Chapter One: Thinking About CommunicationCommunication: a social process in which individuals employ symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment - Communication is always changing and always evolving- Socially: There are no definite beginnings or endings- Meaning is createdConcrete Symbols: objects, things you can see, touch- Ex. Cup, chairAbstract: things we know exist but are not concrete- ex. Love, hate, harmonyOriginal communications model is linear: sender receiverTransactional understanding of communication: - Sender receiver - Nonverbal and verbal components- Message- Channel – all of the senses and technology- Noise – things that interfere with the messageo Semantic: words ex. Another language, connotations with another meaning (i.e. abortion, fuck)o Physical: ex. Fire alarm goes offo Physiological: ex. Nauseas, broken ankleo Psychological: thoughts inhibiting communication- Feedback: responses to communication- Field of experience: everything you have gone through affects how you receive the message……the process now becomes more circularPowloauto Group study at Stanford: intention does not have to be in place to create communication of some sortTransaction of Comm.:- There are no definite beginnings and endings- Communication is continuous and simultaneous- All communicators play rolesEven when you are not there you are communicating.Ethics: create a framework in which to make decisions about ethical behaviorsNational Comm. Association’s Principles of Ethical Comm:-Advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty and reason-Endorse freedom of expression, diversity of perspective and tolerance of dissent-Understand and respect other communicators-Promote access to communication resources and opportunities-Communication climates of caring and mutual understanding-Condemn communication that degrades-Committed to courageous expression of convictions-Advocate sharing info, opinions, and feelings while respecting privacy and confidentiality-Accept responsibility for short and long term consequences of our own communicationWhy do we study theory?- Fosters critical thinking skills- Aids in understand the scope of research- Helps us understand life experiences - Essential to becoming aware of who we are and how we function in the worldChapter Two: Thinking About the Field (Tradition and Context)Robert Craig believed separating the study of theory into different traditions would help us understand the complex nature of theory developmentRhetorical Tradition: focuses on most types of public speaking or public address and their roles in society- Include any elements that relate to language and the audience- Ex. studying the speeches of George Bush in 1988 political campaign- Ex. Persuasion in public address- Ex. The effects of emotions on audiencesSemiotic Tradition: deals with the study of signs and their role in society as the primary focus of meaning creation- Common language is created and shared among people- CMM is operating from the semiotic tradition- How words change as people using them change- Ex. Dork penis changed meaning -Multiple meanings of words and how they come aboutPhenomenological Tradition: looks at a message or communicative situation from a personal perspective- Works to eliminate biases- Ex. How people from different backgrounds interpret message- Ex. How gender impacts communicative style- Ex. Taking a type of music and having two types of people listen to it…recording their interpretationsCybernetic Tradition: communication as an information science- Information flow- How information is relayed through various channels- How noise interferes with message understanding/processing- Ex. How technical ability influences communication in computer-mediated situations- Ex. People in the 70’s using Match.com vs. people in their 20’s using the same siteSocio-Psychological Tradition: seeks to understand the causes of behavior as a result of some aspect of comm.- Focuses mainly on the underlying relationships between variables that exist and how those variables differ depending on the individual sitation- Ex. Trying to understand how people are affected in certain situationso “You made the football team, well your dad was the captain.”- Ex. How message construction influences recall of message- Ex. How entertainment choices influences moodSocio-Cultural Tradition: how existing shared culture and social structures which are already in place influence communication- Advocate for the co-creation of social reality to encourage individual points of view- Breaking through the established patterns of comm. to highlight individual experience in the comm. process- Ex. Studying the development of “cliques” in schools- Ex. How FSU orientation leaders influence a sense of spirit among the new freshman studentsCritical Tradition: focuses on the current social order in society and how it negatively impacts society- Seeks to expose the underlying beliefs and values within a society that impact decision-making and actions- Looks at everything as “power”- Challenges what is perceived as “negative balances of power”- Finding the underlying beliefs that impact decision making- Ex. how consolidation of media ownership impacts entertainment choices- Ex. Finding examples in everyday life that are anti-feminist…he vs. she…and challenging themContexts: the environment in which some type of communication takes place and is limited by-The number of people involved-Space between those people-Type of feedback available-Channels of commination that exist within the environmentTYPES OF CONTEXTSIntRApersonal: communication with oneself- How we make sense of ourselves and our actions- When we think, day dream, ponder in our mindsIntERpersonal: communication with another person (usually face to face, doesn’t have to be)- How we form and maintain relationships with other- Our interactions/communication and how we talk to other peopleSmall Group: communication with more than one person (usually 3-12, 5-7 is optimal)- How a small group forms and functions- How they make decisions, come up with ideasOrganizational: communication in and among a larger, often extended environment- How and organization functions as an entity and the variety of relationships and types of communication that occurs- Looks at small groups as an entity and one large groupPublic/Rhetorical: communication to a large group or audience- Usually involves speechmaking or
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