Com 100 Final
Steps to avoid Groupthink
1.Be aware of the potential for groupthink 2.Make sure the group has sufficient time to make decisions 3.Encourage dissenting viewpoints 4.Solicit input from outside the group 5.Give important decisions a second chance
Communication with Caregivers
1.Patients need information a.If a symptom is abnormal for you, you are likely to engage in information-seeking behavior, a series of actions to find out more about a health issue i.People often adopt a multi-strategy approach to seeking health info; finding trustworthy info online can be more difficult because anyone can create a website and offer health-related suggestions 2.Patients need certainty - People often seek attention from health care providers as a way to gain certainty about their symptoms a.When someone sees a health care provider, the provider generally does a physical examination and conducts test to generate a diagnosis, a determination of the medical problems causing a patient's symptoms b.Providers can then compare the patient to people who have had similar symptoms to arrive at a prognosis, a prediction of the course of his or her condition and chance of recovery. Based on the prognosis, a health care provider will recommend a treatment plan. 3.Patients need confidentiality - Doctor-patient privilege is the assurance that health professionals will keep patient info confidential 4.Patients need privacy - each of us must manage our private medical information and make decisions about disclosing that information to others
Advantages of Small Group Communication
1.Small groups provide resources a.Resources are assets that enable us to be productive b.When we come together with people in small groups, we gain access to the resource s of others 2.Small groups experience synergy a.In many small groups, members can accomplish more by working together than they could by working individually b.Synergy is a collaboration that produces more than the sum of its parts 3.Small groups expose us to diversity a.Participating in a small group exposes us to ways of thinking that are different from our own b.Working in small groups helps us to think in more open-minded ways and thereby come to better decisions.
Qualities causes attraction
1.We are attracted by appearance a.We value and appreciate physical attractiveness, so we want to be around people we think are attractive 2.We are attracted by proximity, which refers to how closely together people live or work and how often they interact 3.We are attracted by similarity a.We often find validation in those who are familiar to us 4.We are attracted by complementarity - a beneficial supplement by another person of something we lack in ourselves (ex.: being best friends with an extrovert when you are an introvert because you admire how outgoing your friend is)
Intimacy
Intimacy in relationships requires deep commitment.
Knapps stages of ending a relationship
Knapp's model of relationship dissolution has five stages: 1.Differentiating 2.Circumscribing 3.Stagnating 4.Avoiding Terminating
Small Group Definition
●a collection of 3 or more people working cooperatively and interdependently to accomplish a task ○Small groups are distinguished by their size - should include at least 3 members, but no more than about 15 or 20 (according to the textbook) ○The size of the group matters because most of us communicate differently in larger and smaller collections of people - some people become quieter the bigger the group becomes ○Many times, you will form and maintain interpersonal relationships within groups ●Small groups are interdependent - according to systems theory, members of small groups are interdependent in the sense that each one affects and is affected by every other member in some ways
Rites, Rituals, Rules, Roles
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Five Phases of Group Socialization
1.Before you join: antecedent phase a.In this phase of socialization, we develop certain beliefs, attitudes, and expectations about hte new group 2.Deciding to join: anticipatory phase a.During this phase, we make judgments about what we expect from the group and its members b.Some of our judgments might be based on the beliefs, attitudes, and expectations we formed from previous experiences with small groups, while others may be influenced by what we've heard about the particular group's objectives or traditions 3.Joining a group: the encounter phase a.The encounter phase occurs the first time we meet with others as a group, either face-to-face or in electronically mediated formats b.Groups often use their initial meeting to establish their mission and define their goals c.Groups may assign roles and responsibilities during the encounter phase 4.Accepting a group's culture: assimilation phase a.Once the expectations for a group's culture are known, individual members must decide whether to accept them. In this phase, the group acquires its own identity 5.Leaving a group: exit phase a.Individual members leave the group voluntarily or involuntarily (or the group ceases to exist)
Communication with Caregivers cont.
1.Caregivers need information a.Caregivers need accurate and complete information when caring for patients; some patients withhold information unknowingly, while other patients omit info - or provide misinformation - on purpose 2.Caregivers need efficiency a.Caregivers feel the pressure of time constraints when attending to their patients - they need communication practices that maximize efficiency, allowing them to accomplish more in the time available 3.Caregivers need empathy a.Having empathy is useful for caregivers because it helps them identify their patients' needs b.Caregivers also need to receive empathy - stress and exhaustion are common among caregivers 4.Caregivers need cooperation a.Caregivers need cooperation from their patients and their families
Being a Leader
1.Democratic Style - leaders who use this style follow the principle that every group member has a right to participate in decision making 2.Autocratic Style - leaders who enact this style see themselves as having both the authority and the responsibility to take action on the group's behalf a.This type of leader sees themself as the most important member of the group 3.Laissez-faire Style - leaders who enact this style provide little direction to and have a general lack of involvement with members of the group a.This type of leader may see themself as the person who is least important to the success of the group
Characteristics of Friendships
1.Friendships are voluntary a.We choose our friends and they choose us 2.Friendships usually develop between peers a.A peer is someone who is similar to us in power or status b.We can have satisfying friendships with others who have some type of power over us, but those relationships can be complicated 3.Friendships are governed by rules a.Some rules of friendship relate to a specific behavior, such as practicing self-disclosure or including friends in your activities b.Other rules relate to the qualities we should exhibit in our friendships, such as loyalty and authenticity 4.Friendships differ by sex a.Friendships between women often emphasize conversational and emotional expressiveness Men's friendships tend to place a heavier emphasis on shared activities and common interests
Barriers to Effective Listening
1.Pseudolistening and Selective Attention a.Pseudolistening is pretending to pay attention to someone when you really are not listening b.Selective Listening is listening only to what you want to hear and ignoring the rest 2.Information overload - refers to the huge amount of info that each of us takes in every day 3.Glazing Over - daydreaming or allowing the mind to wander while another person is speaking 4.Rebuttal tendency - the propensity to debate a speaker's point and formulate a reply while that person is still speaking 5.Closed-mindedness - the tendency to not listen to anything with which one disagrees 6.Competitive Interrupting - the practice of using interruptions to take control of the conversation
Decision Making Strategies
1.Unanimous Consensus - uncontested support for a decision ○In some instances, as in the case of a jury, unanimous consensus is the only option for group decision making ○Unanimous consensus can be advantageous because group members are likely to be more supportive of a decision on which they all agree If the decision is controversial, group members may vary dramatically in the outcomes they prefer. Some discussions may end in a stalemate, an outcome where members' opinions are so sharply divided that unanimity is impossible to achieve. 2. Some groups decide by majority rule - a decision-making process that follows the will of the majority ●Majority rule operates on the principle that decisions should reflect what most people want ●Majority rule ensures that most people in the group support the decision being made ●If a vote is particularly close, the minority can feel the decision was arbitrary ●Majority rule can be problematic in groups that have an even number of members due to the possibility of a tied vote 3. Some groups decide by minority rule - a process in which a small number of members makes a decision on behalf of the group. ●Decision makers often use minority rule for the sake of efficiency ●Because minority rule excludes the input of most members of the group, it is rarely a good option for making decisions that are controversial or consequential 4. Some groups decide by expert opinion - the recommendations of individuals with expertise in a particular area. ●Expert opinion works on the principle that certain people have better judgment or more informed opinions on specific topics that enable them to make better decisions than nonexperts 5. Some groups decide using authority rule - a process by which the leader of the group makes the decisions. ●Authority rule is best when someone in the group has legitimate authority over other members ●It can be problematic when exercised in groups that have no legitimate authority figure The method of making decisions that is best depends on the following: the importance of the decision, whether the decision requires expert knowledge, and how quickly the decision must be made
Media
A collection of various channels of communication is called media, which is the plural form of medium
How organizations communicate cont.
A.Formal communication in an organization comprises messages that come from the organization and relate to its operations. a.Formal communication in an organization varies according to the relative status of the sender and the audience b.Upward communication consists of messages we send to people at higher levels of the organizational hierarchy than we occupy i.Upward communication should be clear, concise, and respectful c.Downward communication comprises messages we send to people at lower levels of the organizational hierarchy - they should avoid using specialized jargon and use language that everyone can understand. d.Lateral communication - involves messages we share with peers or anyone who occupies the same position within the organizational hierarchy as we do - good lateral communication treats people as equals and focuses on accomplishing mutual goals
Health Promotion Campaigns
A.Health belief model - according to this model, people will be most motivated to change their health-related behaviors if they hold the following five beliefs: a.They will suffer adverse effects if change isn't made b.Those adverse effects will be considerable c.Changing their behavior will prevent those adverse effects d.Changing their behavior is worth the cost and effort e.Something novel or eye-opening is calling them to action . Social cognitive theory - proposes that people base their behavioral decisions on the interaction of cognitive and environmental factors 1.Cognitive factors include expectations, values, knowledge, emotions, habits, and attitudes 2.Environmental factors include the limitations of the physical environment and the conditions that engender social approval C. Theory of reasoned action - based on the assumption that people make rational, deliberate decisions about their behaviors
Organizational communication definition
A.Organizational communication is an area of study devoted to examining the interactions that occur in structured groups. B.Organizational culture refers to the values, customs, and communication behaviors that organization members share and that reflect the organization's distinct identity. C.Organizations have structure a.An organization's structure consists of formal and informal practices, procedures, and relationships that provide the necessary predictability for members to fulfill their individual and collective goals.
Rituals
A.Organizational rituals - repeated behaviors that provide a familiar routine to an organization's experiences. a.Personal rituals - the routine behaviors through which individuals convey their organization's identity b.Social rituals - recurring events that reinforce personal relationships among organization members c.Task rituals - repeated activities that enhance people's abilities to do their jobs
Rules and Roles
A.Organizational rules - rules govern patterns of communication in many contexts a.Explicit rules are clearly articulated prescriptions for how to communicate b.Implicit rules are understood and followed even though they aren't formally articulated c.An organization's explicit communication rules are not always consistent with its implicit rules B.Organizational roles - each organizational member has certain responsibilities to the group that reflect the role he or she plays a.Formal roles - involve functions prescribed by the organization itself. Formal roles are interconnected to form a system that fulfills all necessary functions in the organization i.Formal roles are tied to positions within an organization rather than to individual people b.Informal roles - functions adopted by specific people rather than dictated by the organization. They often evolve to serve an organization's social and interpersonal needs, and they aren't necessarily less important than formal roles.
Social Relationships in the Workplace
A.Social relationships with coworkers a.The most likely opportunity for forming friendships at work arises with respect to our immediate coworkers b.The closer we are to our coworkers, the happier we are at work c.Relationships with coworkers have both social and task dimensions B.Social relationships between superiors and subordinates a.These relationships are complicated as they include a power difference between the parties - both should acknowledge that their friendship and work relationship might conflict and should try to keep the two as separate as possible C.Social relationships between clients and professionals a.Relationships between professionals and customers can be personally rewarding and can benefit the company b.Friendships between professionals and customers can run into some of the same task-versus-social tensions that can occur in friendships between coworkers and between superiors and subordinates c.If you become friends with customers, it is necessary to be clear with them about the boundaries between your personal and professional relationships
Norm of Reprocity
A.The norm of reciprocity explains that when we disclose to other people, we typically expect them to disclose to us in return a.There are exceptions to that norm, such as when we disclose to a physician or a counselor Self-disclosure is influenced by cultural and gender roles A.Evidence suggests that women self-disclose more than men Diversity in cultural norms can also affect self-disclosure
Attraction Theory
Attraction Theory explains why individuals are drawn to others. The process of forming most relationships begins with interpersonal attraction, the force that draws people together. a.Physical attraction is being drawn to someone because of his or her looks b.Social attraction is being attracted to someone's personality c.Task attraction is being attracted to a person's abilities and dependability
Characteristics of Caregivers
Caregivers are the people with the responsibility of tending to the mental and physical health needs of others. 1.Professionals (also called health care providers) are paid for health services they provide 2.Volunteer caregivers provide their services for free
Equity Theory
Equity Theory - suggests that a good relationship is one in which one's ratio of costs and benefits is equal to the partner's. a.At times, we might be over-benefited in a relationship, when our relational benefits outweigh our costs b.At other times, we might be under-benefited, when our relational costs outweigh our benefits c.If both partners get the same level of benefit, but one partner's costs are greater than the other's the partner with the greater costs likely won't want to maintain that relationship
How organizations communicate cont.
External communication is communication with people outside the organization a.Effective external communication can significantly enhance an organization's reputation, productivity, community support, and economic success - poorly managed ext com can cause an organization irreparable harm. b.There are multiple potential external audiences: i.Consumers - anyone who buys or might buy an organization's products or services ii.Potential personnel - anyone who might work for an organization iii.Stockholders - people who own shares of a publicly traded company iv.The media v.Lawmakers vi.The general public - current or potential customers and employees and anyone else to whom an organization's reputation matters
Warning signs for relational dissolution
Handle conflict constructively. •According to Gottman, these four conflict behaviors are destructive: •Criticism (judgment) •Contempt (hostility and disrespect) •Defensiveness (playing the victim) •Stonewalling (withdrawal)
HURIER model
Hearing - the physical process of receiving sound, is where listening begins Understanding - comprehending the meanings of the words and phrases you're hearing Remembering - being able to store something in your memory and retrieve it when needed Interpretation - the process of assigning meaning to information that has been selected for attention and organized (pay attention to verbal and nonverbal behaviors to assign meaning to person's message) Evaluating - assessing the value of the information we've received (is it accurate, separate fact from opinion, consider speaker's words in the context of other information you have from that speaker Responding - indicating to a speaker that we are listening
Hearing
Hearing is merely the perception of sound, whereas listening is an ACTIVE PROCESS of paying attention to a sound, assigning meaning to it, and responding to it
How organizations communicate cont.
Informal Communication is not sanctioned by the organization but arises from the social interactions of its members. a.Many people say that informal communication travels along an organizational grapevine, a metaphor used to indicate that informal messages are often conveyed in upward, downward, and lateral directions simultaneously b.Informal messages take unpredictable paths c.Research has revealed the following about grapevines: i.Grapevines use multiple communication channels ii.People rely heavily upon the grapevine during a crisis Communication along the grapevine can be remarkably accurate
Groupthink
It is important to avoid groupthink. Groupthink occurs when group members seek unanimous agreement despite their individual doubts. ●Groupthink is particularly likely to occur when a group has a strong, authoritarian leader, is composed of members with similar backgrounds, and is isolated from an outside influence (good example here would be cults) ●Groupthink is discourages all attempts to consider a decision critically ●Decisions reached by groupthink can have disastrous effects
Knapps model
Knapp's model of relationship has five-stages: 1.Initiating 2.Experimenting 3.Intensifying 4.Integrating 5.Bonding Stages vary across cultures and online.
More on Groupthink
Listen carefully. Recognize barriers to effective listening in groups, such as: a.Noise - anything in the physical environment or in your individual experience that distracts you from listening effectively b.Boredom c.Information Overload d.Rebuttal tendency - the propensity to debate a speaker's point and then formulate your reply while the person is still speaking Practice listening. A.Informational listening skills are particularly important when you need to understand and retain what you're hearing a.Try paraphrasing the speaker's message B.Critical listening skills are especially important in groups that have to make important decisions a.Remind yourself not to accept what you hear at face value b.It's most important to listen critically when you approve of the speakers or their message C.Empathic listening skills are most important in groups that provide comfort Practice listening without interrupting or offering advice.
Media Convergence
Media convergence is the merging of mass communication outlets - print, television, radio, the Internet along with portable and interactive technologies through various digital media platforms. Media convergence is the blending of multiple media forms into one platform for purposes of delivering a dynamic experience
Individual Roles in Small Groups
Most small groups have one or more collective goals or purposes, and individual members of the group often take on specific roles that define their function within a group or a larger organization. ●Formal roles - specifically assigned to people to help the group fulfill its mission ●Informal roles - not formally assigned, and anyone in the group can choose to take them on
Rites
Organizational Rites - ceremonial acts and practices that convey characteristics of an organization's culture. Six types of organization rites have been identified: 1.Rites of passage - signify people's advancement to a higher status or level in an organization 2.Rites of integration - enhance feelings of inclusion and community in an organization 3.Blaming rites - concerned with consequences for poor or unethical performance 4.Enhancement rites - relate to consequences for superior performance 5.Renewal rites - update and revitalize an organization Conflict resolution rites - aim to manage disagreements and discord
How organizations communicate
Organizational communication as a balance of creativity and constraint. a.Creativity is your freedom to make independent choices b.Constraints are the limitations imposed on that freedom by the context in which you are operating c.Theory of structuration - explains that all human behavior is influenced by an ever-present tension between creativity and constraint
Organizational Rituals
Organizations have stories, which express our experiences, solidify the organizational culture, and affirm our collective identity 1.Corporate stories - describe histories, goals, and identities. They can help to socialize new members of an organization into its culture 2.Personal stories - reflect how both people see themselves and how they want others to see them 3.Collegial stories - those we tell about other people in our organizations. These stories identify organizational members' positive and negative attributes to others in the organization
Communication with Caregivers cont.
Physician-centered communication is a model in which physicians dictate the duration and scope of communication with the patients ●The physician-centered model is the traditional model of patient-provider communication ●Physician-centered communication is efficient, but it can be counterproductive to patients' health because it can discourage patients from disclosing information they believe will reflect poorly on them, yet may nonetheless be relevant to their condition Collaborative communication - this model encourages patients and providers to interact as partners ●The collaborative model validates the patient's experience and expertise with his or her own body ●Collaborative communication is associated with greater physician satisfaction and a reduction in patient anxiety
Types of Power
Power is the ability to influence or control people or events. Leaders exercise several forms of power: 1.Reward power - operates when a leader has the ability to reward another for doing what the leader says. Having reward power requires leaders to not only provide a reward to those who follow instructions, but to provide a sufficient reward 2.Coercive power - power that comes from the ability to punish. It requires the ability to issue a sufficient punishment. Excessive use of coercive power can constitute emotional abuse 3.Referent power - refers to the power of attraction, the idea being that we tend to comply with requests made by people we like, admire, or find attractive in some way. 4.Legitimate power - people exercise legitimate power when their status or position gives them the right to make requests with which others must comply. Because it is granted by people's status or position, it is no longer effective when they lose their status or leave their position. 5. Expert power - stems from having expertise in a particular area. In many cases we perceive that it is in our best interest to comply with the directions of experts because their experience or training gives them specialized knowledge we lack. 6. Informational power - power that stems from the ability to control access to information. Informational power is usually greatest when the information is valuable and cannot be obtained elsewhere
Self-Disclosure
Self-disclosure is the act of intentionally giving others personal information about ourselves that we believe is true but that we think they don't already know. Characteristics of self-disclosure: A.Self-disclosure is intentional and truthful a.For an act of communication to qualify as self-disclosure, we must deliberately share the information about ourselves b.We must also believe that information is true B.Self-disclosure varies in breadth and depth a.Social Penetration Theory suggests that the depth and breadth of self-disclosure helps us to learn about a person we're getting to know b.Breadth describes the range of topics one discusses with various people c.Depth measures how personal or intimate our disclosures are, reflecting how carefully we feel we must guard information we give out
Social Exchange Theory
Social Exchange Theory - states that people seek to maintain relationships in which their benefits outweigh their costs a.Comparison level is a realistic expectation of what one wants and thinks one deserves from a relationship b.Comparison level for alternatives is an assessment of how much better or worse one's current relationship is than one's other options c.Our comparison level for a particular relationship strongly influences how satisfied we are in that relationship d.Our comparison level for alternatives more strongly influences whether that relationship will last
Types of Responses
Stonewalling - responding with silence and a lack of expression on your face Backchanneling - using facial expressions, nods, vocalizations, and verbal statements to let the speaker know you're paying attention Paraphrasing - restating in your own words what the speaker has said to show you understand Empathizing - conveying to the speaker that you understand and share his or her feelings on the topic being discussed Supporting - expressing your agreement for the speaker's opinion or point of view Analyzing - providing your own perspective on what the speaker has said Advising - communicating advice to the speaker about what he or she should think, feel, or do
Theory of Planned Behavior
Theory of planned behavior - people sometimes intend to perform behaviors that they don't actually perform. 1.The theory of planned behavior recognizes that, even if you intend to take a certain action, you must have self-efficacy, which is a belief that you can perform that action. E. Transtheoretical model - people tend to change in stages 1.According to this model, behavior change occurs in five stages: a.Precontemplation - people are unaware of any need to change their behavior b.Contemplation - they begin thinking about the reasons for change c.Preparation - they decide to take action d.They actually change their behavior Maintenance - they keep up their behavior change for at least six months
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Uncertainty Reduction Theory suggests that people find uncertainty to be unpleasant, so they are motivated to reduce their uncertainty by getting to know others a.Each new piece of info you gain further reduces your uncertainty b.Uncertainty reduction theory proposes that the less uncertain we are, the more we will like a new acquaintance c.Theories developed since uncertainty reduction theory suggest that reducing uncertainty about a person does not guarantee that we will like that person
Confirming and disconfirming messages
We can improve communication in our relationships by emphasizing excitement and positivity. •Sharing exciting activities increases our relationship satisfaction. •Using confirming messages emphasizes positivity (descriptive, inquiry orientation, spontaneity, empathetic, equality, provisional). •Disconfirming messages imply a lack of respect or value for others (Evaluative, control, strategic, neutral, superiority, certainty).
Globalization
a.Globalization is the increasing connectedness of societies and their economies as a result of developments in transportation and communication b.Organizations have had to adapt to a diversity of languages, customs, and ways of doing business c.Organizations must be aware of the differing cultural conceptions of time - a monochronic culture sees time as a valuable commodity that should be used wisely and not wasted, whereas a polychronic culture sees time as fluid and relatively unstructured as a whole.
Commitment
•Commitment is the desire to stay in a relationship no matter what happens. •Commitment takes several forms: •Emotional commitment •Social commitment •Legal commitment Financial commitmen
Instrumental Communication
•Day-to-day tasks require completion. •The way in which partners divide everyday tasks often reflects the balance of power in their relationship.
Dialectical tensions (and different types)
•Dialectical tensions are conflicts between two important but opposing needs. •Autonomy versus Connection •Openness versus Closedness Predictability versus Novelty
Cultural Effects on expectations for romantic relationships
•Monogamy means being in only one romantic relationship at a time and avoiding romantic involvement with others outside the relationship. •Infidelity means having romantic or sexual interaction with someone outside of one's romantic relationship. Exceptions to intimate relationships can be determined by culture. •Expectations for exclusiveness (polygamy) •Expectations for voluntariness •Expectations for love •Expectations for sexuality
Conflict styles for couples
•Validating couples discuss disagreements openly and cooperatively. •Volatile couples discuss disagreements openly but competitively. Conflict-avoiding couples discuss disagreements covertly rather than openly. Hostile couples have frequent, intense conflict.
Interdependence
•When something happens to one person, it affects everyone else in the relationship. •Intimate relationships usually have high interdependence.
Cultural effects of listening
●Culture affects listeners' expectations for directness (some cultures are more straightforward than others) ●Culture affects nonverbal listening responses In some cultures, people are expected to maintain eye contact during conversations. In others, looking down or away while listening is a sign of respect for the speaker
Types of listening
●Informational Listening ○Listening to learn, taking in information ○Informational listening is a relatively passive process ●Critical Listening ○Used when our goal is to evaluate or analyze what we are hearing ○Does NOT necessarily mean you are criticizing what you're hearing ○Critical listening is a more active and engaging process than informational listening ●Empathic Listening ○Occurs when you are trying to identify with the speaker by understanding and experiencing what he or she is thinking or feeling ○Other types of listening that we don't really care about but are mentioned in the chapter: ■Inspirational listening - listening to be inspired ■Appreciative listening - listening for pure enjoyment
Listening
●Listening is the active process of making meaning out of another person's spoken message ●Listening is active, not automatic Listening requires more than just hearing, which is the sensory process of receiving and perceiving sound
Generating Ideas and Making Decisions
●One way that groups generate ideas is through brainstorming, which means allowing group members to freely offer any ideas they wish and creating a list of all the proposed ideas before any are debated. ●Groups typically begin brainstorming by first identifying the question to be answered or the problem to be solved. All ideas are then added to a master list, where each idea is considered until the group decides on which to adopt. ●Ground rules for productive brainstorming: ○Be creative and encourage all ideas, even ones that seem unusual ○Urge everyone to contribute Allow piggybacking, encouraging group members to add to what others have said **Groups may use the nominal group technique (NGT) - this process calls for group members to generate their initial ideas silently and independently. **Groups may use ideawriting - an idea-generating process in which members independently list their own ideas and then systematically evaluate one another's ideas before they are considered by the group.
Characteristics of effective listening
●People-oriented style: emphasizes concern for other people's emotions and interests ●Action-oriented style: emphasizes organization and precision ●Content-oriented style: emphasizes intellectual challenges ●Time-oriented style: emphasizes efficiency
Small Group Rules
●Rules are explicitly stated principles for governing what members of a group can and cannot do ●Norms are principles that are not officially stated; however, they seem to be understood implicitly within the group ●Nearly every small group has both rules and norms that its members are expected to follow ○Some rules and norms govern how members of the group should interact with one nanother ○Other rules and norms dictate how the group should function Some rules and norms focus on the nature of the group's mission
Rewards of social relationships (emotional, material, health)
●Social relationships bring emotional rewards ○Friends provide emotional support, or encouragement during times of emotional turmoil ●Social relationships bring material rewards ○Social relationships help us meet our material needs, such as our need for money, food, shelter, and transportation ○Researchers use the term social capital to refer to the resources we have as a result of our social relationships ●Social relationships bring health rewards ○Positive social relationships promote good health ○Close relationships help people to manage the negative effects of stress and maintain a healthy lifestyle
Communication with Caregivers cont.
●Telemedicine is the use of communication technology for health consultation - it offers advantages for both caregivers and patients: ○Requires less time and reduces the need for costlier office visits ○Increases patients' access to specialists, which can mean identifying and treating problems before they become severe ○Promotes a collaborative communication style between patients and caregivers ●E-therapy is the use of communication technology for delivering or receiving psychotherapy ○E-therapy is efficient and often easier to schedule than face-to-face communication ○It increases patients' access to expertise, even for rare psychological problems
Need to Belong Theory
●We form relationships because we need to belong ○The need to belong theory proposes a fundamental human inclination to bond with others ■Each of us is born with a drive to seek, form, maintain, and protect strong social relationships ■We use communication to form social bonds with others ■Relationships help us feel we aren't alone because we belong to a social community ●We need several things from social relationships ○We need social bonds that are both interactive and emotionally close ○Interacting only with people for whom we have no real feelings is unrewarding Task-oriented relationships don't fill our need to belong because they aren't usually emotionally close
