Communication Theories
Communication is the process of exchanging information and is the way in which humans can relate. It is the way in which we as individuals understand one another. Information is exchanged verbally and through symbols, signs, and behaviors and may vary between cultures and people. For this reason, communication with new people or people from different cultures can be difficult. This is where communication theory comes in. Communication theory is the study of how individuals technically process information and the analysis of human communication. There are many theories of communication that aide us in identifying the different reasons why individuals communicate the way they do. The study of communication helps us understand …show more content…
1). Interpersonal communication is impacted by a lack of knowledge. When strangers meet, they are uncertain about how to perceive one another and also uncertain about how they will be perceived. Strangers may be unsure of how to behave or of how the other person will behave. They also may be worried about what the other individual thinks of them. This will motivate them to communicate in an effort to reduce their uncertainty. If the strangers can find commonalities the uncertainty is reduced. On the other hand, if no common ground is met, then the uncertainty is increased. The Uncertainty Reduction Theory also explains self-disclosure, which is how we reveal private information about ourselves. When meeting a new person, how much we share about ourselves is normally limited. In our first meetings, we tend to refrain from sharing personal information and limit our conversations to small talk. If an individual reveals private information too soon it can also increase …show more content…
When I began my new job at the Pentagon I was extremely nervous. I noticed that I was the youngest person in the office and immediately felt uncertain about what I wanted to share with my coworkers. I refrained from over sharing because I did not want them to know much about my personal life. My immediate office mate and I began to share information about our morning commute experiences through small talk and we realized that we lived in the same area. My uncertainty began to fade, as I was able to relate to my coworker in regards to our horrible morning commutes. Once I was comfortable with my coworker I shared with him that my husband and I were new homeowners and my coworker shared his home owning experience in return. Being able to relate to my colleague made me feel comfortable and broke the
Communication is the process of exchanging information and is the way in which humans can relate. It is the way in which we as individuals understand one another. Information is exchanged verbally and through symbols, signs, and behaviors and may vary between cultures and people. For this reason, communication with new people or people from different cultures can be difficult. This is where communication theory comes in. Communication theory is the study of how individuals technically process information and the analysis of human communication. There are many theories of communication that aide us in identifying the different reasons why individuals communicate the way they do. The study of communication helps us understand …show more content…
1). Interpersonal communication is impacted by a lack of knowledge. When strangers meet, they are uncertain about how to perceive one another and also uncertain about how they will be perceived. Strangers may be unsure of how to behave or of how the other person will behave. They also may be worried about what the other individual thinks of them. This will motivate them to communicate in an effort to reduce their uncertainty. If the strangers can find commonalities the uncertainty is reduced. On the other hand, if no common ground is met, then the uncertainty is increased. The Uncertainty Reduction Theory also explains self-disclosure, which is how we reveal private information about ourselves. When meeting a new person, how much we share about ourselves is normally limited. In our first meetings, we tend to refrain from sharing personal information and limit our conversations to small talk. If an individual reveals private information too soon it can also increase …show more content…
When I began my new job at the Pentagon I was extremely nervous. I noticed that I was the youngest person in the office and immediately felt uncertain about what I wanted to share with my coworkers. I refrained from over sharing because I did not want them to know much about my personal life. My immediate office mate and I began to share information about our morning commute experiences through small talk and we realized that we lived in the same area. My uncertainty began to fade, as I was able to relate to my coworker in regards to our horrible morning commutes. Once I was comfortable with my coworker I shared with him that my husband and I were new homeowners and my coworker shared his home owning experience in return. Being able to relate to my colleague made me feel comfortable and broke the