Communication:
Principles for a Lifetime
Steven A. Beebe,
Susan J. Beebe,
and Diana K. Ivy
Prepared by Stephen Hunt, Illinois State University
UNIT I: PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION
Chapter 1
Foundations
of Human Communication
Communication Defined
Human communication
is the process of making sense out of the
world and sharing that sense with others through verbal and nonverbal messages.
Effective Communication
1. The message should be
understood.
2. The message should achieve
its intended effect.
3. The message should be
ethical.
Effective Communication-Ethics
Ethics are the beliefs,
values, and moral principles by which we determine what is right or wrong.
Why Study Communication?
To improve your employability
To improve your relationships
To improve your physical and emotional health
Communication Models
Human Communication as Action
Communication Models
·
Human Communication as Action
Information source
Receiver
Message
Channel
Noise
·
Human Communication as Interaction
Feedback
Context
·
Human Communication as Transaction
Simultaneously interactive
Meaning is based on mutual, concurrent sharing
of ideas and feelings
This model most accurately describes human
communication
Communication Characteristics
Communication is inescapable
Communication is irreversible
Communication is complicated
Communication emphasizes content and relationships
Communication is governed by rules
Communication Principles for a Lifetime
Be Aware of Your Communication with Yourself
and Others
Effectively Use and Understand Verbal Messages
Effectively Use and Understand Nonverbal Messages
Listen and Respond Thoughtfully to Others
Appropriately Adapt Messages to Others
Effectively Use and Interpret Verbal Symbols
Effective communicators use appropriate symbols
Effective communicators accurately encode
and decode messages
Communication Principles for a Lifetime
Be Aware of Your Communication with Yourself
and Others
Effective communicators are present when communicating
Effective communicators are aware of the choices
they make when communicating
Communication Principles for a Lifetime
Effectively Use and Interpret Nonverbal Symbols
Nonverbal messages are the primary way we
communicate feelings and attitudes
Nonverbal messages are more believable than
verbal messages
Effective communicators are skilled in interpreting
nonverbal messages of others
Communication Principles for a Lifetime
Listen and Respond Thoughtfully to Others
Listening can be hard because it looks easy
Effective communicators develop sensitivity
to others
Being other-oriented means considering
the needs, motives, desires, and goals of others
Communication Principles for a Lifetime
Appropriately Adapt Messages to Others
Adapt your response to your listeners
Adapt the structure or organization of what
you say
Adapt the general style of your message
Communicating with Others: Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal
communication occurs when we interact simultaneously with
another person and attempt to mutually influence each other.
Communicating with Others: Group and Team Communication
Groups have goals,
their members feel they belong to the group, and the group members influence
others in the group.
small group communication
dyad
teams
Communicating with Others: Public Communication
Public communication occurs when a speaker address a gathering
of other people to inform, persuade, or entertain.
Chapter 2
Self-Awareness
and Communication
Copyright
© 2001 Allyn and Bacon
Communication Principles
Self-Concept: Who Are You?
Self-Concept Components
Attitude--a learned predisposition to respond
to a person, object, or idea in a favorable or unfavorable way.
Beliefs--the way in which you structure your
understanding of reality (true/false).
Values--enduring concepts of good and bad,
right and wrong.
One or Many Selves?
The Material Self
The Social Self
The Spiritual Self
The Material Self
The material self is a total of all the tangible things
you own:
your body
your possessions
your home
The Social Self
The social self is that part of you that interacts with
others:
You change based on interaction with others.
Each relationship you have with another person
is unique.
The Spiritual Self
Your spiritual self consists of all your internal thoughts
and introspections abut your values and moral standards:
It is the essence of who you think
you are.
It is a mixture of your spiritual beliefs
and your sense of who you are in relationship to other forces in the universe.
How the Self-Concept Develops
Our communication with other individuals
Our association with groups
Roles we assume
Our self-labels
Self-Concept: Communication With Others
We dont come to know and understand ourselves
in a vacuum.
Charles Horton Cooley first
advanced the notion of the figurative looking glass.
Self-concept development begins at birth.
Self-Concept:Association With Groups
Our awareness of who we are is often linked
to who we associate with:
religious groups
political groups
ethnic groups
social groups
Peer pressure is a powerful force in shaping
attitudes and behavior.
Self-Concept:Assumed Roles
Your self-concept likely reflects the roles
you assume:
mother
brother
teacher
student
Gender asserts a powerful influence on the
self-concept from birth on.
Self-Concept:Self-Labels
Self-concept is affected by others but we
are not blank slates.
Self-reflexiveness
is the human ability to think about what were doing while were doing it.
Through self-observation we discover strengths
which encourage us to assume new labels.
Self-Esteem:What Is Your Value?
While self-concept refers to your description
of who you are, self-esteem refers to your evaluation of who
you are.
Your self-esteem can fluctuate and rise or
fall within the course of a day.
Self-Esteem: Gender Differences
In patriarchal cultures, women and
girls suffer loss of self-esteem to a greater degree than men and boys.
Boys often feel better able to do things than
girls.
Differential reinforcement (athletics)
Self-Esteem: Social Comparisons
We become more aware of ourselves by measuring
ourselves against others, a process called social comparison.
It can be self-defeating to take social comparisons
too far, to cause your self-esteem to suffer because you compare yourself
unrealistically to others.
Self-Esteem: Self-Expectations
Self-expectations are
those goals we set for ourselves.
Self-esteem is affected when you evaluate
how well you measure up to your own expectations.
Be weary of placing unrealistic demands on
yourself.
Self-Esteem: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
The self-fulfilling prophecy refers
to the idea that what you believe about yourself often comes true because
you expect it to come true.
Your level of self-esteem affects the kinds
of prophecies you make about yourself and colors your interpretation of events.
Communication and the Enhancement of Self-Esteem
Our feelings of low self-worth may contribute
to many of our societal problems:
choosing the wrong partners
becoming addicted to drugs, alcohol, or sex
experiencing problems with eating
Communication
is essential in the process of building and maintaining self-esteem.
Communication and Self: Engage in Positive Self-Talk
Intrapersonal communication
involves communication within yourself--self-talk.
Your self-concept and self-esteem influence
the way you talk to yourself.
Your inner dialogue also has an impact on
your self-concept and self-esteem.
Self-talk
is related to the building and maintaining of ones self-concept.
Communication and Self:Visualize
Visualization
involves seeing yourself exhibiting some desirable behavior.
Apprehensive public speakers can manage their
fears by visualizing positive results:
reduces
negative self-talk
enhances
confidence and speaking skill
Communication and Self: Develop Honest Relationships
Have at least one other person that will give
you honest, objective feedback.
Communication and Self: Surround Yourself with Positive People
Surround yourself with people who have higher
levels of self-esteem.
Dont engage in pity parties.
Immunize yourself from negativity.
Communication and Self: Loose Your Baggage
Avoid constantly reliving negative experiences.
Let go of past experiences that cause your
present self-esteem to suffer.
The Perception Process
Stage One: Attention and Selection
Stage Two: Organization
Stage Three: Interpretation
Communication and the Enhancement of Perceptual Accuracy
Increase Your Awareness
Avoid Stereotypes
Check Your Perceptions
indirect perception checking
direct perception checking
Chapter 3
Understanding
Verbal Messages
Copyright
© 2001 Allyn and Bacon
Communication Principles
Understanding Verbal Messages
Why Focus on Language?
The Nature of Language
The Power of Words
Confronting Bias in Language
Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Why Focus on Language?
Words are powerful.
You choose language.
The Nature of Language
A language is a system of symbols (words
or vocabulary) structured by grammar (rules and standards) and syntax (patterns
in the arrangement of words) common to a community of people.
Words dictate and limit the nature of our
reality.
Words Are Symbols With Meanings
The meaning of a word is how a person
interprets or makes sense of a symbol.
Bypassing
occurs when the speakers and the receivers meanings do not correspond.
Denotative and Connotative Meaning
The denotative level of language conveys
content.
The connotative level of language conveys
feelings.
Words Reflect Concrete and Abstract Meanings
A word is concrete if we can see it,
touch it, smell it, taste it, or hear it.
If we cannot, the word is abstract.
Concrete messages are more clear, abstract
terms are more difficult to understand or agree upon.
Words Are Culture-Bound
Culture
consists of the rules, norms, and values of a group of people that have been
learned and shape from one generation to the next.
The meaning of words can change from culture
to culture.
Words Are Context-Bound
Symbols derive their meaning from the situation
in which they are used.
The Power of Words
Words have the power to create and label experience.
Words have the power to impact thoughts and
actions.
Words have the power to shape and reflect
culture.
Words have the power to make and break relationships.
Confronting Bias in Language
Words that reflect bias toward other cultures
can create barriers for listeners.
Political correctness
involves the use of language that does not exclude or offend listeners.
Biased Language: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
Allness
occurs when words reflect unqualified, often untrue generalizations that deny
individual differences or variations.
Keep abreast of linguistic changes and adopt
the designations currently preferred by members of the ethnic groups themselves.
Biased Language: Gender and Sexual Orientation
Sexist language
reveals bias in favor of one sex against another.
The use of a masculine term as though it were
generic.
To avoid sexist language, use either she
or he, he/she, or s/he.
Homophobic language
reveals insensitivity or intolerance toward persons who are gay, lesbian,
or bisexual.
Biased Language: Age, Class, and Ability
Inventory your language for terms that are
disrespectful to elders or patronizing to younger persons.
Monitor references to socioeconomic differences
(e.g., blue- and white-collar workers).
Avoid drawing attention to a persons physical,
mental, or learning ability.
Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Trigger words
are forms of language that arouse certain emotions.
Verbal behaviors can contribute to feelings
of either supportiveness or defensiveness.
Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Describe
Your Own Feelings Rather Than Evaluate Others
Solve
Problems Rather Than Control Others
Be
Genuine Rather Than Manipulative
Empathize
Rather Than Remain Detached From Others
Be
Flexible Rather Than Rigid Toward Others
Present
Yourself as Equal Rather Than Superior
Chapter 4
Understanding
Nonverbal Messages
Copyright
© 2001 Allyn and Bacon
Communication Principles
Understanding Nonverbal Messages
Why Focus on Nonverbal Communication?
The Nature of Nonverbal Communication
Codes of Nonverbal Communication
How to Interpret Nonverbal Cues More Accurately
Nonverbal Communication Defined
Communication other
than written or spoken language that creates meaning for someone