Com 123 Interpersonal Communication Exam 1 Ilstu

Front 1

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Back 1

Self Actualization - Desire to develop our potential

Self Esteem - Desire to believe we are worthwile

Social - Desire for others

Safety - Desire for protection and well-being

Physical - Desire for air, water, food, rest, reproduction

Front 2

Qualitative communication – including the features (interdependence, disclosure, intrinsic
rewards, uniqueness)

Back 2

1. Uniqueness - We cmm differently with everybody
2. Irreplaceability - Since they are unique they cannot be replaced or replicated
3. Interdependence - Can be good and bad
4. Disclosure
5. Essential Rewards - Simply communicating builds relationships between two people

Front 3

Quantitative communication

Back 3

Defines interpersonal communication as any interaction between two people -- a DYAD

Less personal -- Teacher/student, ped/cashier, stranger/stranger

In a group, participants can form coalitions to get support for their positions
In a dyad, partners must work matters out with each other

Front 4

Challenges of Mediated Communication (Permanence, Disinhibition, Leaner Messages)

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Permanence What you say online is most likely going to be there forever

Disinhibition - expressing messages without considering the consequences

Lean msgs - Lacks RICHNESS that ftf has since it lacks NONVERBALS

Front 5

Competent Communication Characteristics

Back 5

1. Flexible - Can adapt to different situations

2. Situational - Better in some situations than others

3. Competence can be learned as a skill. Takes practice.

Front 6

Communication Needs (Social, Identity, Practical, Physical)

Back 6

Social - Satisfies the social needs from Maslow. Gives a sense of self-worth

Identity - We decide who we are based on how others react to us

Practical - Cmm gets us what we need. Good relationships with others leads to more effective cmm.

Physical - Talking or not talking to someone can physically make our bodies and cognition healthier.
-More early deaths and susceptible to colds when you are socially isolated

Front 7

Individualistic vs. Collectivistic culture

Back 7

Individualistic - Care more for yourself -- Common in america

Collectivistic - Care more about your friends and family

Front 8

High-Context vs. Low-Context

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High - Less explicit -- lots of nonverbals

Low - More explicit -- Lots of blunt verbals

Front 9

Low-Power Distance vs. High-Power Distance

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Low: minimize differences between social classes, support the notion of challenging authority

High: maximize status differences, unquestioning obedience to elders

Front 10

Nurturing vs. Achievement

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Nurturing: place a high emphasis on support and relationships/helping (feminine)
Little difference expected between the roles for men and women

Achievement: societies that place a high value on material success and focus on the task at hand/outperforming others (masculine)
Prescribe to different roles for men and women

Front 11

Social Comparison Theory

Back 11

Social comparison: evaluating ourselves in terms of how we compare with others

We compare using reference groups, the people we use to evaluate our own characteristics


We are in control over whom we choose for comparison

Our self-esteem (at that specific time) will likely influence the process of social comparison

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Social Penetration Theory

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1. Breadth of Information volunteered
the range of subjects/topics being discussed

2. Depth of topics
The shift from relatively less revealing topics to highly revealing topics

The breadth and depth of information dictate the type of relationship (e.g., casual, intimate)

We disclose facts, opinions, and feelings

Front 13

Reflected Appraisal Theory

Back 13

Reflected appraisal: We engage in a mirroring of the judgments of those around us. Think of the Looking Glass Self.

Self-concept can be seen, at least in part, as reflection of the messages you have received throughout your life

Certain peoples’ evaluations, significant others, are especially influential

Parents with negative self-concepts are likely to have children who view themselves in a negative light, whereas positive parents tend to have children who view themselves in a positive light

Front 14

Face Theory

Back 14

Socially approved identity, it is the positive image we seek to maintain during interaction

Interaction is like a performance (drama metaphor)

Stage (front and back), Lines, Props, and Audience

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Self-imposed Prophecy

Back 15

Occurs when your own expectations influence your behavior

They are very powerful in our everyday lives
Ex) Think you will do good on a test, more likely to score well than going into it with a bad attitude

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Other-imposed Prophecy

Back 16

Occurs when one person’s expectations govern another’s actions


Pygmalion effect: positive (teachers encourage you)

Golem effect: negative (boss never acknowledges you)

It isn’t the observers belief, but how he/she communicates that belief that has an effect

Front 17

Johari Window

Back 17

There are four areas to each of us:
1. Open: known to self/others
2. Blind: known to others, not known to self
3. Hidden: known to self, not known to others
4. Unknown: no one knows!

Our personal Johri Windows change depending on our relationships and interactions with others

Front 18

self-concept

Back 18

Self-concept: the relatively stable set of perceptions you hold for yourself.

Sort of like a self appraisal of yourself

Can be emotional states, talents, likes, dislikes, values, roles, etc.

Not every dimension of your self-concept is equally important

EXTRA STUFF:

Self-esteem: a part of the self-concept that involves evaluations of our self-worth
How we feel about our qualities /our self-perception
High or low-esteem effects our communication behaviors
Although high self-esteem has obvious benefits, it does not guarantee interpersonal success
Why not?
But positive self-evaluations can be a starting point for positive communication with others

The development of our self-concept:

Based almost completely on our social interaction
At 6 to 7 months old a child will begin to recognize their “self”
Two theories describe how interactions shape the way individuals view themselves:
1) Reflected Appraisal Theory
2) Social Comparison Theory

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Self-concept cont (subjective self-concept)

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1. The self-concept is subjective:
The way we view ourselves may be at odds with others’ perceptions and with facts
Our self-analysis/evaluations/appraisals can be (+) or (-)
Our self-estimation can be based on obsolete or inaccurate information
There are also times when we view ourselves more harshly (because sometimes we experience more negative moods)

We view ourselves more negatively for a variety of other reasons, including:
1) Overabundance of self-put-downs
2) Distorted feedback from others
3) Myth of perfection
4) Social Expectations (due to the perfectionist society)

2. A Healthy self-concept is flexible:
People change and our self-concepts react to these changes
Important they do so, as our self-concept changing helps us stay realistic
3. The self-concept resists change:
A realistic self-concept changes, but like most of us our tendency to resist change is strong!
We seek out people and information that confirms our self-concept.. This is known as cognitive conservation

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4 steps to changing self-concept

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1) Appraisal must be offered by someone we see as competent enough to offer it
2) The appraisal must be perceived as highly personal
3) The appraisal must be reasonable in light of what we believe about ourselves
4) Appraisals must be consistent and numerous

Front 21

4 steps in the perception process

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1) Selection - Choosing what content you want to take in

2) Organization - Arrange info in a meaningful way using the four schemas:
Physical - Appearance. Young/Old, Fat/Skinny
Role - Social position. Student/Teacher, Father/son
Interaction - Social behaviors. Nice/angry
Psychological - Internal states of mind. Happy/depressed.

3) Interpretation - Guessing the other's true intents, needs, personality..

4) Negotiation - Using narratives to describe your perceptions

Front 22

Confirmation Bias

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Seeking out info that confirms our impressions of others

Front 23

Self-serving Bias

Back 23

judge our self and our actions most generously. “I swear because of the situation he swears bc it’s a flaw in his character”
Especially common in troubled relationships (why?)

Front 24

Halo Effect

Back 24

forming a positive impression based on one characteristic

Typically based on physical attractiveness or from something we are told about the person

Front 25

Punctuation

Back 25

used to describe the determination of causes and effects in a series of interactions

Ex) A husband and wife are bickering and the husband states: “I withdraw because you nag,” and the wife states: “I nag because you withdraw.”

Instead of determining “who started the problem” rather focus on “what you can do to fix the problem”

Front 26

Influences on perception (Physiological, Psychological, Social, Cultural)

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1. Physiological influences:
The senses: differences in how each of us hears, sees, tastes, touches, smells stimuli
Age: older vs. younger
Health and fatigue: being sick
Hunger: not eating, eating too much
Biological cycles: morning person/night person
Neurological challenges: attention disorders

2. Psychological influences:
Mood: our emotional state
Happy, anxious, critical moods
Self-concept: our view of self influences perception
The way we think and feel about ourselves strongly influences how we interpret other’s behaviors
Can anyone remind me about what our self-concept consists of? (review of chapter 3?)

3. Social influences:
Our personal point of view plays a strong role in shaping perceptions
Standpoint Theory
Used to describe how a person’s position in a society shapes his/her view of society in general, and of specific individuals
Originally from a feminist perspective, but has evolved
Ex) Women in the workplace -- feel that women should be treated equally to males

4. Cultural influences:
Effects our perceptions and our communication
Western cultures tend to view talk as desirable and use it for social purposes as well as for efficiency in completing a task

Front 27

Common tendencies in perception (6)

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1. We make snap judgments and stereotype.

2. We cling to first impressions. Halo effect/confirmation bias.

3. We judge ourselves better than others:
Self-serving bias

4. We are influenced by our own expectations:

Our expectations influence how we see others

We have such high expectations about a first date

5. We are influenced by the obvious:

Selection– we select the obvious
That is, we are influenced by what is unusual, repetitious, intense

6. We assume others are like us:
And that they possess the same attitudes and beliefs that we do. Ex- you think your slightly raunchy joke is funny- its not.

Front 28

Salience

Back 28

Salience is used to describe how much weight we attach to a particular person or phenomenon

When does it become salient? (or notice differences exist among playmates)

Front 29

Ethnocentrism

Back 29

Ethnocentrism: an attitude that ones own culture is superior to others. Negative views of the out-group.

Front 30

Intercultural Competence

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1. Motivation and attitude:
Willingness to communicate with people from other cultures

2. Tolerance and ambiguity:
Acceptance and welcoming of ambiguity
Some have more tolerance than others, but it can be developed

Front 31

Cognitive conservatism

Back 31

We seek out people and information that confirms our self-concept

Front 32

Risks of Self-Disclosure

Back 32

You need risk for it to be self disclosure

Front 33

Alternatives to Self-Disclosure

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1. Silence
2. Lying
3. Equivocation: two or more equally plausible meanings
These messages can be intentional
Sometimes they are used to save face

4. Hinting: seek a desired response
More direct than equivocal statements
Success of the hint depends on the person’s ability to pick up on the expressed message

Front 34

Benefits of Self-Disclosure

Back 34

Catharsis: say something to get it off your chest

Self-clarification: convey thoughts, feelings, beliefs

Self-validation: we receive confirmation from others about who we are/ our behaviors

Reciprocity: others tell us information about them
Impression formation: we reveal personal information to make us look better

Relationship maintenance & Enhancement: it positively impacts to relational satisfaction

Moral obligation: health reasons / education

Social influence: compliance-gaining

Self-defense: you disclose before someone can!