Ch. 1 – Thinking About Communication: Definitions, Models, and Ethics Part One: Setting the Stage

Defining communication – p.4 Communication - social process in which individuals employ symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment Communication Social Process Symbols Meaning Environment

Social – people interacting Process – ongoing, unending Symbol – arbitrary labels given to phenomena Meaning – what people extract from message Environment – situations, context

Activities Workbook: Gimme Five

Social – people interacting Face-to-face Online

Process – ongoing and unending Past Present Future

Symbol – arbitrary labels Concrete – object chair Abstract – concept Freedom Concrete = Car Abstract = Status symbol

Activities Workbook Draw and color

Meaning – what people extract from message Denotative Dictionary definition School = building where learning occurs Connotative What people infer School = best friends School = getting bullied

Environment – situation, context Who What Where When Why How

Activities Workbook: At the game

Models of Communication – p.11 Linear Model– one-way view of communication in which source sends message to receiver through channel that may be distorted by noise 1949 – Shannon and Weaver To explain how radio and TV works

Four kinds of noise Semantic Physical (external) Psychological (internal) Physiological

Semantic Slang, jargon, specialized language Unfamiliar words, another language

Physical (external) Distracted by environment – sensory interference

Psychological (internal) Biases, prejudices, predispositions

Physiological Hearing or sight impairment, tired, hungry, bad mood

Interactional Model– two-way communication adding feedback and field experience 1954 – Schramm to show that sender and receiver can switch roles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfo BvAKItkY Transactional – communication is simultaneous with people sending and receiving at the same time 1970 – Barnlund to show how dynamically communication evolves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfo BvAKItkY

Activities Workbook: Models

Ethics and communication – p.16 Ethics – perceived rightness or wrongness of action or behavior Moral decision making influenced by Society’s rules and laws Individual’s moral codes Both of which change over time

Two perspectives Objective: black and white, no exceptions Ex - Murder is murder, period! Subjective: gray area, depends on circumstances Ex. - Police officer killing in self-defense in the line of duty

Activities Workbook: Ethical Decision Making

The value of understanding communication theory – p.23 Cultivates critical thinking skills Helps you recognize breadth and depth of research Helps to make sense of personal life experiences Fosters self-awareness