Chapter 1: Interpersonal Communication

Question 1

What are four reasons for why we communicate?

Answer 1

Physical needs – communication can affect our physical health. A lack of social relationships negatively affects our health, and a life that includes positive relationships leads to better health

Identity needs – helps us learn who we are; our sense of identity comes from our interactions with other people

Social needs - such as pleasure, affection, companionship, escape, relaxation, and control.

Practical goals – such as goals aimed at getting things done or instrumental goals (career success)

Question 2

Goals aimed at getting things done

Answer 2

Instrumental goals

Question 3

A characterization of communication as a one-way event in which a message flows from sender to receiver

Answer 3

Linear communication model

Question 4

In the linear communication model, this is the creator of a message

Answer 4

Sender

Question 5

In the linear communication model, this is the process of putting thoughts into symbols, most commonly words

Answer 5

Encode

Question 6

In the linear communication model, information sent from a sender to a receiver

Answer 6

Message

Question 7

In the linear communication model, The medium through which a message passes from sender to receiver

Answer 7

Channel

Question 8

In the linear communication model, One who notices and attends to a message

Answer 8

Receiver

Question 9

In the linear communication model, The process in which a receiver attaches meaning to a message. Synonymous with interpretation

Answer 9

Decode

Question 10

In the linear communication model, external, physiological, or psychological distractions that interfere with accurate transmission and reception of a message

Answer 10

Noise

Question 11

What are the seven parts of the linear communication model?

Answer 11

Senderer, encode, message, channel, receiver, decode, noise

Question 12

A characterization of communication as a simultaneous sending and receiving of messages in an ongoing irreversible process

Answer 12

Transactional communication model

Uses the word communicator instead of sender and receiver

Question 13

A transactional model shows that communicators often occupy different _________ - Fields of experience that affect how they understand others behavior. Refers not only to a physical location but also to the personal experiences and cultural background that participants bring to a conversation

Answer 13

Environment

The field of experiences that lead a person to make sense of another’s behaviour

Question 14

What are three types of noise in the transactional model of communication?

Answer 14

External noise – noise in the channel such as loud music or too much cigarette smoke

Physiological noise – biological factors that interfere with accurate reception, such as illness, fatigue, hearing loss

Psychological noise – forces within that interfere with the ability to understand a message accurately. Such as, being upset

Question 15

What are five principles of communication?

Answer 15

Communication can be intentional or unintentional. For example, we unintentionally send many nonverbal messages such as a sour expression or a sigh of boredom

Communication is irreversible

It’s impossible not to communicate – we constantly send messages

Communication is unrepeatable – because communication is an ongoing process, it is impossible to repeat an event because neither of the communicators the same person

Communication has a content and a relational dimension- The content dimension involves information being explicitly discussed. The relational dimension expresses how the parties feel toward one another

Question 16

A message that communicates information about the subject being discussed

Answer 16

Content message

For example, turn left at the next corner or you can buy that for less online

Question 17

A message that expresses the social relationship between two or more individuals

Answer 17

Relational message

Question 18

What are five communication misconceptions?

Answer 18

More communication is always better – too much communication can be a mistake, like when two people talk about a problem to death without making progress

Meanings are in words – words that make perfect sense to you can be interpreted in entirely different ways by others

Successful communication always involves shared understanding – for example, being vague for the sake of kindness and relational maintenance

A single person or event causes another’s reaction – many factors affect how others will react to your communication

Communication can solve all problems

Question 19

Impersonal communication, usually face-to-face, between two individuals

Answer 19

Quantitative definition of interpersonal communication

Question 20

Two people interacting

Answer 20

Dyad

Question 21

Behaviour that treats others as objects rather than as individuals

Answer 21

Impersonal communication

Question 22

Communication in which the parties consider one another as unique individuals rather than as objects. Such communication is characterized by minimal use of stereotyped labels; by unique, idiosyncratic rules; and by a high degree of information exchange

Answer 22

Qualitative definition of interpersonal communication

Question 23

In qualitative interpersonal communication, this term describes people in a close relationship who create their own unique ways of interacting

Answer 23

Relational culture

Question 24

In qualitative interpersonal communication, A feature that means relationships are unique and can’t be replaced

Answer 24

Irreplaceability

Question 25

In qualitative interpersonal communication, feature that means the others experiences affect you as well. Can bring pleasure at sometimes and a burden others

Answer 25

Interdependence

Question 26

A feature of qualitative interpersonal communication that means to reveal close private thoughts and feelings

Answer 26

Disclosure

Question 27

A feature of qualitative interpersonal communication that means you find spending time with others personally rewarding

Answer 27

Intrinsic rewards

Question 28

The use of computer-based tools such as email, instant messaging, and social networking sites for the purpose of human interaction

Answer 28

Mediated communication

Question 29

What are some of the benefits of mediated communication?

Answer 29

Can enrich social networks

It connects people who live next-door as well as those across the globe

Encourages offline interaction and can keep relationships alive and active

Text-only format can bring people closer by minimizing the perception of differences due to gender, social class, ethnicity, and age

Text-only messages can stimulate both self disclosure and direct questioning between strangers, resulting in greater interpersonal attraction

Can promote and reinforce relationships in that if you regularly communicate with friends and family online, you’re likely to call and see them more often

It’s easier to maintain relationships. Especially when busy schedules can make it tough for people separated by long-distances and multiple times zones to connect

Asynchronous nature of mediated communication provides a way to share information in a way that otherwise would be impossible. Communicators don’t have to connect in real time

Some people find it easier to share personal information this way

Question 30

What are three challenges of mediated communication?

Answer 30

Leaner messages – lacks the nonverbal cues that help clarify the meaning of another person’s words and feelings. Because of this, they can be harder to interpret and can be misunderstood

Disinhibition – the tendency to transmit messages without considering the consequences can be especially great because we don’t see, hear, or sometimes even know the target of our remarks.
Takes two forms:
Volunteering personal information you may not want some receivers to see
Individuals are often more direct and often in a critical way, more so than they would be in face-to-face interaction

Permanent – nothing really goes away on the Internet

Question 31

The tendency to transmit messages without considering their consequences

Answer 31

Disinhibition

Question 32

The ability to accomplish one’s personal goals in a manner that maintains or enhances the relationship in which it occurs

Answer 32

Communication competence

Question 33

What are seven characteristics of competent communicators?

Answer 33

A wide range of behaviours – they have a large communication repertoire. They have a large range of responses, such as saying nothing, hinting at their discomfort, joking, being assertive

Ability to choose the most appropriate behaviour – know which skills work best in a particular situation. They consider the context, goal, and knowledge of the other person

Skill at performing behaviours – can effectively put their skills into practice

Cognitive complexity – the ability to construct a variety of frameworks for viewing an issue

Empathy – involves feeling and experiencing another person’s situation almost as they do

Self-monitoring – describes the process of paying close attention to your own behaviour and using your observations to shape the way you behave

Commitment – people who care about relationships communicate better than those who don’t. Commitment to the other person revealed by spending time with a person, listening carefully, and being open to change. Also care about the message, they are sincere and know what they are talking about and demonstrate verbally and nonverbally that they care about what they say

Question 34

The ability to construct a variety of frameworks for viewing an issue

Answer 34

Cognitive complexity

Question 35

The ability to project oneself into another person’s point of view, so as to experience the other’s thoughts and feelings

Answer 35

Empathy

Question 36

The process of attending to your own behaviour and using these observations to shape the way you behave

Answer 36

Self-Monitoring

Question 37

What are four attributes that contribute to competence in intercultural communication?

Answer 37

Motivation – the desire to communicate successfully, a willingness

Tolerance for ambiguity – makes it possible to accept equivocal and sometimes incomprehensible messages

Open-mindedness

Knowledge and skill – developed through passive observation, active strategies such as reading, and self disclosure