Midterm
Friendly Pick Up Line Example
"Do you have room in your life for a friend?" "Would you mind some conversation while we wait?"
Offbeat Pick Up Line Example
"Do you think we are ever going to switch to the metric system?"
Humorous Pick Up Line Example
"So what's a nice girl like you doing in an elevator like this?"
Seductive Pick Up Line Example
"You are the sexiest woman in the room."
Altar Pick Up Line Example
"You look just like my 3rd husband." (only had 2!)
Selection Factors Relating to Objects
*1. Easy 2. Intensity 3. Contrast 4. Repetition*
Analysis
*Active stage of perception.* *Involves focusing (selection), organizing, and interpreting information.*
*Factors influencing selection in perception*:
*Factors within objects /stimuli* *Factors within ourselves*
Types of Social Norms
*Folkways Mores, Taboos*
Types of Pick Up Lines
*Friendly, Offbeat, Humorous, Altar, Seductive*
stereotypes
*Generalizations that we make, in particular about groups of people/ their attributes* Can get from: - Your culture - your family - your own past learning experiences, - mass media (esp important when considering people who aren't exposed to certain races, outside of exposure from mass media (e.g. Folks down South who haven't seen an Asian before) They influence the inferences you make when interacting with members of group - the info you retain about members of group can lead you to have an eagle-eye out for certain behaviors that affirm your stereotypes (more likely to selectively focus on what your expecting to see) - People can perceive same actions/things differently based on stereotypes - Easy for us to see actions as virtues when carried out by members of our group but as vices when carried out by members from other group. WHY DO WE HAVE THEM? - *we create stereotypes to make sense of the world and create order/ a sense of coherence* When we find people who contradict their stereotypes *we typically say that they are the exception to the stereotype, not that the stereotype is invalid.* - That's why it's believed the *antidote to stereotypes = forming connections with others*
*Types of Fidelity*
*High fidelity message* - *message gets through from source to receiver without any distortion.* (Noise) EXAMPLE: face to face *Low fidelity message* - *message gets through from source to receiver with distortion* EXAMPLE: TV with a lot of static
5. Words can be used to express complex ideas
*Humans have developing complex thoughts*, and *we make arguments w/ words, express opinions, express judgments* - *Complexities require words* - Anything that lies behind basic "Yes" "No" function.
Folkways
*Lightly held norms. Not a big deal if you break them.* *rules/ norms that people generally conform to, but don't have to, little social pressure to do so.* EXAMPLE: wearing matching socks
*Circular Model*
*Model in which there is a constant change of source and and receiver*. *Feedback is involved.*
Mores
*More strongly held norms. Breaking is a bigger deal.* Many mores are written in law. EXAMPLE: Being naked in public as an adult
Taboos
*Most strongly held norms. So strongly held don't even need to write them in law* EXAMPLE: Having sex with sibling = incest.
6. *Receiver*
*Person who receives the message being sent.*
Norms
*Rules on what is expected in a given situation.* *aren't written in stone, they're fluid* *they vary from person to person*
2. *Encoder*
*Takes the thought/idea of source and puts it into some form that people can understand* Usually source and encoder - same person
Selective Exposure
*Tendency to expose yourself* to *messages that agree with your beliefs and values* and *avoid those we don't agree with* EXAMPLE: if you're an Atheist, you're not likely to go to evening meeting of evangelical Christian group EXAMPLE: argument that cig smoking causes cancer played on radio - cig smokers didn't turn knob to hear message more clearly (to dissipate static) - nonsmokers turned the knob to hear message more clearly
Selective Attention
*Tendency to pay more attention to the part of the message that is consistent with your beliefs* and *tune out the ones that counter it.* EXAMPLE: Governor Brown speech - Pay attention to part of speech where he states that he'll lower cost of college - Don't pay attention to part where he supports Trump
Selective Retention
*Tendency*, if you have listened to all parts of the message and are later asked what was said, *to tell people the parts of the message that you agreed with* and *not the ones that you disagreed with/ that countered your beliefs/values/attitudes*. retain parts of msg we agree with and tell them to others - EXAMPLE: Governor Brown speech - more likely to talk about lowering cost of college part to friend than talk about part in which he discussed his love of Trump
Past Learning Experiences
*That which we learn can influence our subsequent perceptions* EXAMPLE: Man cheated on woman, now she thinks all men are untrustworthy. EXAMPLE: You have an interaction w/ certain race and deem them stupid or lazy. Next time you interact with them out in the world, you'll look for stupid/ lazy behavior in them.
4. *Channel*
*The medium used to get a message from source to receiver. (face to face, TV, etc.)*
Cultural diffs in the use of verbal lang
*Use of language = culturally variable*: *elaborate v. succinct styles of language use* - EXAMPLE: Arabs use more elaborate style of lang relative to American English - Host asks you for more food - Arabs: Repeat no several times coupled w/ "I don't want any more food, I swear to God" - From American's perspective, Arab is expected to overexert. EXAMPLE: Japanese = more succinct and value silence more - Japanese focus more on gaining meaning from nonverbal, use fewer words, nonverbals are used to gather context. *Degree of formality - formal v. informal lang* *Diff cultural rules govern different cultures' use of formal language* - EXAMPLE: US, Sweden, Denmark citizens are relatively informal - American: when you meet someone, you call them by their 1st name - EXAMPLE: Korea = more formal, more emphasis on diff levels of formality used for diff social positions - have 6 diff speech levels, each with diff verb ending to indicate diff levels of formality (very polite to very impolite *English = common lang but translated wrong* EXAMPLE: Mandarin: "welcome to racist park" when it was an amusement park of Chinese indigenous groups
*Double Bind*
*When the content and treatment of a message clash.* EXAMPLE: someone says "I love you" but backs away: contradiction between verbal (content) and nonverbal (treatment) aspects of message. ***We tend to listen to the treatment in these cases*** Why? *The nonverbal elements = more reflexive of what we're truly thinking or feeling*; you should say what you're truly thinking. *Words reveal more what's socially appropriate to say in a situation.*
Attitudes
*Who/ what you're in favor of*, influences your perception EXAMPLE: sporting events feel that referee is unfair to team you're supporting Why? Because you are favorably predisposed toward your own team. EXAMPLE: political debates Who you think won the debate = who you favor
D. euphemism
*a pleasant term substituted for a blunt one* Example: an enhanced interrogation technique v. torture Example: landfill v. dump soften the impact of some info that might be unpleasant, aka the pulling of linguistic punches PROBLEM: can leave people unsure about what you're talking about. Obscures accuracy of your message. CHALLENGE: *be kind as possible without sacrificing the clarity of message*
language
*any system of formalized symbols used to communicate*
Negative Twist
*applied when talking about those outside of our own group* A *positive stereotype can have a ____ to put us in a position above others* Example- we admire athletes BUT "they are just dumb jocks" EXAMPLE: doctors are rich and help society substantially "But you don't want to be on call all the time and have to work so late"
Complicating factors of mediated/ non-mediated communication and the systems of communication.
*blurring*: - it's possible to have mediated/ non-mediated communication at same time: - EX: Prof is lecturing to all of us (non-mediated) but speaking thru microphone (mediated) - Not always clear which system of communication somethings falls under (dependents on info/ situation) (e.g. painting example - with more information, the painting can be qualified under all 4 systems of communication) - often different systems operate at the same - There's a lot of mixture/ lack of clarity of systems @ work, especially with technology - EXAMPLE: FB - send message to friend (interpersonal) - post photo on profile (depending on privacy settings, this could be small group - only your 50 friends can see it - or mass - everyone with an FB account can see it) - EXAMPLE: blogs - diary-like aspect = intrapersonal - can communicate with friends = small group - popular following on blog = mass
*Types of Noise*
*internal noise* - *noise that is going on within you* (inside your brain). (cannot be externally removed) EXAMPLE: you're thinking about eating instead of listening to Suman's message/ what he's saying *external noise* - *immediate source of problem is in external physical or social world, interfering w/ message* EXAMPLE: you hear a jackhammer outside while Suman is talking
verbal language
*language (system of symbols) composed of words*
1. *Source*
*person with the thought/idea to communicate*
*Mediation*
*physical inanimate thing coming in between the source and the receiver, typically removing them from face-to-face communication*
5. *Decoder*
*putting the code into thoughts + ideas*, process involved in hearing and reading - usually = receiver - sometimes could be the translator
Problems that words have serving function of referring to things in world: C. *abstraction*
*the level of specificity you ascribe to what you communicate*. *LADDER OF ABSTRACTION* E.G. this is a person, this is an aquaintance, this is my friend, this is my best friend, this is my best friend, John Smith Using high lvl of abstraction *can allow us to accomplish our goals better/ also we may think it's better/ want people to know general level of information* EXAMPLE: I am sad. v. I am clinically diagnosed with depression and have frequent suicidal thoughts. Using high lvl of abstraction can be problematic: *SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY* - you're avoiding the nitty gritty details/ bad details about yourself Overly abstract can be hazardous - tell hairdresser you want your hair cut short, she gives you buzz cut, didn't know what "short" meant *Overly abstract can leave you unclear* - I've got to get my act together - vague feeling of dissatisfaction.
Roles
*the roles we play in life, social positions we occupy.* (gender, social, occupational roles) Example: occupational roles A zoologist, a psychologist, and a pick pocket in a park. Each focuses on a different thing in the park based on their occupation. They'll select for diff things based on their roles, despite being in the same environment
Problems that words have serving function of referring to things in world: A. *bypassing*
*using diff words w/ same meaning or same words w/ diff meanings* EXAMPLE: same words diff meaning: American visiting Australia named Randy, in Australia, Randy = same word as horny
Culture
*what you perceive/ see depends on what's more normal for your culture:* EXAMPLE: Flash 2 images, one in each eye. A baseball player and a bull fighter. Over 90% of people in Mexico saw the bull fighter. Over 90% of people in America saw the baseball player. EXAMPLE: East Asians tend to perceive/ pay attn holistically (based on context + setting/ scene), rely on experience-based knowledge than logic, embrace contradictions more Westerners tend to think more analytically - reliance on formal logic and reject contradictions. Conflict btwn mother-daughter: - Americans agreed with one side or the other, devoted more analytical logic to resolve conflict - Chinese saw faults in both sides, devoted more dialectic approach to resolve conflict, embraced conflict SUBCULTURES EXAMPLE: In US: racial/ ethnic subcultures 1. 1st OJ Simpson trial - verdict = NOT GUILTY - Black audience reaction - overjoyed - White audience reaction - shocked African Americans = more likely to have racial solidarity than whites Stems from the subcultural diffs btwn blacks and whites in US - judicial system in US has treated blacks unfairly, whites often given benefit of the doubt.
Problems that words have serving function of referring to things in world: B. *equivocation*
*words have more than 1 commonly accepted definition (same words w/ diff meanings)* - if you add the component that diff words have same meaning you'll essentially refer to bypassing. *bypassing and equivocation go hand in hand* *Can lead to misunderstanding* EXAMPLE: "love", can be used in a variety of ways - romantic love - friendship love If you tell a friend you love them, they might misunderstand this and thing you're in love with them romantically. This misunderstanding can be cleared through feedback (person you used word to can ask for clarification or can communicate their interpretation back to you and you can correct them) + parallel phrasing + clarification *Same words diff meaning can also help avoid undesirable answers*
Language
- *Sapir-Whorf Hyp: your language determines the way you perceive the world/ reality (linguistic determinism)* In support of hyp - diffs in vocabulary EXAMPLE: Eskimos of North, live in snowy world, have many diff words for snow (according to color, shape, etc) English only has 1 word of snow. EXAMPLE: # of colors/ different colors in languages - couple of langs only have 2 diff words for color - English lang has tons of diff linguistic categories for color
4. Words can reduce uncertainty
- *We use words to clarify, elaborate, categorize, distinguish, etc.* EXAMPLE: *She asked a question, you answered her question, anxiety = reduced.*
*Noise*
- *anything that distorts/ interferes with message getting through* - *Interferes with the fidelity of the message.* - enemy of fidelity - *can occur anywhere in communication process*
Perception
- *complex process by which people receive + select + organize + interpret their sensory stimulation that they have had* *Two people can see the same thing yet have totally different interpretations of it.* *One of the most impt communication challenges we have - we can talk to each other but not understand each other.* Example: Presidential candidate chatting with disabled veteran - Person 1 perception: good guy! He cares - Person 2 perception: he's manipulative Saw same thing but had different perceptions
H. subcultural differences in the use of language
- *in society, we have many subcultures with unique words that they use* - W/i US, the language predominantly is English, but within US there's linguistic differences amongst diff subcultures (e.g. regional/ ethnic/ music/ age subcultures). - EXAMPLE: Norcal - "hella" = really PROBLEM: *can leave people not part of that subculture to not understand what you're talking about* Sometimes certain phrases unique to certain subcultures can spread throughout and every1 understands it. - But many that isn't the case and so it can confuse people
E. relative language
- *some words only gain meaning through comparison* - if you don't offer comparison, people may not know what you'r talking about Example of words that only have meaning when used comparatively: fat, smart, easy
F. static evaluation
- *sometimes words are used to make reality more concrete, unchanging than it really is.* - *Problematic when it comes to descriptions of people* - EXAMPLE: Bob is a nervous guy -- *Relies on false assumption that people are unchanging* Solution: Date it! Tie it to a specific time + date, *demonstrates transitory/ changes/ developments in behavior* EXAMPLE: Bob was boring *yesterday @ lunch* Static language can be practical - Example: refer to times of day as day and night
Small Group Communicaion
- add a 3rd person to interpersonal and it becomes small group communication. - upper limits not so clear/ quantitative/ precise but: *you know the other members by name or sight and can recognize when one member is missing or when a new person is there.*
profanity
- bad words, swear words - varies from subculture - subculture - NYC = most foul-mouthed place in the world. Why? - stress of high pressure jobs dense urban environ - filled with all diff kinds of people, breeds tolerance for diff type of behavior - anonymity that residents feel - big city: only see other people once, no retribution for swearing EXAMPLE: Small rural towns in US = where profanity isn't tolerated. *Use of language = tied to social circumstances* - the bigger the city = the more foul the language *Profanity, over time, has lost its "oomph", "punch", "power"* - *most power came from restricted nature back in the day* EXAMPLE: F*ck - has become so pervasive that it can be used in any part of speech - can be used as a noun, verb adjective, interjection, adverb, spliced into words "un-a-f*cking-cceptable" - Not as present in graffiti
Suman's take on the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
- goes too far, language doesn't determine the way you perceive reality - but there's something to the hypothesis -- *KEY: Language predisposes you to notice certain things, but doesn't determine what you can perceive* --- *human beings shape culture/ language which in turn shapes them* --- *bilinguals tend to think differently in diff languages* --- *just b/c you don't have a word for it doesn't mean that you're unable to perceive it* EXAMPLE: - French-Americans, when perceiving certain shapes, their mental interpretations were more romantic than thinking in English - *Language can predispose you to make particular interpretations of reality*: EXAMPLE: - Civil Rights Movement - referring to adult African American men as "boy" makes a difference - robs him of respect/ existence
G. language is limited, but reality is *virtually* unlimited
- our vocabulary is limited but reality is virtually unlimited - we make more distinctions in reality than we have words to describe these distinctions EXAMPLE: using words alone to teach someone to tie a shoe - these actions = so complex that we generally need to *show* how it's done
FUNCTIONS THAT WORDS SERVE: 1. words refer to/ stand for things in the world
- reference - *refer to things in the world* EXAMPLE: the word "dog" refers to creature that barks *words = arbitrary referents* - Usually an arbitrary symbol that members of a culture have agreed will represent/ symbolize something in particular Example: British settled on "dog" randomly to refer to 4-legged creature with a tail and snout - *There's no necessary relationship between words and their meaning (arbitrary relationship)* EXCEPTION: ONOMATOPOEIA - formation of words by imitating sounds, words convey/ are composed of the sound they represent - "Bam" - denotes/ relates to the literal sound EXCEPTION: Some signs in ASL directly refer to the action they're conveying EXAMPLE: sign for baby refers to the same way we cradle a child But most of time,relationship btwn symbol and thing it stands for = merely arbitrary
Why has profanity lost its punch power? evolution of profanity to becoming more socially acceptable
1. *Media* - media -> new rating system in 1968 censorship, allowed for on-screen expletives and movies/ r-rated movies - Now avg R-Rated film has 70-80 expletives in it. - Word "f*ck" used in The Devil's Rejects - 568 times -newpapers/ radio not as common, but some words = used that wouldn't have been societally okay earlier on 2. *Music* - use of profanity in music - 60s: rock; 70s: punk, 80s: hip hop evolution of kind of profanity of the time: - The most taboo profane words have changed over time, changes with different errs 19th century TABOO words: - most prohibited words were related to religion mid-20th century (1950s): - But as world became secular, words relating to sex = prohibited End of 20th century: -But as world became less puritan, now taboo profanity = gender and racial slurs, as society becomes more concerned with gender+racial equality. *Once again, language is tied to social circumstances* - As we become more tolerant of one thing but less tolerant of another we prohibit or allow the use of diff langs
SEMCDR Model
1. *Source* 2. *Encoder* 3. *Message* 4. *Channel* 5. *Decoder* 6. *Receiver* - originally created as diagram of telephone call, taken by Berlo to apply to everyday communication situations
Functions that words serve:
1. *stand for/ refer to things in the world* 2. *perform actions w/ words* 3. *evoke emotions* 4. *reduce uncertainty* 5. *express complexity/ complex ideas* 6. *promote human contact*
3. *Message*
3 aspects: *Message CODE* - *any system of symbols by which we communicate. Must be shared to be understood*. (language) - *shared symbol system that is used to send messages/ communicate* EXAMPLE: letters that form verbal/written language, language itself (English), Morse code, basic facial expressions, the way you dress, shapes *Message CONTENT*- *"what" is being communicated. (the general idea)* - *some specific elements of code put together from first to last symbol in message* EXAMPLE: I to u in "I love you" *Message TREATMENT* - *HOW you say what you say* (content). *(non-verbal things like tone and volume)* - "how" you convey/ communicate the content, can reflect the style, personality, etc. EXAMPLE: treat "I love you" (message content) differently to your BF than your mom and dad (i.e. tone of voice, gestures).
Mediated Small Group Example
A business meeting using Skype
Non Mediated Small Group Example
A study group in which everyone sits around a table talking face to face.
Motivation
Based on what's important to you/ your motives. EX: You are more likely to see an advertisement for food when you are hungry.
Small Group Communication Example
Basketball team meeting in person.
Mass Communication
Big group where there is too many people to know/ recognize by sight. (often linear form of communication)
Contrast
CONTRAST - *things that stand out b/c theyre different* Example: guy at UCB goes to class in Hawaiian shirt, amidst a sea of students dressed in all black Example: Golden Globes, everyone dressed in black in honor of #TimesUp, but someone shows up in white. Advertisers master contrast EXAMPLE: mountain dew used psychedelic colors to have cans stand out from others b/c of contrast
*Linear Model*
Can only define communication that is one way. (SEMCDR Model)
Interpersonal Communicaion
Communication between 2 people (dyadic communication) - most self-disclosure occurs
Intrapersonal Communication
Communication with one's self. - most basic + fundamental -- thinking your own thoughts, feeling your own feelings
2. We can perform actions w/ words
EXAMPLE: I promise you - that's part of sealing an agreement EXAMPLE: cursing - part of being angry
3. Words can evoke emotions
EXAMPLE: strong patriotic feelings evoked by Governor Brown's speech EXAMPLE: Hearing "I love you" makes us feel deeply moved
Mediated Mass Example
Giving a lecture using a microphone, Radio, TV Mass communication to wherever receives information, you can sit @ home and do whatever and read/ listen/ watch
Selection in perception
How do we select? What influences what we select/ how we select?
Examples of Internal Noise
Hunger sickness obsessive thoughts
*Four Systems of Communication*
Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Small Group, Mass
Examples of External Noise
Jackhammer outside 100 degrees in classroom hot person sitting next to you.
Mass Communication Example
Lecture in college.
Factors within ourselves influencing selection in perception
MMARSCLPP .1. Motivation 2. Mood 3. Attitudes 4. Roles 5. Selective Attention 6. Culture 7. Language 8. Past Learning Experiences Psychological Tendencies
Example of all 4 systems of Communication
Painting- paint for yourself (intrapersonal), then show it to your friend (interpersonal), then show it to your art class (small group), then take it to a museum (mass).
Counter Tendency
Paying attention to opinions counter to yours to make yourself feel superior.
2 Parts of Perception
Reception, Analysis -Perception begins with our 5 senses
*Feedback*
SEMCDR Model doesn't go over feedback *The receiver becoming the source, source becomes receiver* - *initial receiver can send back a message to the initial source (roles switched).* * Feedback increases fidelity*: receiver can tell source what they didn't understand about message to clarify message, *encourages uninterrupted communication.*
Mood
STUDY: people were shown a video depicting children digging in a swampy area - People put in HAPPY mood: described activity as children enjoying nature - People put in a CRITICAL mood: saw children as being dirty, filthy - People put in an ANXIOUS mood: concerned that kid would get hurt and drown in water.
Types of Psychological Tendencies
Selective Exposure, Selective Attention, Selective Retention
Interpersonal Communication Example
Sitting across a table talking on a date.
Non Mediated Interpersonal Example
Speaking to someone face to face.
Mediated Interpersonal Example
Talking on the phone, writing a letter, sending a text to someone else
Reception
That which comes to us through our senses, automatic stage. - Workings of your biology *The operation of our senses. Relatively automatic.*
The "Sapir-Whorf" Hypothesis
The idea that language determines the way we perceive reality/ alters our perception of reality. Eskimo example, vocabulary Language structure - Navajo have no active words, English has many active words
Intrapersonal Communication Example
Thoughts, feelings.
6. Words can promote human contact
Through communicating and sharing words, people are brought together
Repetition
We select that which *we see/hear over and over.* - more likely to end up in someone's brain/ believable - The "Mother of Learning" - idea behind commercial slogans: repeated so often they're stored in our memory Example: Just do it - Nike
Ease
We tend to select that which is easy/ obvious to select for: We select *what is closest to us, what sticks out, large in size.* EXAMPLE: that which is right in front of our face. EXAMPLE: Professor Suman selects student that is a 2 ton elephant to remember. He later is walking on Bruin walk amidst tons of other students, but all he sees is the elephant, because it's easy to select for.
Intensity
We tend to select that which is intense: intensity - *that which is in extreme or high degree* tend to select for large objects, loud sounds, bright colors. Example: tend to select for shouts vs. whispers *Intense behavior - people behave intensely b/c others pay attention to them* Example: child throws temper tantrum Example: terrorist activities/ behaviors done explicitly to get people to pay attention to them
Mediated Intrapersonal Example
Writing yourself a note, keeping a diary, reading back what you've wrote to yourself. *you are communicating w/ yourself through a medium
Contrast Example
You pay attention to Pringles at the store because they are in a can and not a bag.
Intensity Example
You pay attention to a siren.
Repetition Example
You pay attention to commercial slogans that you hear many times.
Analysis Example
You see 5 billion stimuli. Your brain can only process 500. Therefore we must select what to *focus* upon. Those 500 vary from person to person which explains how different people have different perceptions.
Non Mediated Intrapersonal Example
You thinking your own thoughts.
Non Mediated Mass Example
aka. Public Communication - typically 1 person does ll the communication to a bunch of people they don't know - One person talking to a large group without a medium. - Lecture without any device used. - Simply professor speaking to giant collective of students There are norms - e.g. you didn't raise your hand when Professor Suman was giving lecture
SEMCDR model
takes communication process and breaks it down into its component parts to demonstrate basic concepts and complexities