META-COMMUNICATION

INTRODUCTION

• Communication that indicates how verbal information should be interpreted; stimuli surrounding the verbal communication that also have meaning, which may or may not be congruent with that of or support the verbal talk.

• "Meta-communication" is when we communicate about communication.

• The concept of metacommunication was introduced by Gregory Bateson

TYPES OF META-COMMUNICATION

• Anticipatory Metacommunication – When we anticipate an upcoming communication and plans for it, then it is anticipatory communication.

• Adaptive Metacommunication - This is the kind of metacommunication people do while they are communicating.

• Reflective Metacommunication - When we think about communication “after the fact”, we’re involved in reflective metacommunication.

USE OF META-COMMUNICATION IN NEGOTIATIONS• Meta-communication is talking about the way we're talking with

the goal of improving our communication.

• Gamesmanship, egos, and the sheer exhilaration of trying to come up with a big victory can easily ruin a negotiation.

• You can put things right BY COMMENTING ON THE PROGRESS OF THE NEGOTIATION, ITSELF.

HIDDEN MEANINGS BEYOND ORDINARY TALK• You’re going to like what I’m going to tell you. / Please like it or you’ll

hurt my feelings.

• Did you hear the one about…? / I’m going to tell a joke. If you have heard it, please keep quiet or you’ll ruin it for me.

• Forget it. (said in a friendly tone) / You’re welcome. Don’t mention it.

• Forget it. (said in a bitter tone) / You haven’t listened to what I’ve said so I refuse to talk about it any more.

• How do you like my new outfit? / Please make me feel good about myself and give me a compliment.

• I’ll do my best. / Don’t expect much. I really expect to fail.

HIDDEN MEANINGS BEYOND ORDINARY TALK(CONT.)

• A friend of mine has a problem. / I have a problem but I don’t want to say so.

• I really should go on a diet. / But I won’t.

• Nothing is wrong. / There is something wrong, however, I don’t want to talk about it.

• I would never do that. / I’d do it if I had the opportunity.

• I don’t care what people think of me. / I really do care but I don’t have any other defense for myself.

META-COMMUNICATION IN RELATIONS

CONCLUSION• When I am talking to you about my ideas, I am communicating

with you.• But when I tell you that I like, or dislike, our communication,

then I am meta-communicating. • The Pragmatic School says that this meta-communication

always happens.• Every time we are communicating, at the same time we are

meta-communicating as well.• Meta-communication is more important than communication

itself and it makes sense of the meaning of what we are communicating.

And keep communicating…!!