What I Was Going To Do Anyway Case Analysis Essay

In the case study “That’s What I was Going to Do Anyway”, Dave, the restaurant owner, overhears Bill, a server, make a mistake by not following the booking confirmation procedure. What follows is a confrontation that is subjected to a self-fulfilling prophecy as a perception tool, error of polarized thinking, four misuses of language, and the C.O.N.T.R.O.L mode of talk. A “self-fulfilling prophecy” takes shape when we predict how others will behave, and we act towards them as if that were true. (Lecture 3A, Slide 18). Subsequently, when they respond (appropriately), since our prediction becomes true, we perceive that their actions were caused by them, and not by our own behaviour. (Lecture 3A, Slide 18). In this case study, Dave perceives his servers to be incompetent from …show more content…
C.O.N.T.R.O.L talk is a reactive reflex, which is motivated by our need to be, and to feel right. (Lecture 4B-C, Slide 11). This mode of talk is called “control” because it is all about our need for controlling the other person’s talk and confirming ourselves and our viewpoints. (Lecture 4B-C, Slide 11). In this case, the C.O.N.T.R.O.L mode of talk starts off in a “Light C.O.N(T.R.O.L) Talk” manner as Bill make an effort to try to convince Dave of his point of view. Unfortunately, Dave shifts the mode to “Competitive Light” by discounting and ignoring his opinions. (Lecture 5A, Slide 8). The “C.O.N” here stands for “critical judgement” in a form of a complaint about the mistake made, “offering old information” in the form of reminding Bill of the correct way of confirming a reservation, and “negotiating change in the other” by informing him to not “say “Okay” to everyone like that without checking it”. (Lecture 5A, Slide 2). At that moment, because Dave’s critical judgement is in the form of a complaint and he offers old information to Bill, this mode of talk is qualified as “passive” Light C.O.N.T.R.O.L Talk. (Lecture 5A, Slide