Understanding Human Comm Chapter 3

Question 1

Definition of Self-Concept

Answer 1

The relatively stable set of perceptions each individual holds himself or herself.

Question 2

Definition of Self-Esteem

Answer 2

The part of the self-concept that involves evaluations of self worth.

Question 3

Definition of Self-Fulfiling Prophecy

Answer 3

A predicition or expectation of an event that makes the outcome more likely to occur than would otherwise have been the case.

Question 4

Steps in the Perception Process

Answer 4

1. Selection
2. Organization
3. Interpretation

Question 5

Definition of Selection

Answer 5

The perceptual act of attending to some stimulati in the environment and ignoring others. ex: contrast, motives, emotional state.

Question 6

Definition of Organization

Answer 6

The percepual process of organizing stimuli into patterns. ex: Physical constructs, Role constructs, Interaction constructs, and Psychological constructs.

Question 7

Definition of Interpretation

Answer 7

The perceptual process of attaching meaning to stimuli that have previously been selected and organized.

Question 8

Definition of Narrative

Answer 8

The stories people create and use to make sense of their personal worlds.

Question 9

Role of Narratives in Interpersonal Communication

Answer 9

• Power of the shared narrative. ex: couples who blame outside forces for problems.
• Problems occur with Attribution-attatching meaning to behavior.

Question 10

Common Perceptual Tendencies: Attribution

Answer 10

• We make snap judgements. ex: Stereotyping.
• We often judge ourselves more charitable than we judge others. ex: Self-Serving Bias.
• We pay more attention to negative impressions that positive ones.
• We are influenced by what is most obvious.
• We cling to first impressions, even if wrong.
• We tend to assume that others are similar to us.

Question 11

Definition of Empathy

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Definition of Sympathy

Answer 12

Compassion for another’s situation.

Question 13

Public and Private Selves

Answer 13

A form of Identity Management of the Perceived Self in contrast to the Presenting Self.

Question 14

Charactoristics of Identity Management

Answer 14

• We have multiple Identities.
• Identity management is collaborative.
• Identity management can be conscious or unconscious.
• People differ in their degree of identity management.