SPC 1017 Test 1 Study GuideChapter 1 – Intro to CommunicationCharacteristics of Communication• Communication – is a process and is always changingo Definition: process where people use symbols (verbal/nonverbal, conscious/unconscious, intentional/unintentional) to generate meanings Never ending and cumulative• Impossible to not communicate because communication can be unintentionalo Decided at Stanford University in the 1940’s  Everything affects everything else• Elements of Communicationo Sender/Receiver – sending and receiving information simultaneously  Always share meaningo Message – made up of ideas/feelings to be shared No common language = No messageo Symbols – something that stands for something else 2 Types: Verbal vs. Nonverbal• 1. Verbal - words to describe symbolso Concrete – tangible objects Ex: a chairo Abstract – ideas Ex: hunger• 2. Nonverbal – communicating without words and instead using body language or vocal toneso Comprises 90 % of sent messages o Channels – route travelled by a message Primary channel in Face to Face Communication• Sight and Soundso Feedback – response to a message  Strategic Flexibility – changing a message in ways to produce a desired result Sensory Acuity – paying attention to all elements in the communication environmento Noise – interference that keeps a message from being understood or heard 2 Types: External vs. Internal• 1. External (physical) Noise – comes from the environmento Ex: lawn mower outside and hot weather• 2. Internal (psychological) Noise – occurs in the mind of the sender/receiver o Ex: thoughtso Semantic Noise – caused by people’s emotional reaction to words Ex: racism • 3. Physiological Noise – caused by personal functional problemso Ex: Hearing problem Measures to Prevent Internal Noise• Exercise• Good Nutrition• Sleepo Setting (context) – environment in which all communication occurs Often shows who has power in a relationshipThe Internet and the Model of Communication• Synchronous Communication – talk that occurs at the same time without delayo Ex: Chat Rooms and instant messaging o Facebook is a form of asynchronous communication• Communication Modelo OLD MODEL:Send → RecieveRecieve← Send• Not simultaneous and very stop/goo NEW MODEL:Send ↔ Recieve ⇔ Message ⇔ Send ⟷ Recieve • Simultaneous and incorporating both sending and receiving at all timesCommunication is a Transaction• Three Principles of Transactional Communicationo 1. People are constantly sending messages simultaneouslyo 2. Communication has a past, present, and future No such thing as insignificant communicationo 3. Participants in communication play certain roles Roles – parts you play or way you behave with others• Ex: Athlete and studentLevels of Communication• 1. Intrapersonal – language use/thought in the mindo You are your own sender/receivero Closest form of communication o Ex: Thoughts and daydreaming • 2. Interpersonal – communicating on a one-to-one basiso Usually informalo Ex: Events between two people like a date• 3. Small Group Communication – small number of people meet to solve a problemo Usually more formal and has a higher chance of confusion than interpersonal o Ex: Group of 5-7 people all working towards a goal• 4. Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) – a wide range of technology used to facilitate communication and a sharing of informationo Occurs over a single channelo Brings people to a level playing fieldo Ex: Instant Messaging and Emails • 5. Public Speaking – speaker sends a message in the form of a speech to an audience o Setting is formalo Involves little verbal responseo Ex: President’s State of the Union Address• 6. Mass Communicationo Largest form of communication o Ex: Feedback from the public• 7. Intercultural Communication – between people of different cultureso Involved in all other levels of communicationo Culture: ever changing values and traditions created and shared by a group of people Ex: Amish and Japanese Cultureso Co-Culture: people who are part of a larger culture, but also a smaller group with different values Ex: African AmericansCommunication Competence• Communication Competence Consists of:o 1. Knowledgeo 2. Skillo 3. Motivation Taken from: Interpersonal Communication Competence• By: Spitzberg and Cupach• Strategic Flexibility (SF) – expanding your communication repertoire to enable the best skill for a situationo Six Steps of SF 1. Anticipate• Forecasting is key 2. Asses• Alertness is key 3. Evaluate• Accuracy is key 4. Select• Appropriateness is key 5. Apply• Relevance is key 6. Reassess and Reevaluate • Accurate, careful observation is key• Creativity – capacity to synthesize vast amounts of info and wrestle complex problemso Increase creativity by believing you can do itIntroduction to Active Open Mindedness• Active Open Mindedness (AOM) – a tool that can be used to apply to master knowledge• Communicating Effectivelyo Questions to Consider: 1. Which communication skills am I most likely to need? 2. Which communication skills am I most lacking? 3. How can I get communication practice? 4. Where can I get help? 5. What timetable should I set?• Ethical Communicationo 1. Protect freedom of expression and tolerance for criticism o 2. Strive to understand others communication before evaluationo 3. Condemn communication that degrades otherso 4. Commit yourself to courageous communication to stand up for convictionso 5. Accept ResponsibilityChapter 2 – Self-Perception/Communication• Perception – how you look at others and the world around you• Self Concept – how you see yourselfo Limitations of a Bad Self Concept 1. Sets limits on behavioral possibilities 2. Limits taking risks to be something you don’t think you are 3. Forces you to perceive the world as one full of failureso The “Self” is: mobile, personal, self-reflexive, and subject to changeo Consists of 3 components:  1. Reflected Appraisals – info received about yourself from others• Created by George Mead and Cooley• Most comes from what people sayo What they say is what you become• Affects girls more than boys• Scripts – lines given to you by others to speak that shape your lifeo Ex: “Say thank you to the nice woman.”• Self-fulfilling Prophecies