Introduction to Communication

Lecture_3Introduction to CommunicationDealing with othersStrategies:A strategy is a short piece of communication behaviour or interaction. It involves the deliberate use of verbal and non-verbal signs to achieve a communicative purpose.BabySalespersonGreeting (habit, ritual)We have strategies for persuading, for approving or disapproving, for making excuses and for avoiding people and problems.

GamesA game is an interpersonal strategy used to put someone down.one person exerting power over the other, and trying to make the other person feel bad.Victim, Wooden LegPresentation of selfWe present different personalities to other people according to the situation we are in.Erving Goffman: We stage a performance through a persona.The persona is the character that we adopt to play the part.The persona is part of our way of dealing with people. It is the character out of which we communicate. In this sense it defines how we communicate.- a particular persona is also to make a decision about communication style how we talk to and use non-verbal cues with the other person.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M279taSj8cIA performance is the act of presenting the self, it is the act of communicating.Communication skillsA communication skill is an ability to use a means of communication effectively, with regard for the needs of those involved.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8VhV-1oCjA

Shaping relationshipsInterpersonal communication is most important in that it helps define our relationships with other people.Defining social situationsFormal/informal: suggests a difference between calculated and spontaneous use of communication.Public/private: suggests a difference of context, where the communication takes place.Distant/intimate: suggests a difference of relationship between the people communicating.Ritual/open: suggests a difference in the predictability of the communication used. a market researcher asking someone to answer questions for a standard questionnaire and meeting someone on a blind date.Functional/expressive: suggests a difference in the quality and purpose of the language used.trying to buy a spare part for a car and trying to interpret the results of an experiment carried out in a laboratory.FeedbackThis is important because it can be argued that if we are poor at giving off, recognizing or acting upon feedback, then we are that much poorer at communicating with others.Feedback regulates our contact with others. It helps decide how well a conversation will go.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm4Go9FKv8YGenderInterpersonal communication both defines and is defined by gender.There are important debates going on now about the social roles of female and male. There are issues surrounding the treatment of women at work, and the equality of their opportunities. Understanding of how males and females see one another and talk to one another can help inform those debates and issues.What do men and women talk about? Any differences?CultureInterpersonal communication varies according to the culture in which it happens.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUO59Emi3eo

ClassClass is also part of culture and varies from culture to culture. It describes peoples status and power in a given culture. In some cultures priests may be better regarded seen as of a better class than they are in others. Certainly class and status are recognized nonverbally.ConventionsThese understood rules affect how we deal with people under all circumstances.We have learned not to talk over one another the whole time through using and noticing little bits of non-verbal behaviour, such as people glancing at the person they want to speak next just before they have finished speaking.Perception & RealityIs communication what a person says (or thought he/she said)?Or is it what the listener hears (or thought he/she heard)?

1515Perception & CommunicationThe 1st step to better communication:Develop the awareness that our perceptions can direct how and what we communicate.

1616Perception FiltersPerception is the process of gathering information through our senses, organizing and making sense of it.

1717What Affects Perceptions?Previous experience and learning

1818What Affects Perceptions?Attitudes and Interests

1919What Affects Perceptions?Needs & Feelings

2020What Affects Perceptions?Current situation

2121People see things differentlyAll people do not "see" the same thing when looking at a visual image.

2222Perception differs from individual to individual due to ...Personal DifferencesSocio-Economic DifferencesCultural Differences

2323Examples of Personal Perception FiltersAge, GenderRacePast experiences

2424Examples of Social Economic FiltersOccupationLevel of educationEnvironmental factorsFamily upbringing

2525Examples of Cultural DifferencesLanguageCustomsBelief SystemsHistorical Perspective

2626Influences on Perception Every characteristic of an individual influences what that individual chooses to:see heartastetouchsmell

2727Influences of Individuals Background How information is interpreted to create meaning for an individual is also influenced by his/her unique make-up and background.

2828Perception ExercisePair-UpOne person will draw the picture the other person is holdingThe person with the picture will give directions to the drawer as to how to draw the pictureThe drawer cannot ask questions, just follow directions2929Perception ExerciseWhat did you draw? Why?What types of miscommunication are represented?Are misunderstandings often the result of differences in perception?3030Count the Fs in this sentence 3131Count the Fs in this sentenceFinished files are the result of years of scientific study combined with the experience of many years.3232Count the Fs in the sentence.

Count them only once. Do not go back and count them again.How Many Fs Did you Count?3333There were 6 FsFinished files are the result of years of scientific study combined with the experience of many years.

3434Discussion QuestionsWhy do we tend to perceive only certain things?How could this tendency influence communication?3535Questions Question 1:The senator was elected to office by an overwhelming majority.What percentage of the vote did he/she receive?3636Questions Question 2:My 17-year old is of average height.How tall is he?3737Questions Question 3:Jane really isnt a brain, but she is a good student.What is her grade point average?3838Questions Question 4:Uncle Ned is a moderate smoker.How many cigarettes a day does he smoke?3939Questions Question 5:Although this friend of mine is not wealthy, he earns a comfortable living.How much does he/she make a year?4040Discussion QuestionsWhy were the answers to each of the questions different?What are other areas we might have different perceptions about?4141We construct views of ourselves and of others, in our heads

Problems with perceptionProjecting our wishes onto our view of others:To some extent we see what we want to see in other people. For example, if we think that other people like us and we like them then we are inclined to think that they have the same sort of views and opinions that we have. This isnt necessarily true.Making assumptions about others: - In this case, it is as if we fill in missing information. We would assume that someone carrying a sports bag and a hockey stick is a hockey player. We assume that someone who looks us in the eye is sincere. We have learnt probable meanings of signs and tend to assume that these probabilities will always be true.Making categories of people and the signs associated with themThe worst kind of categorizing is called stereotyping. This is when we (or the media) use a very few familiar signs to place people in jobs or roles in an uncritical and simplistic manner.

Allowing first impressions of others to influence usIn particular we tend to pick on one or two characteristics of the other person and let these influence our opinion of that person. This is called the halo effect.Indeed, usually the halo effect fades away as one gets to know the other person better, gets more information about them. But we still need to beware because it isnt always possible to get to know that much about someone else.- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEho_4ejkNw