduced face-to-face social interaction. These feelings and behaviors are symptoms associated with problematic Internet use—a syndrome characterized by cognitive and behavioral symptoms that can result in negative social, academic, and professional consequences. Social media provides a vast space for flaming or trolling—online communication that is deliberately hostile, aggressive, or insulting and usually intended to provoke anger. Self-disclosure, or revealing information about yourself to another person, is one of the most powerful communication practices we have for strengthening a relationship; however, it can backfire if a person shares too much too soon or reveals information the other person finds inappropriate. Social media has created an arena for aggressive behaviors such as cyberstalking—when an individual repeatedly uses social media to stalk or harass others—and cyberbullying—abusive attacks that are carried out through social media.

Improving Communication Competence via Social Media

Objective 6.6 Identify ways to improve communication competence via social media. It is important to monitor your social media use and exposure. Always critically evaluate the messages you consume. Consider the benefits and consequences of using certain social media platforms. Remember that social media is evolving at a rapid rate.

History of new technology

Technology was evolving but at a slow rate. Now look at the points on the right half of the continuum. Since the first communication satellite (Telstar 1) was launched in 1962 and the first cell phone call was made in 1973, technology has evolved at a rapid rate. In the span of a few short years, the first text message was sent; Google entered the Internet scene; and Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, and Snapchat emerged as popular social media outlets.

Left brain

The left hemisphere is verbal, and involves speaking, reading, writing, and thinking with numbers. Analytic and sequential processing of information is carried out mostly in the left hemisphere for most people. A left-brain approach to problem solving is fact-based, analytic, and step-by-step, favoring words, numbers, and facts presented in a logical sequence

Is one form of social media different from another type of technology? Are social media really that different from face-to-face communication?

The simple answer is yes. The complete answer, though, is much more complex.

Listening scholar Andrew D. Wolvin suggests that quality organizations of the twenty-first century must develop __________.

a listening culture

problematic Internet use

a syndrome characterized by cognitive and behavioral symptoms that can result in negative social, academic, and professional consequences.20 People who habitually use the Internet, find themselves avoiding face-to-face interactions, and report feelings of depression and loneliness are mostly likely engaging in problematic Internet use.

Behavioral skills

affect our listening more tangibly by establishing or recognizing our competence of the etiquette and practice of listening. Behavioral skills are the physical traits we demonstrate while we are listening.

understanding

allows us to know something in our own minds, that is, in our own thoughts and language. A question at this point arises: Does the understanding we have mesh with the information the sender is transmitting?19

Interpretation, evaluation, and understanding

are all cognitive functions employed to comprehend stimuli. The way we comprehend information allows us to formulate and provide a response. Our thinking preferences and our ability to focus and remember affect our comprehensive abilities, which in turn allow us to construct and deliver a response. The response creates and closes the loop on the circular interaction that is listening.

Social media

are often considered online platforms that allow people to create a public profile and maintain and view a list of users who share a common interest. These technologies are often highly accessible and allow us to accomplish multiple objectives.

Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE Model)

describes the extent to which individuals identify and behave in accordance with social rather than personal identities. Their behaviors are often influenced by the characteristics of the social media device, including anonymity

Social information processing (SIP) theory

developed by communication scholar Joe Walther, suggests that electronically mediated relationships grow only to the extent people gain information about each other and use it to form impressions limited to an attempt to explain the nature of online interactions and how those interactions can and do lead to real-life relationships

Flame wars

erupt when friendly and productive digital discussions give way to insults and aggression. This behavior is common in online group interactions where hostility escalates and draws in more participants.

According to communication scholar Joe Walther, the two features which provide a justification for social information processing theory are verbal cues and __________.

extended time

Hyperpersonal communication

suggests that digital interactions can become exaggerated because the context affords message senders a host of communicative advantages over traditional face-to-face interactions.11 Compared to ordinary face-to-face conversations, a hyperpersonal message sender has a greater ability to strategically develop and edit his presentation of self.

A communication device's __________ refers to the time it takes to send and receive messages.

temporal structure

Sexting

the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between smartphones via text messaging

Excessive Internet use

the degree to which a person feels that he or she spends an extreme amount of time online or even loses track of time while online

information overload

the difficulty in sorting through and making sense of vast amounts of information

Mobility

the extent to which a device is portable or stationary. Unlike social media, face-to-face communication is mobile to the extent that we are able to walk, run, or travel to a particular location to engage in conversation.

interpret

the information based on tools such as our thinking preferences; the degree that we focused on the information; our existing knowledge; how we compare new information to older information

Evaluating

the listener analyzes evidence, sorts fact from opinion, determines the intent of the speaker, judges the accuracy of the speaker's statements and conclusions, and judges the accuracy of personal conclusions.

Hearing

the passive physiological process in which sound is received by the ear. It is impossible to listen to sounds without first hearing them, but it is possible to hear sounds without listening to them

A primary reason job applicants are rejected can be summed up as __________.

inability to communicate

Responding

the listener's overt behavior that indicates to the speaker what has and has not been received

Privacy

"the claim of individuals, groups, or institutions to determine for themselves when, how, and to what extent information about themselves is communicated to others."

competent listeners demonstrate

(1) knowledge and understanding of the listening process, (2) the ability to use appropriate and effective listening skills for a given communication situation and setting (3) the ability to identify and manage barriers to listening

Assess the Speaker's Motivation

(1) make a judgment about the speaker's beliefs, (2) compare our standards with those of the speaker, and (3) evaluate the worth of the message being presented.

Communication scholars James McCroskey and Thomas McCain identified three types of attraction

(1) social attraction ("He would fit into my circle of friends"), (2) physical attraction ("I think she's or he's hot"), and (3) task attraction ("My confidence in her ability to get the job done makes me want to work with her")

The Disadvantages of Working in Small Groups

-pressure to conform -dominate teammates -dependent on teammates -takes more time

Suggestions for Appropriate Self-Disclosure

1) Use reasoned self-disclosure- recognize situational constraints 2) Make self-disclosure a 2 way process 3) Make self-disclosure appropriate to the situation and the person 4) Consider diversity- varies by culture, group, and individual 5) Be open and honest 6) Base self-disclosure on personal judgment

Ethical Group Behavior

1. All group members should have the right to state an opinion or a unique perspective. 2. Group members should be willing to share all legitimate information that might benefit the group in reaching its goal. 3. All group members should conduct themselves with honesty and integrity. 4. Confidential information shared in the group should remain confidential. 5. Group members must use information ethically.

Drive to Reduce Uncertainty

1. Anticipation of future contact: 2. Incentive value or reward: 3. Deviance:

Relationships: Coming Apart or Breaking Up

1. Differentiating 2. Circumscribing 3. Stagnating 4. Avoiding 5. Terminating Most people in relationships at one time or another have their differences or declines as a result of disclosures, lies, or betrayal. Couples can use relationship maintenance behaviors to help them deal with these issues. How partners in the relationship interact with each other during periods of disagreement will lead to a strengthening or deterioration of the relationship.

Reaching Consensus in Groups

1. Groups have a tendency to change topics and to get off track, so members should try to keep themselves oriented toward the group's goal. 2. Members should be other oriented and sensitive to all ideas. 3. Promote group member interaction and dialogue.

Five Common Reasons Why People Should Join Groups

1. Groups help satisfy important psychological and social needs, such as the need for attention and affection or the need to belong. Imagine what it would be like to be absolutely alone, in total isolation from others. Very few of us find such a prospect appealing. 2. Group membership helps people achieve goals that otherwise might not be accomplished. 3. Group membership provides multiple sources of information and knowledge that might not be available to one individual. 4. Groups help meet the need for security. 5. Group membership also contributes to an individual's positive social identity.

Three Categories of Symptoms Leading to Group Thinking

1. Overestimation of the group's power and morality An illusion that the group is invulnerable creates excessive optimism and encourages taking extreme risks. A belief the group will not be judged on the basis of the ethical or moral consequences of its decisions. 2. Closed-mindedness 3. Pressures toward uniformity

Guidelines: Working Memory

1. Repetition 2. Chunking 3. Identificaltion of logical patterns

Gouran and Hirokawa's Functional Theory

1. The task. Functional theory asserts that five task requirements must be met for a group to complete its goal successfully: Members fully understand the problem or issue being discussed. They know the minimum criteria for a successful solution. They identify all reasonable solutions from which to choose. They evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of all the reasonable solutions against the agreed-upon criteria for selecting the best solution. They select the best solution. 2. How group members use communication to overcome any obstacles they may confront. 3. The participants' willingness to review and reconsider their decisions.

Suggestions for Effective Interpersonal Interactions

1. Use the other person's name as much as possible as you talk with him or her. 2. Look at the other person, but strive for balance and comfort in eye contact. 3. Be careful in your use of eye contact with people from cultural or ethnic backgrounds different than your own. 4. Encourage the other person to talk about him- or herself. 5. Keep the conversation casual, light, and positive. 6. Be confident and listen carefully to what is being said. 7. Keep abreast of current events. 8. Use casual talk to help reduce the uncertainty between your and others. 9. Know when and how to end the conversation.

Three ways teams differ from groups

1. Work teams are more likely to consist of people with diverse abilities. 2. Work teams usually develop more interdependence. 3. Members of work teams...

Varying Interaction

A third disadvantage is unequal contribution. One reason for varying interactions is because each member has a different communication style and comfort level with the group. Some members might dominate and overwhelm conversations, whereas other members might not contribute at all. Furthermore, the most verbally aggressive and dominant person in the group might not always have the best ideas.

resume info

All margins should be set to 1 inch. The font should be one that is easy to read and either 10 or 12 points in font size. Bold face, underlining, and italics should be used purposely to highlight and separate sections. Limit the length of your résumé to one page unless more than one page is typical in the area in which you are applying. You should also develop a separate unformatted version of your résumé for an online application if required. Always list experiences in chronological order, with the most recent first. If you include your GPA, it should be accurate. Do not round it up.15

When Shouldn't We Self-Disclose Too Much?

Although full disclosure can be cleansing, it can also be harmful, risky, unwise, or insensitive, as well as detrimental to a relationship. At one time or another, most of us have chosen not to say what was on our minds or not to tell others something about ourselves, themselves, or others because it might be hurtful.

Lies

Another warning sign of trouble in a relationship is when one deceives another with lies. Whether the lie is significant or trivial, it weakens the relationship's foundation, which is trust. Recent research findings indicate when people find themselves on the receiving end of lies they react with mistrust of, and dislike toward, the liar.

Evaluation is also important in classroom exercises. As students learn about group communication, they need their instructor's feedback to evaluate themselves. Such self-evaluation should consider the following questions:

Are we using our time efficiently? If not, why not? Does everyone have an opportunity to participate? Do some people dominate the discussion? Do people listen to what others are saying? Does each person bring adequate information and research to the discussion? Is the atmosphere free from personal conflict? Does the group communication stay within the agenda? Are members happy with the direction of the discussion? If not, why? Do we set realistic goals for our meetings? Do we get things accomplished? If not, why?

According to uncertainty reduction theory, which of the following would most likely occur after passively observing a person in whom you are interested?

Ask a third party about the person.

Procedures can be used to minimize the possibility of groupthink. Here are some examples:

Assign one group member to be a devil's advocate who intentionally questions and criticizes the group's actions. Encourage members to "kick the problem around." Ensure that every group member has an opportunity to voice an opinion. Encourage individuals to express disagreement without being chastised by the group for doing so. Set a guideline that prevents leaders from stating their conclusion or opinions first. Invite outside experts to participate in the group or review conclusions to ensure all views have been considered

Five Techniques for Storing Items in Memory

Association Categorization Mediation Imagery Mnemonics

Direct messaging someone on Twitter.

Asynchronous

Texting

Asynchronous

info

Autocratic Keeps complete control Sets policy and makes all decisions for the group Defines tasks and assigns them to members Democratic Shares control Involves members in setting policy and making decisions; does not make any decisions without consulting group members May guide task assignment to be sure work is accomplished, but allows members to divide work Laissez-Faire Gives up control Gives total freedom to group members to make policies and decisions; gets involved only when called on Completely avoids participation

What is the best general advice for enhancing your chances of getting job offers?

Be prepared

Signs That Show a Relationship Is in Trouble

Before we concede a relationship is over, certain warning signs, as well as some possible repair strategies, might help to prevent its breakup. At least three signs point to problems: aggressive behavior, lies, and betrayal.

preferred modes of knowing (PMK)

Brain dominance is expressed in terms of how we prefer to learn, understand, and express or communicate something

resume info

Contact information, that is, name, address, city, state, zip code, phone, email, LinkedIn address, professional website, or other. Educational background, that is, the name of the institution, location, degree (fully spelled out), date of graduation, and major(s). It is highly recommended to include your work experience, skills, activities, honors/awards and other relevant experiences. A career or professional objective, or related coursework, is optional. Do not include references. Create a list but place them on a separate page—provide your references only if requested.16

Relational Repair Strategies

Engage in more open and honest communication and exhibit a willingness to listen to the other person with an open mind. Be willing to bring out the other person's positive side. Evaluate the potential rewards and costs for keeping the relationship together versus the rewards and costs for changing or ending it. Seek out the support of others to help keep the relationship together. Both parties must be willing to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship. Both parties must be willing to reinterpret the other's behaviors as positive and well intentioned. Both parties have to be willing to reduce negativity and keep a balanced perspective.82 Repairing relationships requires cooperation and mutual agreement; both parties must want to preserve the relationship. Relationship repair also requires effective interpersonal communication.

Good Listener

Finds areas of interest—keeps an open mind Concentrates on the content of the presentation and overlooks speaker characteristics—stays involved Listens for ideas Exercises the mind—prepares to listen Resists distractions Pays attention

Improve Listening Competence

First, we must recognize the importance of effective listening. Second, we must think of listening as an activebehavior that requires conscious participation. Third, we must recognize that a willingness to work and a desire to improve are essential to increased listening effectiveness

grouphate phenomenon

For some people, group work is so distasteful they avoid group situations whenever possible. In our experience, those who hate participating in groups the most are those who have little or no skill or lack training in how to communicate in groups.

Managing Relational Tensions

How we deal with the tensions in our lives creates some interesting communication challenges. It is also important to understand that relationships have both private and public dimensions and do not exist in a vacuum. Many tensions or pushes and pulls from outside a relationship, as well as inside, can directly or indirectly affect how the parties in a relationship deal with or manage their dialectical tensions.

Harfield Cognitive Listening Model

Identifies 5 aspects of listening and 3 cognitive processes of thinking preferences a cognitive and a relational model. From a cognitive perspective, the model works to acknowledge and advance the understanding that listening does not just happen. Listening is not simply a physical event. Listening is primarily a cognitive function. A number of synaptic or mental activities take place in the brain while we listen. The model is relational from the perspective that it demonstrates the interaction between people. It is relational from the perspective that people are more inclined to listen to respond rather than listen to understand. It is also a relational model as there are comprehensive interactions among the components of the model. The objective of the model is to demonstrate the interaction between people and direct attention to the speaker's content, not to their delivery. Listeners assign meaning to information based on their own life experience and perspective, not the sender's.

Interpersonal Communication Competence

Objective 13.2 Characterize the importance of interpersonal communication competence. Competent communicators recognize they will not always communicate perfectly in every situation. They adapt and know when to be empathic and comforting; know when to speak out aggressively and when to be reserved and more deferential; understand values, beliefs, attitudes, and feelings; know how to self-monitor; and recognize it is a two-way responsibility for effective interactions.

Theories of Interpersonal Communication

Objective 13.3 Compare and contrast six theories related to relationships and interpersonal communication. Uncertainty reduction theory asserts that when people meet, they often seek to reduce uncertainty about each other. Uncertainty management theory takes into account the different ways people respond both psychologically and communicatively to uncertainty. Social penetration theory provides a view of how people connect with each other and how their communication moves from small talk to more intimate and self-revealing talk. Social exchange theory suggests that if the benefits gained in a relationship are greater than any potential costs, then we likely would regard the relationship positively. Interpersonal needs theory consists of three needs: affection, inclusion, and control. Dialectical theory suggests that relationships, as well as individuals, confront many tensions that push and pull them in many different directions at the same time.

Self-Disclosure in Relationships

Objective 13.4 Outline the roles of self-disclosure, privacy, gender, culture, and rhetorical sensitivity in interpersonal relationships. Relationships are built on interaction. The more sincere, honest, and open the interactions, the stronger and more lasting the relationship is likely to be. We self-disclose for a variety of different reasons: for others to better understand who we are, to gain sympathy, to see what others think, to gain trust, or to connect with others and establish relationships. There are many reasons for withholding information, but it is usually to protect others, to avoid a potentially negative reaction, or to avoid hurting others or ourselves. Just as we control and protect access to our physical self—for example, how close we allow others to come to us—we also control and protect our privacy boundaries. Women are more likely to talk about their relationships and disclose a deeper level of intimacy, but men often do not center their talk on relational closeness. In general, people from any cultural background tend to follow similar patterns of self-disclosure. Rhetorical sensitivity is an alternative form of communication that can be applied to situations in which wide-open self-disclosure could be harmful.

Relationship Formation

Objective 13.5 Identify the stages of relationship development and growth. How and why a relationship develops may depend on interpersonal attraction and how the people manage the stages of coming together or growth of the relationship. Interpersonal relationships depend on interpersonal attraction. Interpersonal attraction is the desire to interact with someone and is based on physical attraction, personality, rewards, proximity, or similarities. Coming together includes the following stages: initiating, experimenting, intensifying, integrating, and bonding. Relational maintenance behaviors or strategies help to sustain relationships so they grow and thrive. These behaviors include positivity, openness, assurances, blending social networks, and sharing tasks.

Relationship Dissolution

Objective 13.6 Identify the stages of relationship deterioration and dissolution. Not every relationship is destined to last a lifetime. The way both parties handle a relationship's dissolution can affect the well-being of both. Warning signs that a relationship is in trouble include aggressive behavior, lies, and betrayal. The coming-apart process has five stages—differentiating, circumscribing, stagnating, avoiding, and terminating—according to Mark Knapp and Anita Vangelisti.

Interpersonal Conflict

Objective 13.7 Explain what interpersonal conflict is, what causes it, why it can be beneficial, and strategies to manage and resolve it. Conflict is an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others. Conflict can occur on many different levels in a variety of situations and contexts. The number one cause of most conflicts is inadequate communication. Conflict does not have to be destructive. Conflict can be beneficial and lead to stronger and better relationships. Each conflict resolution strategy involves different outcomes, which can be either positive or negative in their effects on relationships. In the withdrawal strategy, we choose to avoid further conflict. In the accommodating strategy, we do not assert our own needs but prefer to go along. In the forcing strategy, one person has power and dominance over another person. Negotiating is a give-and-take process and can lead to each party's having some satisfaction and some dissatisfaction with the outcome. Collaboration requires cooperation and mutual respect. To help restore or possibly save a relationship, competent communicators know how to use repair strategies and effective interpersonal communication.

Improving Communication Competence in Relationships

Objective 13.8 Apply effective interpersonal communication skills and competencies in personal and professional relationships. Interpersonal skills are important in developing and maintaining relationships. They include: conversational skill (the ability to initiate, maintain, and terminate enjoyable casual conversations), referential skill (the ability to convey information clearly and unambiguously), ego supportive skill (the ability to make another person feel good about him- or herself), comforting skill (the ability to make others feel better when depressed, sad, or upset), persuasive skill (the ability to sway people to modify their thoughts and behaviors), narrative skill (the ability to entertain through jokes, gossip, stories, and the like), and regulations (the ability to help someone who has violated a social custom to fix the mistake effectively). A supportive and caring relationship is important to our well-being; the process is generally easier when communication is both positive and supportive. In a supportive environment, communication between individuals usually reflects caring, openness, flexibility, warmth, animation, and receptivity. The best way to develop and maintain relationships is to invite more effective communication.

The Importance of Effective Listening

Objective 7.1 Describe how listening helps you make connections with others in all aspects of your life. Listening is relational; that is, it depends on two or more people interacting with each other and simultaneously being a sender and receiver. Effective listening is required in all aspects of our lives.

Effective Listening

Objective 7.2 Explain the complex nature of listening as a cognitive process. The listening process is composed of five interrelated aspects, plus remembering, attention and focus, and thinking preferences; there is a listening-thinking connection that incorporates thinking and information processing. The Harfield Cognitive Listening Model (HCLM) illustrates the complex process of listening. The HCLM links listening and thinking to examine and understanding listening as a cognitive construct. Accurate reception of sounds requires the listener to focus attention on the speaker, discriminate among sounds, and concentrate. We know that past experience plays an important role and that you relate and compare new sounds and ideas to those you have previously heard. If the topic seems more relevant, people will remember slightly more than if it seems irrelevant. Memory or remembering is a more critical component of the listening process than previous research suggests. In the interpreting stage, the listener simply tries to make sense of the information received. In the evaluating stage, the listener analyzes evidence, sorts fact from opinion, determines the intent of the speaker, judges the accuracy of the speaker's statements and conclusions, and judges the accuracy of personal conclusions. Responding is the listener's overt behavior that indicates to the speaker what has and has not been received.

Barriers to Effective Listening

Objective 7.4 Select specific attitudes and behaviors to help you overcome your barriers to listening. We can use cognitive, affective, and behavioral strategies to help us be better listeners. We need to learn ways to overcome both internal and external interference to listening. The listener must stay involved in the message and not be distracted by the speaker or the speaker's attire or behaviors. Competent listeners focus on the main or most important ideas, not on every single word. We need concentration and energy to overcome the temptation to ignore or avoid what seems difficult and confusing. As listeners, we have the responsibility to adjust to, compensate for, or eliminate distractions and to focus on speakers and their messages, despite the competing factors from technology and the media. Competent listeners need to ask themselves, "Am I really paying attention?" If we give in to our biases, we limit ourselves in what we know and can do. Our preferred thinking can create barriers in the listening process from the perspective of giving or receiving information.

Critical Listening and Critical Thinking: Analyzing and Evaluating Messages

Objective 7.5 Identify instances in which you must be a critical listener/thinker. We should always listen and think about what we hear. We need to be good consumers of information. We need to differentiate between fact and opinion.

Improve Listening Competence

Objective 7.6 Characterize the speech and actions of a competent listener. All of us can become better listeners. We must recognize the importance of listening effectively, think of listening as an active behavior, and be willing to work and want to improve.

Assurances include the following verbal and nonverbal actions:

Physically display affection through kisses and hugs. Express aloud to the other person what it would be like without him or her. Reminisce aloud with the other about good times you had together in the past. Say "I love you." Express long-term commitment to the relationship. Act playfully toward the other person.87

interpersonal needs theory

Schutz's theory consists of three needs: affection, inclusion, and control.19 Although many other needs exist, according to Schutz, most interpersonal behavior and motivation can be directly related to the need for affection, inclusion, and control.

communicative release or catharsis

Self-disclosing communication can be a form This is especially true when we want to rid ourselves of information causing tension, guilt, or sadness

__________ is the ability to regulate your communication both before and during an interaction.

Self-monitoring

five skills lead to competence in interpersonal communication

The ability to adapt and know how to communicate in specific situations, for example, when to be empathic and comforting or when to talk and when to listen. The ability to adapt and appropriately communicate in specific interactions, for example, know when to speak out aggressively and when to be reserved and more deferential. The ability to understand your own and the other person's values, beliefs, attitudes, or feelings. In other words, how does the other person view him- or herself or what does he or she think about various people, issues, or events? The ability to self-monitor. Self-monitoring is the ability to regulate your communication both before and during an interaction. It is a form of rhetorical sensitivity (see discussion later in this chapter on rhetorical sensitivity). In other words, a person who self-monitors can attend to the feedback of others and recognize the impact of what they say. The ability to be fair and ethical. This means treating people as unique human beings. It is a commitment to self-respect and respect for others as well. Interpersonally competent communicators are sensitive to all ideas and perspectives discussed. They know everyone sees the world differently; thus they are considerate of those who disagree with them.

Gender Differences in Group Behavior

The differences between the way individuals display masculine behaviors and feminine behaviors in groups are not always clear, and the results of research are not always accurate or fair to one gender or the other. Much of the research examining feminine and masculine traits compares averages. Thus, specific individual behaviors are usually not accounted for, leaving only averages for our consideration.

Considerations

The first consideration in listening, therefore, is to determine the speaker's values by examining the message The second consideration is to determine whether the message urges us to conform to or go against our principles or standards

three strategies used to learn about others

The first is referred to as "passive," when we unobtrusively observe others from a distance, or what some might refer to as "scoping out"; the second is referred to as "active," in which we ask a third party for information; and the third is referred to as "interactive," when we talk directly with the other person and request specific information by asking questions

Terminating

The last stage in the breaking up of a relationship occurs when the individuals take the necessary steps to end it. Termination can be early—that is, when the relationship has barely begun—or it can occur after many years.

The Need for Affection, Inclusion, and Control

The need for affection is the need to feel likable or lovable. The bottom line is that we need to belong and be loved. Every day we see people striving to fulfill this need; for example, people who join social groups or dating services are seeking to fulfill their need for belonging and love. According to Schutz's theory, a person who seems to be liked by many and therefore has adequately fulfilled this need is referred to as personal. Kory Floyd, a communication scholar, in his review of research related to communicating affection, found that people who give and receive affection are generally healthier and happier than those who receive or give little affection. The interpersonal need for inclusion encompasses our needs to feel significant and worthwhile. Schutz describes individuals in terms of this need as social, undersocial, or oversocial. Undersocial people do not like being around other people; they find communicating with others threatening. They tend to be shy and find initiating conversations with others difficult. Oversocial people cannot stop themselves from getting involved and communicating with others. They attempt to dominate conversations, often speak out of turn, and find it hard to keep quiet. They prefer situations in which they can take over relationships by dominating the flow of communication. The oversocial person fears being ignored by others. Perhaps you know people like this. How do you react to them? Social people have satisfied their needs for inclusion. They are capable of handling situations with or without others, and few, if any, situations make them feel uncomfortable. They have confidence in themselves and are assertive enough to speak when they feel it is necessary to do so. The research suggests most of us feel mental and physical distress when our need for inclusion is not met, and thus we are motivated to engage others in order to belong. The third need is our motivation for power or influence in our relationships. As we mature, our need to have control or influence increases, which determines how a relationship will evolve. In relationships we find satisfying, control is shared, and each person has some say in what happens. These relationships foster mutual respect and shared responsibility. Relationships in which we have little or no say are generally much less satisfying and often are one-sided.22 Of course, there are times when we wish to give up or relinquish control because we may not feel competent or we don't want to feel responsible for what happens. At times, too, we may feel overwhelmed by having too much control and responsibility, especially if we are not confident in our ability to make the right decisions. Finally, most of us are happiest and most satisfied when we have moderate amounts of control.

Rhetorically sensitive individuals generally display the following attributes:

They accept personal complexity; they understand that every person is made up of many selves. For example, one person may be a mother, a daughter, a Republican, an Asian American, an abuse victim, a student, and a consumer. They are flexible and avoid rigidity in communicating with others. They do not change their own values but can communicate them in a variety of ways to avoid offending others. They sense when it is appropriate to communicate something and when it is not.40Rhetorically sensitive people understand self-disclosure and know how to adapt their messages to a particular audience and situation. They are aware of the language they choose, such as gender-inclusive nonsexist language; they do not use homophobic or racist language or inappropriate jokes that offend others.

Bad Listener

Thinks the topic or speaker is of no interest Focuses on the speaker's appearance and delivery Listens only for details Avoids difficult material Is easily distracted Fakes attention

Everything

Uncertainty Reduction Theory A theory suggesting that when we meet others, our need to know about them tends to make us draw inferences from observable physical data. Uncertainty Management Theory A theory that takes into account different ways people react psychologically and communicatively to uncertainty. Social Information Processing Theory A theory suggesting that electronically mediated relationships grow only to the extent that people gain information about each other and use that information to form impressions. Social Penetration Theory A theory suggesting that disclosures in a relationship become increasingly intimate as the relationship develops. Social Exchange Theory A theory based on the assumption that people consciously and deliberately weigh the costs and rewards associated with a relationship or interaction. Interpersonal Needs Theory A theory that provides insight into our motivation to communicate. This theory consists of three needs: affection, inclusion, and control. Dialectical Theory An interpersonal communication theory that suggests that contradictory impulses push and pull us in conflicting directions with others.

How do listening scholars recommend dealing with technology in regard to listening?

We must focus on embracing more technology to improve listening efficiency.

conflict

almost automatically brings to mind word such as fight, abuse, aggressiveness, violence, mistreatment, argument, disagreement, quarrel, clash, and differences. None of these words has a positive tone or gives us any reason to believe anything good can come from conflict. Wilmot and Hocker suggest that terms such as exciting, strengthening, helpful, clarifying, growth producing, creative, courageous, enriching, intimate, opportune, and energizing could also be associated with conflict.68

A group should conduct a self-evaluation __________.

at the completion of a task

interpersonal skills important in developing and maintaining relationships

conversational skill (the ability to initiate, maintain, and terminate enjoyable casual conversations), referential skill (the ability to convey information clearly and unambiguously), ego supportive skill (the ability to make another person feel good about him- or herself), comforting skill (the ability to make others feel better when depressed, sad, or upset), persuasive skill (the ability to sway people to modify their thoughts and behaviors), narrative skill (the ability to entertain through jokes, gossip, stories, and the like), and regulations(the ability to help someone who has violated a social custom to fix the mistake effectively)

interpersonal communication

creating and sharing meaning between persons who are in a relationship. This definition implies that interpersonal communication occurs between two or more people; it can be casual or formal, public or private; and some personal information is shared.

link between critical thinking and critical listening is

critical thinkers have specific positive attitudes and mental habits

The pattern of values, beliefs, norms, and behaviors that is shared by group members is known as group __________.

culture

Group task roles

help the group accomplish its task or objective. They include behaviors that provide direction, propose ideas, and make suggestions to solve problems—these roles are referred to as initiators or contributors. Group members may also take on information seeker or information giver roles. The information seeker looks for more information or clarification of ideas, while the information giver provides information that includes facts and examples. Members may also become an evaluator/critic, one who evaluates the information and conclusions regarding their usefulness and accuracy; an energizer, a motivator who keeps the group moving toward its goal; an orienter, a member who periodically summarizes what has been discussed; or a coordinator, a member who clarifies and shows relationships among ideas, viewpoints, and suggestions. Group building and maintenance roles help define a group's social atmosphere. The encouragers offer praise and recognize the contributions of others. Harmonizers are the mediators for disagreements and always try to ensure a positive climate. Compromisers attempt to avoid and solve conflicts and find acceptable solutions. Gatekeepers manage the flow of interaction in the group. Standard settersremind the group of its goals. Followers cooperate to work together with other group members. Finally, feeling expressers articulate the group's feelings and attitudes. Some individuals may adopt self-centered roles, which are generally counterproductive or destructive to a group and tend to hinder group progress. Among them are the aggressors, who deflate others to make themselves look better. Blockers resist others' ideas and in general disagree with everything. The recognition seekers are similar to aggressors in that they want to be the center of the group's attention. Jokers or people who engage in horseplay are referred to as buffoons. Dominators are autocrats, who want to be in charge. Help seekers are in the group only to satisfy their own needs. Withdrawers just don't say or do anything.

Dialectical Theory

suggests relationships, as well as individuals, confront many tensions that push and pull in many different directions at the same time. For example, you might want to be out with your friends for the evening, but you have an important paper due in a few days and you haven't started it yet.

critical thinking

suggests that critical thinkers ask and answer the right questions to determine the appropriate responses to problems and issues

Uncertainty management theory

takes into account the different ways people respond both psychologically and communicatively to uncertainty, especially in health decisions. The theory has three main features: (1) the interpretation and experience of uncertainty, (2) the effect of emotion related to uncertainty, and (3) the ways communication and emotion are managed when uncertainty exists

Carson wants to work with Mel and Kode on the group project because he knows they are hardworking and will be good partners. Which element of interpersonal attraction is this based on?

task

Lavonna is responsible for providing facts and examples to support the group's proposal. The type of role this demonstrates is group __________.

task

initiating structure

task-oriented leaders

Secondary groups

the main focus of this chapter and exist to accomplish tasks or achieve goals. They are formed for the purpose of doing work, such as completing a class assignment, solving a problem, or making a decision. Members join together to exert power over their situation and other

According to the authors, a __________ is a type of group with interdependent relationships among people with different and complementary abilities and a strong sense of identity.

team

The job interviewer's first question for Hans was, "Tell me about yourself." Hans correctly understood this to mean __________.

tell the interviewer your character and qualifications

Juanita was listening to her favorite podcast when a friend stopped by to talk. When she realized the seriousness of the conversation, she stopped the podcast to reduce distractions and to give her friend full attention. Which competent listening skill is best described by Juanita's action?

the ability to identify and manage barriers to effective listening

Commitment

the desire of group members to work together to complete their task to the satisfaction of the entire group. Members' commitment often stems from interpersonal attraction to others who seem to have similar interests; commonality of attitudes, beliefs, and values; the fulfillment of interpersonal needs; and the rewards the group can offer

interdependence

the fact that group members are mutually dependent. Interdependence is reflected in all the other group characteristics; without it there would be no group. Interdependence is built on each member's willingness to subordinate his or her individual desires and goals to accomplish the group's goal.

empathy

the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another—in other words, we have the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings (e.g., happiness or sadness) that are experienced by another

Evaluation

is when we assess the meaning of information.) Is the information critical? Is the information credible?

social cues

verbal and nonverbal features of a message that offer more information about the context, the meaning, and the identities of the involved parties. Face-to-face social cues often include facial expression, vocal tone, eye contact, and hand gestures.

learning styles into the classroom

visual, kinesthetic, and auditory are among the most common

One way to control your social media footprint is to be aware of

your online self-disclosure and how it might be seen.

interpreting

"[Y]ou take into account the total communication context so that you are better able to understand the meaning of what is said from the speaker's point of view,"26 and you let the speaker know that you understand the message. In this stage, the specific situation and nonverbal aspects of communication come into play. An effective listener knows that facial expressions, posture, eye contact (or the lack of it), silence, and even paralanguage (the way things sound) affect messages. Good listeners work to develop greater sensitivity to these dimensions of communication.

Guidelines: Improving Social Media Communication Competence

1. Monitor your social media use and exposure. Like counting steps on your Fitbit, being aware of what you consume can end up making you consume less, or at least make wiser choices about what social media you use. 2. Critically evaluate the messages you consume. Remember that every message you receive through social media has a source, and it is your job to question its credibility. By understanding the biases, goals, and strategies of social media sources, you will be in a better position to know whether to accept or resist their messages. 3. Consider the benefits and consequences. Social media offer many opportunities for enhancing and maintaining our connections with friends and family. Today, we have more resources to facilitate our interpersonal relationships. Take advantage of them, but also remember that there are consequences to our use of social media. Digital messages can be replicated; stored; easily sent; and, as a result, reach hundreds (if not millions!) of people. Our lean messages can also be misinterpreted and could lead to relational conflict. 4. Remember that social media is evolving at a rapid rate. Social media has developed quickly, especially when compared to the creation of traditional media such as television, radio, and newspapers. As a result, it is rapidly changing how we communicate with others. Remain on top of the latest changes to social media. Always consider the benefits and challenges associated with a new technology. If you keep these recommendations in mind, you will move quickly toward successful and effective communication through new technologies.

Guidelines: Avoid Compulsive/Excessive Internet Use

Disable your smartphone's ability to "push" notifications and email messages to you. If you feel attached to your smartphone, chances are your phone and your various apps' features are set to automatically "push" notifications or download emails to your phone. That's why you're constantly alerted to an incoming message and feel compelled to react to the alert. Rather being disturbed by the constant sounds of incoming messages, turn off push notifications on your apps and change your email settings to require that you manually check for new emails. Then, when you have some free time, you can check your emails and social media if necessary. Leave your social media devices behind when you plan to study. Ask your friends to help you. Seek professional help if necessary.

Cyberbullying

consists of abusive attacks that are carried out through social media. Social networking sites offer an open forum for bullies who demean or threaten people without much risk of retaliation

Storage

face-to-face conversations, once they occur, are gone forever. Social media's ability for storage allows messages to be digitally saved and made accessible to other people. Facebook, Twitter, and other tools can log conversations and create a permanent storage space for our messages. Posts to a friend's Facebook page may be there to stay unless the friend deletes them. The harsh and abrasive asynchronous email that you send to a coworker can be easily forwarded to your supervisor, where it may be stored for future use. After a friend uploads pictures to Facebook following a fun weekend, how long does it take before people are tagged in those photos?

media multiplexity

meaning that we carry out those relationships through more than one form of social media, and those in closer relationships use more forms of social media

Cyberstalking

occurs when an individual repeatedly uses social media to stalk or harass others. The behavior may include making false accusations or threats against another, habitually monitoring a person's Facebook profile, the solicitation of minors for sexual purposes, and gathering information for face-to-face harassment

communication through social media

occurs when any communication is transmitted through digital devices or platforms such as smartphones, text messaging, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on

flaming or trolling

online communication that is deliberately hostile, aggressive, or insulting and usually intended to provoke anger

Self-disclosure

or revealing information about yourself to another person, is one of the most powerful communication practices we have for strengthening a relationship

latent ties

potential relationships within a social circle that are present but have not been activated