Chapter 1 Vocab

Question 1

I-It Communication

Answer 1

Impersonal communication in which people are treated as objects or as instrumental to our purposes.

Question 2

I-Thou Communication

Answer 2

Fully interpersonal communication in which people acknowledge and deal with each other as unique individuals who meet fully in dialogue.

Question 3

I-You Communication

Answer 3

Communication midway between impersonal and interpersonal communication, in which the other is acknowledged as a human being but not fully engaged as a unique individual

Question 4

Interpersonal Communicaiton

Answer 4

A selective, systemic process that allows people to reflect and build personal knowledge of one another and create shared meanings.

Question 5

Systemic

Answer 5

Taking place within multiple systems that influence what is communicated and what meanings are constructed; a quality of interpersonal communication.

Ex: physical context, culture, personal histories, and previous interactions between people

Question 6

Noise

Answer 6

Anything that distorts communication such that it is harder for people to understand each other. Noise can be physical, psychological, semantic, and so forth.

Question 7

Process

Answer 7

An ongoing, continuous, dynamic flow that has no clear-cut beginning or ending and is always evolving and changing.

Interpersonal communicaiton is a process.

Question 8

Relationship Meaning

Answer 8

What communication expresses about the relationship between communicators.

Three dimensions of relationship-level meanings:

• liking and disliking
• responsiveness
• power (control)

Question 9

Content Meaning

Answer 9

The content of, or denotative information in, communication. Content-level meanings are literal.

Question 10

Model

Answer 10

Representations of what something is and how it works.

Question 11

Linear Models

Answer 11

A model that represents communication as a one-way process that flows in one direction, from sender to receiver. Linear models do not capture the dynamism of communication or the active participation of all communicators.

Question 12

Interactive Models

Answer 12

A model that represents communication as a feedback process, in which listeners and speakers both simultaneously send and receive messages.

Question 13

Transactional Model

Answer 13

A model of communication as a dynamic process that changes over time and in which participants assume multiple roles.

Question 14

Feedback

Answer 14

Responsiveness to messages.

Feedback is continuous, and it may be verbal, nonverbal, or both; it may be intentional or unintentional.

Question 15

Symbols

Answer 15

An abstract, arbitrary, and ambiguous representation of a phenominon.

Question 16

Ethics

Answer 16

The branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles and codes of conduct.

Because interpersonal communication affects people, sometimes profoundly, it always has ethical implications.

Question 17

Metacommunication

Answer 17

Communication about communication.

When excessive, as in unproductive conflict interaction, metacommunication becomes self-absorbing and diverts partners from the issues causing conflict.

Question 18

Interpersonal Communication Competence

Answer 18

Proficiency in communication that is interpersonally effective and appropriate.

Competence includes the abilities to monitor oneself, to engage in dual perspective, to enact a range of communication skills, and to adapt communication appropriately.

Question 19

Person-Centeredness

Answer 19

The ability to perceive people as unique and to differentiate them from social roles and generalizations based on their membership in social groups.

Question 20

Monitoring

Answer 20

Observing and regulating your own communication.

Question 21

Dual Perspective

Answer 21

The ability to understand both your own and another’s perpective, beliefs, thoughts, and feelings.