JAN CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication (WKWSCI)

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies
CS0201
FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES
jeremiah wong Module Chapters

01 A First Look at Communication (from Lecture Slides) 02 The Field of Comm. from Historical and Contemporary Perspectives 03 Perceiving and Understanding 04 Engaging in Verbal Communication 05 Engaging in Non-verbal Communication 06 Listening and Responding to Others 07 Creating Communication Climates 09 Identity and Self-concept 10 Interpersonal Relationships 11 Small Group Communication 12 Organizational Communication (Guest Lecture) 13 Skipped 14 Mass Communication (E-Learning) 08 Intercultural Communication (E-Learning) 15 Personal & Social Media
Module Objectives:
Define and describe key concepts and ideas of human communication Identify and describe the various contexts of communication study Explain the various features of communication common to all contexts Connect theoretical concepts of communication to real-life experience Begin to evaluate your own communicative behavior Begin to understand and speak the language of the communication discipline.
Course Assessment:
15%: Mid-term Exam 1 (22 Sept 2011) 15%: Mid-term Exam 2 (3 Nov 2011) Two exams will include a combination of multiple-choice, true/false, matching, and shortanswer questions. 50%: Final Examination (1 Dec 2011) A final examination will be administered to test comprehension of reading material, lectures, and tutorial activities. Exams will consist of short and long essay questions. 10%: Class assignments and activities 10%: Class participation, quizzes, and attendance
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2011 JIROS AWESOME NOTES
01 A First Look at Communication Defining Communication

Communication is a systemic process in which people interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings.
3 Models of the Communication process

Model Linear Info. Source Transmitter (Noise) Receiver Destination Method Concept Comm is transmitted from a straightforward manner from a sender to a receiver with concept of noise. Drawbacks Too simplistic to capture complexity of human communication Mono-directional.
Sender Message Receiver
Interactive Change roles; feedback; fields of experience
Message sent ppl. talk back to her she feedbacks
Built on the Liner model with concept of feedback (response to a message, verbal or otherwise). Sequential process. Takes turns to communicate and feedback.
Cannot capture dynamism of human comm. In real life people comm. Simultaneously. No hard-and-fast designation of sender and receiver. Roles can actually change and combine. Didnt take Time into consideration. Comm. Changes over time because of what happens between people. NIL
Transactional multiple roles, simultaneous, change over time
Noise + Systems + Comm.
Recogizes shared field of exp. All are considered communicators rather than Sender or Receivers.
Communication as Persuasion
Were trying to convince someone. Speak with an intention.
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Key Definitions
Communication Feedback Meaning Content-level of meaning Relationship-level of meaning Noise Process system symbol Homeostasis Openness Communication is a systemic process in which people interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings. Response to a message, can be verbal or non-verbal, intentional or otherwise Significance assigned to phenomena Literal meaning of sth. e.g. knocking on my door Expresses the relationship e.g. friend knocking vs. boss between communicators knocking Anything that interferes with intended meaning of communication Ongoing and dynamic Consists on interrelated parts that affect on another, allowing communication to take place Abstract, arbitrary and ambiguous representations of things. Communication is symbolic. A state of equilibrium Extent to which a system is subject to outside factors
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02 The Field of Communications from Historical and Contemporary Perspectives 3 Pillars of Persuasion
Ethos Credibility of the speaker Pathos Emotional appeal of the speech Logos Logic and reasoning of the speech
Communication Research (CR) What is it?

Quantitative Gathering info thru: statistics, surveys and experiments Qualitative Non-numerical knowledge, e.g. feelings Critical To identify and challenge, causes and stereotypes Rhetorical Criticism To study a select text (verbal or non-verbal) to see if they work communicatively
Methods may be used in tandem; not incompatible. Triangulation: studying phenomena from diff points of view
8 Kinds of communication How wide is the Communication Field?

Intrapersonal Interpersonal Grp & Team Public Comm. Organizational Mass comm. Personal & Social Media Intercultural Self talk, or thinking Bet. ppl (deg can vary from imperson to highly personal) Involving 2 or more people to achieve a collective decision Speeches Professional communication between and in companies Media How to feel better about yourself How comm. Creates and sustains relationships Dynamics of team mgmt Argumentation and political communication Personal relationship between co-workers Perpetuation of social ideals How do emerging tech affect how us and our rsn? Respecting differences increases our effectiveness
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3 Unifying Themes in the Communications Field

Symbols The world of non-verbal communications Meaning To find out how diff people interpret things, events, situations and experiences Ethics A concern with ethical dimensions of human interactions. Right or wrong? What makes it right or wrong?
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03 Perceiving and Understanding 3 Perception Processes

Perception is an active process of selecting, organizing and interpreting phenomena (people, objects, events, situations and activities). Perception influences our communication and vice-versa. Consists of three interrelated processes.
Selection Selecting what we define as important. Affected by perceptual cues (novelty, familiarity constancy), physical qualities (intensity, size) and motives WHAT? The Perception Process Organization Organize our perceptions in a meaningful way The subjective process of creating explanations for what we observe and experience HOW? Interpretation Affected by Constructivism (Cognitive Schemata). The asking of WHY?
WHY? Answered by Attribution
Constructivism (Cognitive Schemata)

Constructivism: theory of how we organize and interpret our experiences by applying cognitive schemata.
Cognitive Schemata 1. Prototype Specific, representative example of someone, who defines its own encompassing broad category. How a teacher should look like; how Afghanistanis look like 3. Stereotype Predicative generalization about people and situations based on our categorization, which may or may not be true. Malays like to play guitar and are good at soccer. Indians are smelly, but speak well. Chinese are hardworking, but calculative. 2. Personal Construct Bipolar, mental yardsticks used to measure people and situations, a more specific category. Is this teacher attractive or unattractive? Kind or unkind? Insects: Food or not-food? 4. Script Rough idea about how some event should play out; rules governing events and their sequence Different scripts (e.g. ways of talking) for interacting with friends, or professors, or partners, or strangers.
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Attribution
Attribution is the act of explaining why. Its accuracy can be affected by Self-serving bias, when we attribute to serve our own personal interests.
4 Dimensions of Attribution
Consider when I did not do well for a test. (choy!) I did poorly because
Locus Stability Internal I did not really study hard Stable Even though the questions were often discussed during lectures Global And are not new Within I knew I could have done so much better if I did put in effort. External (factors) Of the professor Unstable (uncontrollable circumstances) There were a lot of tricky questions Specific (instances) On that particular test Beyond (my control) So that no matter how hard I studied, I couldnt do well. Self-serving bias.
Specificity Control
Self-serving bias: act of accepting excessive credit for what we do well; and denying responsibility for our failings Can distort our perceptions. (Internal & Stable)
Influences on Perception
Why do our perceptions differ from one another?
Physiological factors Expectations What we know forehand will determine what we will expect Cognitive Complexity Number of personal constructs used and how abstract they are. (Children vs. Grown-ups) Social Roles If youre tired, or sick Positive Positive thinking helps us be more effective at Visualization what we do Expectation when what we expect doesnt happen, we Violation become more cognitively alert as we struggle to Theory understand and cope to unexpected changes PersonAbility to perceive another as a unique Centeredness individual. After seeing that theyre different, we can then adapt our communication to the particular individual Empathy Not the same as person-centeredness. Not technically possible to feel with another Perception determined by our professions and roles (teacher vs. students perception of a module, for e.g.)
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04 Engaging in Verbal Communication (Language)

Language consists of symbols. Symbols are representation of phenomena (people, events). Verbal Communication: symbols in form of spoken and written words. Connotation: the implied meaning. Denotation: the dictionary meaning. E.g. home (denotation) vs. no place like home (connotation)
3 Features of Language
Arbitrary Are not intrinsically connected to what they represent Ambiguous No clear-cut, precise meaning; have different connotations for people with different backgrounds and experiences e.g. dog as pets, but food to some! best friend is only ONE? Can cause misunderstanding in relationships. Abstract Not concrete or tangible phenomena to which they refer
e.g. chat room as virtual spaces for chat. chair as in furniture or chairman?
e.g. Comm. Mosaic > textbook > book > reading matter Can cause confusion due to overgeneralization.
Ladder of Abstraction
Action Judgment Label Applied Perceived Behavior Concrete Phenomena Avoid interacting with Andrea Andrea is a selfish and immature person. Andrea is taking more than her share of time. Andrea asks a lot of questions during the meeting. Andrea moves around a lot; she says she is worried about making a good grade in the course; and she asks many questions.
Principles of Communication
1. Creates Meaning 2. Guided by Rules 3. Punctuation affects Meaning
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Language Creates Meaning

Because language is abstract, ambiguous and arbitrary, we need to interpret to find out its meaning. Interpretation: an active, creative process to make sense of experiences.
Brute facts Objective, concrete phenomena and activities huddling during a rugby game. They were really huddling. Institutional Facts Interpreted meanings of brute facts But they are planning for their next round.
Guided by Rules
Communication rules: shared understandings among members of a particular culture or social group about what communication means, and what behavior is appropriate in various situations.
Brute Facts Objective, concrete phenomena and activities huddling during a rugby game. They were really huddling. Regulative Rules Regulate interaction by specifying when, how, where, and with whom to communicate about certain things. e.g. cannot argue at dinner table, interrupting during a speech is rude. When and how to communicate Institutional Facts Interpreted meanings of brute facts But they are planning for their next round.
Constitutive Rules Define what a particular communication stands for. e.g. showing respect (listening attentively, not correcting); as a good friend (sharing confidences, defending them) How to interpret others verbal and nonverbal communication
Punctuation Affects Meaning

We punctuate to interpret meaning. Punctuating verbal communication marks a flow of activity into meaningful units. Thru it we perceive when our interaction begins and ends. Point of punctuation can differ misunderstandings can result. e.g. on internet forums, communication is punctuated differently by participants who join in the conversation at different times difficult to know which messages are responding to which misunderstandings may result.
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Demand-withdraw Pattern
1. one person creates closeness thru personal talk 2. the other tries to keep distance by avoiding and retreating 3. the first person tries to demand further personal talk 4. the other retreats even further 5. and so on I pursue because you withdraw. I withdraw because you pursued.
6 Symbolic Abilities
How language as a symbol affects our lives.
Defines Phenomena semantic definition of phenomena our perception formed by our labels totalizing effect (referring to a person as if it is all there is to it, e.g. Asian) thru descriptive words (adj) Symbols are loaded with values Loaded language strongly slant perception ethical concern reappropriation Lets us categorize phenomena using cognitive schemata and influence its interpretation Can also distort thinking (by stereotyping) Thru enabling words like when, if, to think of experiences not part of concrete, daily reality car my car Angmoh might be all that we notice about that person, ignoring other points (overgeneralisation) good-looking, eloquent, arrogant
Evaluates Phenomena (others)
allows Organizing of Experience (cognitive schemata) allows Hypothetical Thought (about past & future) Allows selfreflection
Criticism by friend = contructive. But, criticism by enemy = insult Over-geneneralisation (bad by-product of the abstractness of a language) Words give form to ideas, enable us to hold and reflect them in our minds goal setting Me moderates the impulses of I
Defines relationships and interaction
I vs Me 2 aspects of self I I myself. Me me in the context of society, socially conscious represent responsiveness, liking and power
Totalising is different from stereotyping. Consider an elderly woman.

Totalising shes old. based on her intrinsic value of being elderly Stereotyping She probably cannot walk fast. predicative generalization that elderly will be slow in movement
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05 Engaging in Non-Verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication: all aspects of communication other than words E.g. gestures, body language, inflection (tone), volume, environmental features that affect meaning (temperature, lighting), objects that affect personal images
5 Principles of Non-Verbal Communication

Ambiguous Ambiguity arises because meanings change over time. Guided by Constitutive Rules (what behaviours are understood to count for) Regulative Rules (when and where behaviours are appropriate) Interacts with Verbal Communication Establishes Relationshiplevel meanings Repetition (Nodding head when saying yes) Inflection (to emphasize certain words, most) Gesturing (Complementing Words) Contradict Verbal messages (Saying Nothings Wrong angrily) Substitution for Verbal behavior (Rolling of eyes) Responsiveness (eye-contact, facial expressions, body postures) May differ due to culture (Japanese vs. American) Liking (smiles, friendly touches vs. frowns) Differ between male and female (Women tend to sit closer, more eye contact than men do) Power (space and silence) Distinguishes between superiors and subordinates Physical movements (signals) that organize interactions between people. Dependent on cultures that allow different nonverbal behavior E.g. personal spaces, timeliness, eye contact differ between US and Asia, or Hispania Regulators Illustrators Adaptors Doublebinders Emblems
Regulates interaction Reflects cultural values
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5 Interactions with Verbal Communication

Illustrators Highlighting verbal communication Emphasize Show position Show path or direction of thought Adaptors Complement words Movements that satisfy needs and help us adapt to our environment Behaviours too Double-binds Contradictory non-verbal behaviour Looking grumpy but telling my roomie Im fine. Emblems Substituting non-verbal for verbal Pointing middle finger. _|_ Regulators Organize interactions Telling others when to continue, elaborate, etc, thru nodding head
Types of (more important) Non-verbal Behaviour

Kinesics Movement Oculesics (Eye-contact) Facial Expressions Body Motions Bodily and facial movements, positions Depends on culture Reveals range of emotions Depends on culture & comfort Shaking of head means no in Singapore, but yes in India Americans use more eyecontact than Asians
Paralanguages
Environment (Proxemics) Personal Space
Gestures & Posture To display non-verbal expression of emotions Can be deintensified or overreacted Vocal or not actual words Pitch, volume, rate, vocal quality Sounds (e.g. murmurs and gasps) Influenced by how we want to be perceived by others, and culture Comfortable distance between people differ Announces status of someone May encourage or discourage interaction
Smiling at a bad grade, or howling over pain
Vocal cues (e.g. whispering vs screaming)
Americans prefer spacious rooms, Chinese are used to communal living in tighter spaces
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06 Listening and Responding to Others

Listening as just as important as talking. Listening is
a complex process within self-control a learned skill active
The Listening Process

Listening is not hearing. Hearing is a passive, physiological process).
What does Listening Involve?

Being Mindful Focusing on what is happening at the moment Increases our understanding of others thoughts Promotes more complete communication by others Thru sounds, interpreting non-verbal behavior, reading lips Cognitive schemata (organize what we selectively perceive) Define the listening situation and construct its meaning. Use a script were familiar with to deal with the person Put together that we selected and organized to make sense of it Ethical listening: making an earnest effort to grasp what they think Expressing interest Asking questions Voicing our ideas (Feedback) Being attentive Final aspect of listening Forget half after 10min of presentation The third that we should remember
Physically Receiving Selecting and Organising Interpreting Responding
Remembering
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Obstacles to Effective Listening

Situational Incomprehensibility Not understandable due to language or transmission problems (e.g. Accent, jargons, audibility, noise, grammar) When we receive more messages than we can effective process Complex (difficult to understand) Packed with details Involve intricate reasoning E.g. TV, pagers, ring tones, They fragment concentration Absorbed in our thoughts and concerns About past or future events (e.g. tests after lecture) Tendency to judge others or their idea before weve heard them Tuning people out cos we think we know what they know Lead to misunderstanding When tired, ill, hungry, unable to focus Emotionally loaded for us (in our perspective) Tendency to react strongly (positive or negative) No longer able to think critically Different cultures: calling out or being silent May regard it wrongly as interruptions
Message Overload
Message Complexity
Environmental Distractions Internal Preoccupation
Prejudgment
Lack of Effort Reacting to Emotionally Loaded Language
Diverse listening styles
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Forms of Ineffective Listening

Pseudolistening Pretending to listen Appearing attentive, but our mind are really elsewhere Continually focusing communication on ourselves instead of the person whos talking Rerouting conversations to ourselves Interrupting introducing a new topic, offering own opinions that distract (e.g. what you should do is, What makes you think that? Focusing only on particular parts of communication that interests us / matches our feelings or opinions E.g. this will be on the test Perceiving a personal attack, criticism or hostile undertone when none is intended We are generally defensive, expecting insults Listening carefully for the purpose of gathering verbal ammunition to attack a speaker Listening only to the content level of meaning Ignoring the relationship level of meaning
Monopolizing
Selective Listening
Defensive Listening
Ambushing
Literal Meaning
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07 Creating Communication Climates

Effective communication depends on the communication climate. Communication climate: emotional tone of a relationship between people.
Levels of Confirmation and Disconfirmation

Interpersonal confirmation: expressed valuing of another person. When were confirmed: we feel appreciated and respected. When were disconfirmed: we feel discounted and devalued. Most relationships are a mixture of the two climates.
Recognition Expressed awareness of anothers existence A smile, handshake hello, nice to meet you Confirming Acknowledgement Attentiveness to what a person feels, thinks or says Nodding head, eye contact Direct responses to others communication / acknowledging their feelings e.g. sounds like youre having some difficulty with this project Listening Not listening. Im sorry youre hurt. Youll get over it. Endorsement Accepting a persons feelings as valid (doesnt mean agreeing) Accepting the validity of his/her situation its normal to feel like this when you encounter such project mates
You exist. You dont exist. Hello. <Silence>
What you say is true. You are wrong. What you feel is normal. Its stupid to feel that way.
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Defensive and Supportive Climates

Communication can promote defensive climates, or supportive climates.
Evaluation Using You language Evaluates the other person and hold him responsible for how I feel Describes how I feel and avoids judging others Slams door on further discussion Openness to other points of view We become defensive You upset me
Description
Using I language
I feel upset when you scream My mind cannot be changed the way I tend to see the issue is remember how I helped you last time? I really need your help now I like it and I have the money to pay It seems each of us have different ideas. Lets find a way for all of us to achieve what we need How you fight with your boyfriend is not my business I can understand why you think that way I know a lot more than you do Lets dicuss to see if we can make this better
Certainty Provisionalism
Only one valid answer (no discussion) using tentative language
Strategy
Manipulating a person for own benefit Open, honest, not manipulative. Dominating; imposing views on others on the basis of superiority Resolving tensions and problems
Spontaneity
May not necessarily ethical (respectful) We become defensive, resent or rebel Work collaboratively to find something everyone finds acceptable
Control
Problem Orientation
Neutrality
Indifference to others
Empathy
Confirms worth of others
We get defensive when we feel strongly about something that others dis shows concern
Superiority Equality
Act like they are better than us Communicates respect
We shut out messages that belittle us Open, unguarded climate for communication
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Conflict and Communication

Conflicts occur when:1. people depend on each other 2. have different views, interests, values, responsibilities, or objectives 3. and perceive the differences as incompatible
Conflicts can be Overt or Covert Overt: people express differences in an outright, straightforward manner Covert: indirectly. Conflicts can be Managed Well or Poorly
4 key Components of Conflict Process

1. Interest Goals, interests or opinions that seem imcompatible 2. Orientations Differing individual attitudes towards conflict 3. Responses Overt behavioral responses to conflict 4. Outcomes How conflict is managed and how relationships are affected prevailing decisions impact on relationships
We need to resolve in a way that doesnt harm the relationship
lose-lose win-lose win-win
Diagram below
Conflict can be Beneficial

Conflict can benefit our relationships and ourselves when managed constructively, in a supportive interpersonal climate. Prompts us to consider other point of views. Increase our insight into relationships, situations and ourselves.
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09 Identity and Self-concept

Self: defined as a process, made up of perspectives about ourselves, others and social life resulting from experiences and interactions with others. Greatly influenced by communication.
Communication and Personal Identity

We develop self-understanding through process of communicating with others. The self arise in communication with others. Self-fulfilling prophecies: expectations or judgements of ourselves that we bring about through our own actions. Expect to do well, and they do well. If we accept others judgements, we fufill their prophecies.
Particular Others Generalized Other specific people who are impt to us and shape how we see ourselves can vary according to culture Views (rules, roles, and attitudes) endorsed by the overall society and communities we belong communicate values that further convey the perspectives of the generalized other reflect and express prevailing social prejudicies mother, father, sibling, peers other people, social institutions, media etc. (e.g. Many prisons convey that our society values law and order) Rich defendants can afford better legal counsel
Institutions
Glass-looking self / Reflected appraisal: process of seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. (Looking thru the mirrored eyes of others, learning how others see them) Self-concept. We see ourselves from the perspectives of others.
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Communication with Family Members

Family interaction dominates our early years, sculpts the foundation of our self-concepts. They do it thru:Direct Definition Explicitly telling us who we are (labeling us and our behaviors) Children internalize them, use them as models for self Can enhance or deplete our self-esteem Children learn how others see them, what others value shapes how they regard themselves and their selfexpectations Defines our roles, how we play them and the things that make for a right life Patterns of parenting that teaches us how to view ourselves and personal relationships Youre my sweet little girl. girls are sweet. Youre a big, strong boy now. boys are strong and big
Youre great at soccer vs Youre stupid
Life Scripts Rules for living and identity Attachment Styles
Always help others, Save your money, Look out for yourself
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Communication with Peers

Childhood playmates, work associates, friends and romantic partners.
Reflected Appraisals Direct Definitions Same as above Strong in commenting on social gender norms e.g. drinking is manly. Wearing designer clothes in feminine.
Social comparisons
Self-disclosure
Rating ourselves relative to others with respect to our talents, abilities, qualities etc e.g. same interests? Same Compare if we are like them, tend to stick to similar people political beliefs? Compare to measure specific e.g. am I as smart as Jim? aspects of ourselves (if were As fit as Matt? normal) Good if comparisons are realistic Revealing personal info about ourselves that others are unlikely to know on their own To express private hope Others response to our self-disclosure affects how we see ourselves
Johari Window Known to others
Known to self Open - name, music tastes Hidden - vulnerabilities, traumas, self-doubts
Unknown to others
Unknown to self Blind - personal perception of leadership Unknown - untapped resources, fears, abilities
A healthy self-concept requires knowledge of myself Important to gain access to information in our blind and unknown areas: Trying novel activities, experiment new ways to communicate (Unknown areas) Ask others how they perceive me (Blind areas) Disclose personal info to trusted friends (hidden areas)
Uncertainty Reduction Theory: We ask questions to reduce uncertainty.
Self-disclosure
Self-disclosure can reduce uncertainty. It is not primary in long relationships, because: Initally self-disclosure can build intimacy. Necessary and desirable Once a relationship is built, bulk of communication focus on task-related stuff Benefits of trust built thru time and initial disclosure encourages the rsn
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Communication with Society

Generalised other also shapes self-concept. How does society: Race Consider something as important View various social groups View us as members of particular groups Primary aspect of identity Discrimination of Whites declined, but still prevalent in unfair employment opportunities, education etc. Assumption of a White America Men > Women, historically Non-conformity leads to labelings Hetero = normal, Others = abnormal Hetero have certain privileges that others have not Perspectives are evolving Pertinent in income-concious soc Hard to pin point, less visible Needs will vary Increasing multiracialism challenges notion of white or black
Gender Sexual Orientation
e.g. Manly girls are bitches, girly guys are wimps, Marriages only for hetero (until recently in certain states)
Socioeconomic
Influences our lifestyle, education and thinking Rich people can think of Yoga for spiritual devp.
These values intersect and can combine its effects (e.g. woman of colour)
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10 Interpersonal Relationships
Personal Relationship: voluntary commitment between irreplaceable (unique) individuals who are influenced by: rules, relationship dialectics, & surround context.
We need interpersonal relationships because: inclusion: becoming involved affection: having fond / tender feelings for others control: ability to influence others and ourselves
Symmetrical vs Complementary Relationships

Symmetrical: both parties do the same thing. Same thing.
Competitive Symmetry tries to exert control over others Chris: Do it now. Amy: I'll do it when I'm good and ready; otherwise, do it yourself. Submissive Symmetry communicates submission Chris: What do you want for dinner? Amy: Whatever you'd like is fine. Neutralized Symmetry Communicates similarly Amy: Jackie needs new shoes. Chris: And a new jacket.
Complementary: one exerts control while the other submits, or vice-versa

Competitive (Control) Submissive Amy: Here, honey, do it this way. Chris: Oh, that's great; you're so clever Submissive Competitive (Control) Amy: I need suggestions for managing this new team of recruits. Chris: Oh, that's easy; I've managed similar groups for years.
4 Features of Personal Relationships

Most of our relationship are social, not personal.
1. Uniqueness Social Relationship Replaceable (classmate in lecture; can replace with another one) Rsn defined by the role they fulfill, not who they are Non-unique e.g. lecture classmate, project mate, coworkers Personal Relationship Irreplaceable (cannot find a new best friend or parent) Rsn defined by who they are and what they create unique e.g. friendships, intimate partners, best friends, parents
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2. Commitment Decision to remain in a relationship
Assume a shared future Grows out of investment The more we invest, the harder to end a rsn
Investment: what we put into rsn that we cannot get back, should it fail (e.g. time, thought, material, history)
4. Context (Changing) surroundings affect activity & expectation in personal relationships Generalised other Families pass on views of social status, income, appearance, race, religion, intelligence etc. Social circles establish norms for activities (e.g. partying, drinking) External conditions (e.g. recession) Particular Others Familys taste in our ideal partners Traditional roles in family are changing with dual-income family (e.g. who does housework) Inter-diversity of marriages
4. Dialectics : Opposing and continuous tensions in close relationships Autonomy/Connection Desire to be separate yet connected Aim for individuality and intimacy Friction results due to conflicting goals Wanting to have my own individual time for my own stuff, yet I cherish my time together with her, sharing our experiences Novelty/Predictability Dont want routine, yet want security in predictability Routine can be boring Spontaneity injects variety Having standard times to go out (a date every Saturday) Openness/Closeness Wanting openness yet needing privacy Cannot share everything with everyone (personal secrets All of us need privacy Romantic partners discuss sexual activity, but not family secrets
Dealing with Dialectics

Neutralisation Negotiate a balance between dialectics We agree to be open but not totally disclosive. Separation Addressing one dialectic, ignoring the other We spend weekends together, weekdays apart. Least satisfying because it represses Segmentation Assigning a dialectic to certain sphere (time?) We don't talk about our work, but we tend to our children. Reframing Make contradictory dialectics not seem so Because were separate about work, we can cherish our time together, more.
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Relationship Rules
Unspoken understanding between partners.
Constitutive rules (What) what is expected in certain kinds of relationships Constitutive rules constitute! e.g. friends should be LOYAL. Hugs are AFFECTION. Silence is ANGER. e.g. LOYAL vs DISLOYAL. Regulative rules (How) when and with whom to engage in various kinds of communication Regulative rules regulate! e.g. okay to criticize in private but not public. Kids should not interrupt adults. OK vs NOT OKAY Shalt Not rules What each other wont tolerate Both trival and impt
e.g. cannot marry outside religion or race
Can vary with culture.
Evolutionary Course of Personal Relationships

Many relationships (friendships and romances) develop similarly. Turning points move a relationship towards or away from intimacy. They are events or points of discovery (e.g. first kiss, meeting parents, taking a trip together, sharing personal information). Events like conflict, discovering infidelity (mismatch) can steer a relationship away from intimacy.
6 Stages of Friendships
Waning friendship Stabilized friendship When one or both stop being committed Could be circumstantial Assumption of continuity Trust Increased involvement and caring Social norms and roles are less impt Work out private ways to relate Stepping beyond social roles Personalize a relationship by introducing a more personal topic Checking the other person out if we have common grounds and interest to develop a good friendship Have standard social rules, careful in disclosures Both know theyll keep seeing each other Setting and committing to common routines Sharing feelings, values, attitudes Age, background, interests, status
Nascent friendship
Moving towards friendship Friendly relations
Role-limited interaction
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Love & Liking

Love: positive emotional state toward another person consisting: Intimacy: feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bondedness Passion: physical attraction + sexual consummation Commitment: decision to remain with another in the long term, sharing plans
Romantic Relationships: Escalating + Navigation

Navigating
Navigating To sustain intimacy over time and changes from partners, relationship and context Keeping intimacy satisfying and dealing with tensions Past/Present Future-sighted relationship Assume continuity (like Stablised friendship Long term commitment Get back to reality Whether or not to let the relationship last Love Commitment Most romantic time Partners spend more and more time together Idealizing and personalized communication People explore possibility of a relationship Finding out common interests Self-disclosure Expressing interest in interacting Relationship level > content level of meaning Affected by proximity and similarity (Matching Hypothesis) Uncertainty, not sure what they mean (invitation or literal) Self-awareness as individuals with needs, goals and qualities that affect our search for relationships Preventive maintenance Periodic repairs Relationship culture develops
Intimate Bonding
Revising Communication
Escalating
Commitment can be marriage, cohabiting, civil unions, having children Discuss seriously about the strengths and weaknesses of the rsn
Intensifying Communication (Euphoria)
Explorational Communication
Overlooking shortcomings, exaggerating strengths of partner. Nicknames like darling, dear Do you like Jazz? Do you follow politics? Needs to be leveled I love this kind of music Im available. Are you interested?
Invitational Communication
People seek rsn with others who closely match
No interaction
Constitutive and regulative rules
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How Relationships Deteriorate: 5 Processes

Not all intimately bonded relationships eventually endure.
Intrapsychic Relational deterioration One / both partners brood about problems in the rsn self-fufilling prophecies Breakdown in behaviorial norms in a relationship Telling others about the troubled rsn Rsn becomes harder to ignore Partners give self-serving accounts of the rsn and expect others to take sides Partners decide how to tell and explain their situation to friends and family Particular others may take sides if the partners do not craft a joint explanation Moving on to a new stage of life without the ex-partner thinking whether shes really the right one, insecurity about my looks no longer calling her at night, not speaking regularly Telling friends about the private problems John telling his friends all the ways Alice is at fault and him being the innocent one Break ups can still be good in some ways:Personal growth New insights into future rsn Improved family rsn
Dyadic
Deteriorating
Social support
Grave Dressing
Resurrection
Challenges in Personal Relationship

Jealousy Perception of threat to the self and/or the romantic relationship by a real or potential rival relationship Threat to self (hes more handsome, richer etc) Threat to relationship (seems to be on better terms with her then me) Infidelity (betrayal in sexual relations) long distance relationships changing domestic obligations, social responsibilities negotiating safe sex
Dealing with distance Dual-careers Violence
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11 Small Group Communication

Communication influences productivity and climate of interaction in groups. Group members use:
verbal & non-verbal communication check perceptions listen mindfully build good climates adapt communication
Groups vs Teams
Groups: 3 or more people who: interact over time depend on one another, and follow shared rules of conduct to reach a common goal Groups Teams involve interaction, interdependence, shared rules and common goals People have: different and specialized resources to a project (a mission) greater interdependence and stronger identity
All teams are groups, but not all groups are teams!
Rules Groups develop rules (constitutive and regulative) that members understand and follow. Constitutive What counts as what (e.g. some groups regard disagreement as sign of involvement, other groups regard it is negative) Regulative Regulate how, when, and with whom we interact (e.g. No interrupting when someone else is speaking; no sharing of internal things with outsiders) Goals Citizens accomplish political goals Workers implement policies at work Students find support at school, common interests
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6 Kinds of Task Groups (Teams)

Common in business and civic life.
Project teams Accomplish a common goal people with expertise that are specialized to a certain aspect of a project Find out what people think of a certain idea, product, issue or person contributions of members help refine the product or service Come up with as many ideas as possible encourages imaginative, wild thinking Provide expert briefing to an empowered individual who can make decisions 3 or more people working together to improve quality in an organization assessing complaints, and tackling organizational problems Exists to make decisions Can be specific e.g. scientists ad doctors for pharmaceutical companies
Focus groups
e.g. Do African-Americans think this candidate is trustworthy?
Brainstorming groups Advisory groups
e.g. advising CEOs, ministers
Quality Improvement Teams
Decision making groups
e.g. What should be the companys decision on medical leave? What benefits and personnel should be cut to achieve a 15% decease in annual expenses?
Potential Limitations and Strengths of Groups

Limitations of Groups Takes More Time Not practical for emergency or routine policy making A lot of deliberation among members Pressure to Conform Pressure from a majority view can snuff out minority view Perceived status of an individual lends others pressure to conform
Strengths of Groups More Resources Expertise belonging to certain indv can be shared More Thorough Catching mistakes, lack of understanding More Creativity Groups have infinite generative capability More Commitment Participation makes us more committed to decision.
Synergy (Collaborative Vitality)
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Participation affects Effectiveness of Small Groups

Members must be able to participate effectively. 5 feature of small groups that affect and are affected by small groups.
Cohesion / Closeness Degree of closeness among members, sense of group spirit Enhanced by communication that builds group identity Cohesiveness Participation Larger group, less commitment per member to outcomes Power over: ability to help or harm others Power to: ability to help others succeed Power Participation Social climbing Excessive cohesiveness: too nice to offer good, honest advice Groupthink: members fail to think independently
Group Size (5 7) Power Structure
Interaction Patterns (Explicit Rule) Group norms (Implicit Rule)
Too small a group scarce resources unwilling to criticise High power centre of group communication, greater influence in group decisions High power greater satisfaction cos they get their way more easily Centralised (1 or more people hold central positions) vs Decentralised (more balanced communication, members have roughly equal power) e.g. at an initial meeting some Norms: guidelines that member do not pay attn. when regulate how members act others are talking norm of and interact disrespect develops Grows out of interaction
Social climbing: people tend to hang out with leaders (whoever has more power in the group), go near the core to share some of their power
Power Structures
Reward Giving people things they value Promotions, attention, praise Coercive Punishing people Demotions, firing Legitimate Organizational role resulting in compliance Manager, CEO, supervisor Expert From expert knowledge / exp Doctor, lawyer Referent Personal charisma and personality Obama?
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Leadership Styles
Style Autocratic (1-way) Democratic (2-way) Laissez-faire E.g. Thats my decision and thats final Lets discuss and come to a decision Ok, you do this, you do that. Im on your side and I promise you Climate controlling Verbal Comm Authoritative statements, pseudo listening, monopolizing Statements targets the problem itself Non-verbal Proxemics, paralanguage, kinesics Attentive gaze, gestures, eye contact Confident, decisive
Openness, equality Only supportive when asked Supportive
Charismatic
Must convey detailed instructions, to prevent misunderstandings Animated facial exp, high energy level, eloquence
Types of Communication in Groups Constructive participation

Task communication focuses on problem, issues, information Procedural communication gets group organized and on track Climate communication creates and maintains productive environment Egocentric communication blocks ideas, self recognition, devalue others
Dysfunctional participation
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12 Organizational Communication (Guest Lecture)

Even though organizations differ, all of them need communication.
3 Keys of Organizational Communication

In addition, Organizational Communication needs: Structure To occur in a Communication network Links to external environments Communication Network Formal & informal links between members in org Links to Ext. Environments Organizations are systems that interact with diff contexts Ext conditions (bad weather, recession, war) affect companies differently
Structure Different levels of power Specifies the chain of command
Organizational Culture
Cultures are shaped by shared values, behaviours, practices and communication forms. In Organization communication, its culture reflect a companys identity. Organization Culture: shared meanings by members of an org Org Cult cross influences interaction bet. Members
Vocabulary Reflects & expresses an Orgs history Hierarchical Language Masculine Language Languages that communicate rank Unequal terms of address Organizations dominated by men in history e.g. Yes, Sir. Captain e.g. Good morning, Jan. Hello Prof. Detenber. e.g. Bold professionals have balls
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Stories Establish and sustains Org Cult Corporate Stories Personal Stories Collegial Stories Convey values, style and history of an org To socialize new members into the org Tell stories about themselves Telling about other member in the org To help newcomers socialize and get along About the past founding history, successes and failures, etc.
To show someone that you are a supportive player
Rites Verbal & non-verbal practices that express and reproduce Org Cult Rite rules (1 event, many ideas) Rituals (1 idea, many events) Dramatic, planned sets of activity that bring together aspects of cultural ideology in a single event Forms of comm that occur regularly, members see it as familiar and routine parts of org life Personal: indv use to express org identities Social: standard behavior that affirm rsn bet members of org Task: repeated activities Aka initiation, rites of passage to acknowledge, affirm etc. Workplan retreats (rite of renewal).
e.g. CEO sends mail to every dept to show coys openness e.g. bitching about weeks work every day e.g. asking standard questions May I see your license please?
Structures Organizes relationship between members in an Org Roles Rules Responsibilities and behaviors expected due to their specific position Not tied to a person Set of functions, fixed even when the person performing leaves Patterned ways of interaction Constitutive (define what a certain kind of communication stands for) Regulative (define when, where and with whom communication should occur) Formal statement of practices Links members thru formal and informal interactions and rsn Asst Prof: duties include teaching 3 classes, supervising graduate student theses etc
e.g. socializing after work = showing team spirit e.g. no talking during work, problems should not be discussed out of work
Policies Communication Networks
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Scholars categorize communication as 4 types: Informational transfer Transactional process Strategic control (using comm as a tool to control the environment) Balance of creativity and constraint (balancing the dialectic of wanting to be creative, yet being tied down by constraining aspect of cultures)
Communicators in Organizations transfer info, gets feedback, controls the environment, and balances creativity and constraints.
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14 Mass Communication (E-Learning)

Mass Comm: major source of information and entertainment
1. One to many 2. Anonymous audience (masses) 3. Mediated communication (e.g. TV, Radio, Magazines)
Since it is MASS comm, it does NOT include personal (computer-mediated) communication mediums like social networks, emails or SMSes.
Evolution of Mass Communication

Epoch Tribal Literate Electronic Since oral traditions, face-to-face Talking Since invention of phonetics Writing based on symbols Written media limited to elite class Since Gutenberg invented printing press Face-to-face no longer necessary Visual reading matter no longer for just the elite Since invention of telegraph Increased access to into global village (modern worldwide community that reflects the tribal village) Dominant Sense Hearing (Listening) Sight (Reading / Writing)
Print
Sight (Reading / Writing)
Hearing (Listening)
4 Theories of Mass Communication

Hypothermic Needle How do media affect us? Media is direct, immediate and powerful effect on People who are vulnerable, passive audiences Not true today, but is accurate in history (Nazi media) Later rejected:1. scholars realize people not totally powerless 2. mass comm not the sole influence of peoples behavior
Uses and Gratification Why people use media?
we attend to mass comm to gratify ourselves we use media for its value to us & for pleasure (Music) audience put messages to use; these usage affects its effects
e.g. Weather Channel for weather information
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Agenda Setting
media establishes an agenda for us by spotlighting certain issues at the expense of others media can own self select and divert our attention to its own issues coverage and non-coverage Gatekeepers: people and groups that decide which messages (information and info sources) pass thru to consumers TV cultivates an inaccurate worldview but viewers think its real TV promotes distorted views of life
e.g. editors of newspapers, books, producers, governments
Cultivation Theory TV influence Attitudes (not behavior)
e.g. more violent & dangerous than really is e.g. shows portray Whites as good and other races as bad viewers will think this is true e.g. someone who had been robbed identifies with TV violence assume it accurately represents the world
Mainstreaming: stabilizing and homogenize views in society
Resonance: Similarity bet TV and personal experiences creates credibility
Cultural Studies
Mean World Syndrome: belief that the world is a dangerous place, full of mean people that cannot be trusted and likely to harm us Mass Comm Culture We use mass comm in deliberate and strategic ways
e.g. Extreme Makeover people shd not settle for their natural appearance, our job to make ourselves more attractive
Political Economy studies: how media ownership controls cultural life Media driven by capitalism maximize profits Product Placements: putting products in shows to portray a lifestyle / statement thru a character Immersive advertising: putting a product / brand into actual storylines and plots
e.g. media corps may not be really interested in media accuracy e.g. Sears appliances featured in Extreme Makeover reap money for media owners e.g. Prada bags in Gossip Girl
Mass comm influences us in ways we dont notice. Consumers of media are actively involved in shaping medias meanings and using media to affect emotions, moods and pleasures.
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What is Media?
Windows to see beyond our immediate surroundings Interpreters to help us make sense of experience Platforms or carriers that convey information interactive communication that includes audience feedback, signposts that provide us with instructions and directions, filters that screen out parts of experience and focus on others, mirrors that reflect ourselves back to us, barriers that block the truth
Medium Theory
McLuhan: The Medium is the Message, because its the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association and action.
Hot Media High-definition Media filled with data Low in participation e.g. Movie, radio, photography, lecture Cold Media Low-definition Media has little data given, to be filled in by receiver e.g. TV, telephone, cartoon, seminar
Convergence: currently, most media theorists agree both content and medium matter. Castells: the medium is the message, and the message is the message
Media and Reality

Do media reflect reality? May promote negative social values regarding violence and sex crime?
Basic Functions To inform To educate To entertain To serve the economy Social Functions Surveillance Correlation Transmit culture
Gender stereotypes: successful male characters are portrayed as strong, heroic, independent and confident. Vs. Women who look beautiful, young, slim and caring towards others.
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Media Literacy
Media Literacy: being able to have control in media (resist and redefine inaccurate and harmful media messages) Dont be passive. Understand, analyze and respond thoughtfully to media. Media determines ones attitudes and social perspectives to a certain extent. Interrogating Media messages:
Why so much attention? Any vested interests? Are viewpoints balanced? How are different people framed by gatekeepers?
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08 Intercultural Communication (E-Learning)

Culture: a shared way of life, system of ideas, values, beliefs, customs and language
Iceberg: Metaphor of Culture

Questions Do you know the size and shape of the iceberg? How much is above water? How much is under the water? Implications Below the surface (culture), there are deep, unseen cultures, just like an iceberg. We can see but a tiny bit of culture, but much is underneath and unseen
Communication Occurs in Cultural Systems

All parts in a system are related change 1 part whole system changed. System > Sum of its parts (new elements are introduced). Strive for equilibrium, but hard to sustain balance change inevitable.
Culture Communication
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. We learn culture when communicating Language indicates existence of culture Many social communities coexist in a single culture Communication sustains and expresses culture Communication is a source of cultural change
2 Cultural Indications & Communication Styles

Individualistic Culture Everyone is distinct Values indv rights and independence Comm is assertive / competitive Celebrate indv goals has Low context comm style People are distinct indv no shared meanings everything must be spelled out clearly Collectivist Culture Everyone is interdependent Values collective harmony & indep. Comm is other-oriented & co-operative Celebrate communal goals has High context style People are interconnected have shared meanings no need to spell everything out
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Co-cultures
Culture may co-exist in a single society
Culture not defined by geography E.g. gender, race & social class One person can belong to several co-cultures
Standpoint Theory: social groups in a culture distinctively shape members perspective E.g. gendered communities, black communities etc. Communication varies among race, socio-economic, religious statuses. (e.g. a rich black and a poor black responds differently.)
Communication Culture
Languages: English language is has many words related to time Western culture is time-driven Religion: Buddhism believes in Something after Nothing Eastern belief in life after death
What makes Communication Intercultural?

When the people communicating have:
1. Cultural perceptions 2. Symbol systems (what they use to express meaning) 3. That are DISTINCT enough to alter the communication event
Effective Communication between Cultures

Adapting to people is a basic communication process.
Resistance Tolerance Understanding Respect Participation Attacks practices of one culture & denies its value / validity Accepts differences even though they are not approved / clearly understood Adopts cultural relativism (understanding others activities & beliefs thru THEIR cultural context) Forgoes judgment of cultural diff Incorporated aspects of other cults into my life
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15 Personal & Social Media

Main difference btw traditional and personal / social media is digitalization. Digitalization is: Manipulation removes line dividing production and consumption of media Convergence video & sound are on the same network (being digital) Instant speed prevents careful vetting jeopardizes accuracy
History of Communication Technologies

Comm Tech: means of recording, transferring and working with information.
Written Comm Letters, papers, articles, books Drawbacks Needs time and effort to prepare People have difficulty in language (vocab & grammar) Easily ignored in todays digital world Phone convos have no privacy (people can overhear)
Telephonic comm Computer Mediated Comm Electronic Conf
Calling, fax, SMS E-mail, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G, Bluetooth, yadayada Skype conf (allowing threaded convos, send and receive msgs, discussing ideas) No need for same physical space PC + Telephone = iPhone (convergence)
Interconnected Comm Tech
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Controversies about Personal and Social Media

These media impact how we think, communicate and relate to each other. Should we allow them to do as they please?
Comp Tech affects Thinking? Allow and encourage multi-tasking Cause us to react to visual stimuli Makes us reliant on programs to direct our action and judgment But we are not born to multitask we become impatient (everything must be instant) Discourage independent, critical thinking Virtual communities provide support without responsibility
Online community affects Social Relations?
Can join and leave at will
Newer Tech increase productivity?
Able to disclose, withdraw or falsify personal info Good: helps people seek acceptance Some activities (e.g. shopping, withdrawing money) become more efficient
Bad: led to deceptive crime (e.g. child molestation) Dec. in work productivity
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CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

jeremiah wong Module Chapters

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

01 A First Look at Communication Defining Communication

3 Models of the Communication process

Sender Message Receiver

Interactive Change roles; feedback; fields of experience

Message sent ppl. talk back to her she feedbacks

Transactional multiple roles, simultaneous, change over time

Noise + Systems + Comm.

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

Communication Research (CR) What is it?

8 Kinds of communication How wide is the Communication Field?

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

3 Unifying Themes in the Communications Field

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

03 Perceiving and Understanding 3 Perception Processes

WHY? Answered by Attribution

Constructivism (Cognitive Schemata)

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

04 Engaging in Verbal Communication (Language)

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

Language Creates Meaning

Punctuation Affects Meaning

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

Evaluates Phenomena (others)

Defines relationships and interaction

Totalising is different from stereotyping. Consider an elderly woman.

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

05 Engaging in Non-Verbal Communication

5 Principles of Non-Verbal Communication

Regulates interaction Reflects cultural values

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

5 Interactions with Verbal Communication

Types of (more important) Non-verbal Behaviour

Environment (Proxemics) Personal Space

Smiling at a bad grade, or howling over pain

Vocal cues (e.g. whispering vs screaming)

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

06 Listening and Responding to Others

The Listening Process

What does Listening Involve?

Physically Receiving Selecting and Organising Interpreting Responding

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

Obstacles to Effective Listening

Environmental Distractions Internal Preoccupation

Lack of Effort Reacting to Emotionally Loaded Language

Diverse listening styles

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

Forms of Ineffective Listening

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

07 Creating Communication Climates

Levels of Confirmation and Disconfirmation

You exist. You dont exist. Hello. <Silence>

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

Defensive and Supportive Climates

Only one valid answer (no discussion) using tentative language

Confirms worth of others

Act like they are better than us Communicates respect

CS0201 Fundamentals of Communication Studies

Conflict and Communication