Chapter 1: Communication Principles Addendum for Interplay 12th Ed.

Communication is Predicated on the Past We learn language We learn rules of behavior We all have our own “canned plans” of scripts we draw upon when confronted with specific situations. Not all scripts we use are ideal. . . . BUT We CAN learn new scripts.

Why do we communicate? To Share Meaning To meet Social Goals To Manage our Personal Identity Barnlund’s six selves To conduct our relationships

Interpersonal Communication Principles Interpersonal Communication is Transactional It’s Dynamic We co-create meaning Communication can be both intentional and unintentional Communication is Both Verbal and Nonverbal Nonverbal communication is analogical Verbal communication is digital (or discrete)

Interpersonal Communication Principles Communication Contains both Content and Relationship Dimensions Communication doesn’t have to be Intentional Communication is Irreversible, Unrepeatable, and Unavoidable.

Interpersonal Communication Principles Interpersonal Communication Messages Vary in Degree of Conscious Encoding A. Ritualized communication: Phatic (used to convey a pleasant social mood; Have a nice day!) Daily Rituals B. Technical communication Communication is a Series of Punctuated Events. Interpersonal Communication is situated (contextual)

Interpersonal Communication Principles Communication Involves many Channels A. Mass Media B. Interpersonal Media C. Mixed media Communication varies in the level of Media Richness Communication is Historical

What makes Social Media Different than Face to Face? The temporal structure is different: F2F communication happens in real time (synchronous) It allows for asynchronous messages The media lack many social cues of conversation It’s less media rich in some ways. Lean Rich Bulk Mail Letters, Email Facebook Telephone Skype Face to Face Posters Texting, Twitter

Interpersonal Communication Principles *Interpersonal Communication often presents Ethical Challenges. Ethical communicators. . . are Truthful and Honest? have Integrity (or are consistent in their beliefs or actions) are Fair act with Respect to other points of view are Responsible for their actions demonstrate Empathy for others

Communication Misconceptions Not all Communication Seeks Understanding Strategic Ambiguity More Communication is Not Always Better Communication Cannot Solve all Problems Effective Communication is Not a Natural Ability

Defining Interpersonal Communication Quantitatively Involves at least 2 people (Called Dyadic Communication) Qualitatively Involves the quality and nature of the interpersonal relationship Acquaintances Friends Intimate Friends Romantic Relationships

Communication Competence To communicate effectively one should be both appropriate and effective in the communication. There is no single ideal or effective way of communicating Competence is situational, it exists in degrees and is not easily defined. Competence CAN be learned

Effective Communicators Pay Attention and Modify Skillsets More skills can help with a variety of goals One must be adaptable to choose skills for specific situations (O’Keefe) You must practice skills to become competent Effective Communication Occurs when people involved care about one another and the topic at hand Empathy/perspective taking is the ability to understand and influence others. Cognitive Complexity is the ability to construct a variety of different frameworks for viewing an issue. Self-Monitoring is important

Constructivism People co-create meaning What one says or does affects the other The channel and context affect relationships as well Barbara O’Keefe’s Message Design Logics Expressive MDL Conventional MDL Rhetorical MDL As we grow in knowledge, we learn new skills and abilities to communicate.