Developing Effective Communication in Health and Social Care Theories of Communication

COMMUNICATION The word Communication has been derived from the Latin word ‘Communis’ which means to make common. “the imparting, conveying or exchange of ideas, knowledge, information etc (whether by speech or writing)” (Oxford English Dictionary) “a process by which information is passed between individuals and/or organisations by means of previously agreed symbols” (Baguley,2009)

COMMUNICATION Communication is the process that occurs when ideas, information and feelings are conveyed between individuals or groups of individuals for deliberate purposes

How do we communicate? Scholars (Aristotle and Plato) termed the process as being Rhetoric. Communication was seen as a process in which the speaker constructed messages which are transmitted to the receiver to bring about a desired response in the receiver Aristotle and Plato – ancient Greek philosophers

A basic linear model of communication Encode Send Decode Channel

But to make communication effective there need to be areas of “commonness” Language Culture Environment And communication evolves …….. (from smoke signals to the internet) Language Culture Environment

Says What In which Channel WHO To Whom With What Effect Lasswell 1948

Shannon and Weaver 1949

Osgood 1954 Communication is seen as a dynamic process where there is a health interactive relationship between the source and the receiver

Interpersonal Communication We cannot not communicate You cannot take it back It is complicated It is contextual Psychological context, which is who you are and what you bring to the interaction. Your needs, desires, values, personality, etc., all form the psychological context. ("You" here refers to both participants in the interaction.) Relational context, which concerns your reactions to the other person--the "mix." Situational context deals with the psycho-social "where" you are communicating. An interaction that takes place in a classroom will be very different from one that takes place in a bar. Environmental context deals with the physical "where" you are communicating. Furniture, location, noise level, temperature, season, time of day, all are examples of factors in the environmental context. Cultural context includes all the learned behaviors and rules that affect the interaction. If you come from a culture (foreign or within your own country) where it is considered rude to make long, direct eye contact, you will out of politeness avoid eye contact. If the other person comes from a culture where long, direct eye contact signals trustworthiness, then we have in the cultural context a basis for misunderstanding.

Michael Argyle (1994) Interpersonal Communication Skill that had to be learned that is like driving a car. Like driving a car you have to change your method to match the road conditions. Involves a constant cycle of watching what is happening then adapting to it. Studies psychology at the Iniversity of Oxford and was particularly interested

Ideas occur Message encoded Message Sent Message Received Message Decoded Idea understood

What is a group? Groups are collections of people who come together because they have a common purpose or goal and who gradually develop a shared sense of belonging or group identity.

Types of Groups Primary groups Face to face situations in which group members know each other Secondary groups Widely distributed membership. Many group members who may never meet each other.

Tuckman 1965 team develops maturity and ability, relationships establish, and the leader changes leadership style. Beginning with a directing style, moving through coaching, then participating, finishing delegating and almost detached

Effective group members (Burnard 1992) Make verbal contributions to the group Listen to other group members Are prepared to take direction from the group leader Are prepared to be open about themselves Stay on task and don’t disrupt the group Are positive and construct their approach Arrive on time and stay until the end