Chapter 1- Introduction To Human Communication

Question 1

TRUE or FALSE

. Although in interpersonal communication there may only be two people interacting at one point, it is strongly affected by the influences in the background (such as family, friends, coworkers, etc.)

Answer 1

TRUE

Question 2

TRUE or FALSE

Intrapersonal communication refers to communication phenomenon that exist within or occur because of an individual’s self or mind.

Answer 2

TRUE

Question 3

The word “cat” is not actually a species in the family Felidae. Which of the following communication principles would such a statement best illustrate?

Answer 3

Communication is symbolic

Question 4

Communication is symbolic

Answer 4

Appropriate and Effective Communication

Question 5

This occurs when an individual or group of individuals sends a specific message to the audience

Answer 5

This occurs when an individual or group of individuals sends a specific message to the audience

Question 6

How do both relational and content dimensions affect communication?

Answer 6

• If you aren’t close with the person the communication can be affected by the context of the sentence or phrase by using the content dimension, for example: a new coworker says, “you always do it this way” and I would wonder if she meant that in a good way or a bad way, because I would come up with techniques to make my job easier. Whereas a relational communication with a known coworker with the same phrase doesn’t affect my thoughts. I would understand and know what that coworker means.

Question 7

What are the characteristics of competent communicators?

Answer 7

• Skillful -been creative in using situational cues
• Adaptable -adjusting yourself to accomplish what you were intended to do.
• Involved -persuading the audience.
• Understands their audience -by thinking the appropriate words/phrases to say.
• Cognitive complexity -by providing different ways so the audience understand the intended message.
• Self-monitoring -by thinking before they speak or monitoring themselves before communicating.

Question 8

Define mindful communication

Answer 8

• Mindful communication is intended awareness in a deeper communication while interacting with others.

Question 9

What is interpersonal communication?

Answer 9

Bochner’s (1989) definition:
•“At least two communicators”•“Intentionally orienting toward each other”
•“As both subject and object”
•“Whose actions embody each other’s perspectives both toward self and toward other”

Question 10

What limitations does this definition present?

Answer 10

•Limited utility beyond two communication partners

Question 11

Four areas of interpersonal communication

Answer 11

• Number of communication partners involved
• Physical proximity of the communicators
• Nature of the interaction units
• Degree of formality and structure

Question 12

Why should we study interpersonal communication?

Answer 12

• Perspective taking
• Time
• Improve communication effectiveness

Question 13

Why do we need to communicate with others?

Answer 13

• Mental and physical health
• Communicating about negative experiences is associated with better mental and physical health
• Improved outcomes associated with:•Stress•Anxiety•Depression•Cancer•Coronary conditions•Common cold
• Identity•Influences how we view ourselves
• How we think, act, and feel
• Social•Establish and maintain relationships with others
• Practical•We can’t function without communication

Question 14

What is communication?

Answer 14

Derived from the Latin root communico meaning to share Process by which people share ideas or information with others
•Verbal communication
•Nonverbal communication

Question 15

What is symbolic communication?

Answer 15

A symbol is a mark, object, or sign that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention.
•The symbol is not the actual thing, it’s a representation
•Symbolic meaning is arbitrarily assigned, there’s no rhyme or reason

Question 16

What do symbols mean?

Answer 16

Individuals interpret specific words and symbols differently?
•“Meanings aren’t words, they’re in people”
•Denotative definition
•Connotative definition

Question 17

Is communication intentional?

Answer 17

Intentionality:
•An individual purposefully intends to interact with another person, attempting to establish shared meaning
• Contributes to more effective communication

Question 18

Cannot, not communicate?

Answer 18

• We are always communicating with others, whether we intend to or not
• We accomplish this through nonverbal communication:
• Body language
• Gestures
• Use of physical space
• Facial expressions
• How we say words

Question 19

Relational dimension

Answer 19

•Our relationship with the speaker influences how we interpret the message

Question 20

Content dimension

Answer 20

•Specific spoken words used to convey the message

Question 21

What is communication process?

Answer 21

• Ongoing
• Dynamic
• Purposefully changing
• Moving towards an end goal

Question 22

How does culture influence communication?

Answer 22

• Culture is part of a learning process
• Our perceptions of the world around us influence our beliefs, values, norms and rules
• Ultimately, our culture impacts our behaviors

Question 23

How Communication occurs in a context?

Answer 23

The context in which communication occurs, shapes how we perceive its meaning.

Question 24

Communication Contextual examples:

Answer 24

• Circumstance
• Environment
• Setting
• Situation

Question 25

Appropriate communication competence

Answer 25

Communication tactics that most people would consider acceptable

Question 26

Effective communication competence

Answer 26

Communication that helps a person achieve a desired personal outcome

Question 27

Situational variables influence competency, such as:

Answer 27

• Speaker style
• Needs of the listener
• Context
• Situation
• Culture
• Type of communication

Question 28

What make a communicator competent?

Answer 28

• Skillful at recognizing situational cues, identifying the best way to present their message
• Adaptable at adjusting message based on environment or audience needs
• Persuades the audience to become more involved
• Understands their audience by empathizing with them
• Adjusts message to level best understood by the audience
• Cognitive complexity is a psychological characteristic that indicates the difficulty or simplicity associated with mental demand.
• Self-monitors verbal and nonverbal communication

Question 29

Types of Human Communication

Answer 29

• Intrapersonal communication
• Interpersonal communication
• Small-group communication
• Public communication
• Mediated communication

Question 30

•Mediated communication

Answer 30

•Technology or medium facilitates the sharing of information between people

Question 31

•Public communication

Answer 31

•An individual or group of people sends a specific message to a large audience

Question 32

•Small-group communication

Answer 32

•Three or more people engaged in interpersonal interactions to achieve a goal

Question 33

•Interpersonal communication

Answer 33

•The communication of messages between any two people

Question 34

•Intrapersonal communication

Answer 34

•A communication phenomena existing within or because of an individual’s mind

Question 35

What is mindfulness?

Answer 35

• Mindfulness model:
• Mindful awareness
• Mindful practice
• Attention•Intention•Attitude

Question 36

Five Facets of Mindfulness

Answer 36

Based on Ruth Baer’s Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)
•Observing
•Describing
•Acting with awareness
•Nonjudging of inner experience
•Nonreactivity to inner experience

Question 37

What is mindful communication?

Answer 37

Mindful communication is the process of interacting with others while engaging in mindful awareness and practice, an essential component of competent communication.

Question 38

seven specific attitudes

Answer 38

1. Nonjudging: observing without categorizing or evaluating.
2. Patience: accepting and tolerating the fact that things happen in their own time.
3. Beginner’s-Mind: seeing everything as if for the very first time.
4. Trust: believing in ourselves, our experiences, and our feelings.
5. Non-striving: being in the moment without specific goals.
6. Acceptance: seeing things as they are without judgment.
7. Letting Go: allowing things to be as they are and getting bogged down by things we cannot
   change