1. Communicative interaction as a Theory-driven Practice

2. Theories are Ways of Seeing

3. From the greek work theoria: to see, to encounter, to contemplate. The original theorists were people who would travel to see something spectacular and return to inform others in the community.

4. Theories are Ways of Seeing Theories direct our attention, organize our experience, and enable action.

5. Theories are Ways of Seeing Theories direct our attention, organize our experience, and enable action. The theories we bring to a situation partly reveal and partly conceal options for interaction.

6. Theories are ways of seeing (and not seeing)

7. count the ducks

8. Theories are ways of seeing (and not seeing) We attend to the world selectively and fill in all the gaps with assumptions (or prejudices, i.e., pre-judgments).

9. Theories are ways of seeing (and not seeing) We attend to the world selectively and fill in all the gaps with assumptions (or prejudices, i.e., pre-judgments). We cannot experience the world without prejudgments (except in very rare and potentially dangerous conditions)

10. Theories are ways of seeing (and not seeing) The critical questions are: do our theories/ prejudgments allow us to make good decisions about the world, or do they lead us to miss crucial things?

11. Theories are ways of seeing (and not seeing) The critical questions are: Where did our theories come from and who do they benefit?

12. Theories are ways of seeing (and not seeing) The critical questions are: Where did our theories come from and who do they benefit? Who do they harm or disadvantage?

13. Theories are ways of seeing (and not seeing) The critical questions are: Have we consented to take on other people’s meanings/theories as our own, even when they harm us?

14. Theories are ways of seeing (and not seeing) The critical questions are: Can we arrive collectively at a better way of seeing and doing things?

16. Window-Bashing

17. Repetitively using an old theory in a situation for which it is not useful.

18. Window-Bashing Repetitively using an old theory in a situation for which it is not useful. The theories may have been perfectly suited to solve the old problem; but they fail in new situations

19. Interdependence and Pluralism

20. In homogenous (same genus) cultures we often share many implicit assumptions and theories about the world

21. Interdependence and Pluralism In homogenous (same genus) cultures we often share many implicit assumptions and theories about the world In heterogeneous (different genus) cultures we often do not share implicit assumptions and theories

22. Interdependence and Pluralism When our implicit theories are not shared, do we:

23. Interdependence and Pluralism When our implicit theories are not shared, do we: 1. Fight harder for our way of seeing

24. Interdependence and Pluralism When our implicit theories are not shared, do we: 1.Fight harder for our way of seeing 2.Submit/consent to the other’s way

25. Interdependence and Pluralism When our implicit theories are not shared, do we: 1.Fight harder for our way of seeing 2.Submit/consent to the other’s way 3.Negotiate a new collective theory

26. Theories are Ways of Seeing

27. Diversity in our implicit theories can be a source of collective intelligence if we have good participatory communication practices

28. Theories are Ways of Seeing Diversity in our implicit theories can be a source of collective intelligence if we have good participatory communication practices But we often fail to recognize and benefit from others’ “ways of seeing.”

29. Theories are Ways of Seeing Diversity in our implicit theories can be a source of collective intelligence if we have good participatory communication practices But we often fail to recognize and benefit from others’ “ways of seeing.”

30. Making theories explicit

31. Three types of assumptions

32. Ontological:

33. Three types of assumptions Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world

34. Three types of assumptions Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – Are there innate differences between people of different races or genders? Are some people “naturally” violent? Are there some things we do because of “human nature”?

35. Three types of assumptions Ontological: assumptions about the basic nature of the world – Are there innate differences between people of different races or genders? Are some people “naturally” violent? Are there some things we do because of “human nature”? – Note: different religious and scientific views about the basic nature of the world and experience share different ontological assumptions.

36. Three types of assumptions Epistemological:

37. Three types of assumptions Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge

38. Three types of assumptions Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge – How do we know and what counts as authoritative knowledge? Do we trust scientists, school teachers, priests, community leaders? Do we only trust our own experiences?

39. Three types of assumptions Epistemological: assumptions about knowledge – How do we know and what counts as authoritative knowledge? Do we trust scientists, school teachers, priests, community leaders? Do we only trust our own experiences? – What happens when various forms of knowledge/authority come into conflict?

40. Three types of assumptions Axiological:

41. Three types of assumptions Axiological: Assumptions about value, what is good and right; assumptions about the kind of world we want to pursue.

42. Three types of assumptions Axiological: Assumptions about value, what is good and right; assumptions about the kind of world we want to pursue. – What counts as a good job, a good relationship, a good parenting approach, an appropriate style of dress or speech or conduct.

43. Three types of assumptions Axiological: Assumptions about value, what is good and right; assumptions about the kind of world we want to pursue. – What counts as a good job, a good relationship, a good parenting approach, an appropriate style of dress or speech or conduct. – What are the ends, principles, or goals that drive our actions…and what happens when they are not made explicit and not mutually shared?

44. Clash Clashes in underlying (often implicit and unacknowledged) ontological, epistemological, and axiological assumptions drive conflict

45. Clash “We carry both productive and unproductive prejudices into interaction and…we can interact with others in ways that either challenge these prejudices or in ways that protect them” (Deetz, Ch. 3).

46. Reclaiming Indeterminacy

47. CAT DOG TREE SQUIRREL

48. Reclaiming indeterminacy

49. The key questions are: what are the differences that make a difference in a given case…and do our terms allow us to attend to what matters?

50. Reclaiming indeterminacy The key questions are: how did we come to consent to a given lens/theory about world?

51. Reclaiming indeterminacy Indeterminacy is often revealed when we encounter difference—different ways of seeing, forms of life, common sense.

52. Reclaiming indeterminacy A communication theorist can seek…or create that “encounter with otherness” that reveals the indeterminate nature of our theories.

53. Reclaiming indeterminacy A communication theorist can seek…or create that “encounter with otherness” that reveals the indeterminate nature of our theories. And, once implicit theories are made explicit, we may ask:

54. Reclaiming indeterminacy 1 Why did this theory arise (what problem did it attempt to solve)?

55. Reclaiming indeterminacy 1 Why did this theory arise (what problem did it attempt to solve)? 2Who does it benefit and who does it harm?

56. Reclaiming indeterminacy 1.Why did this theory arise (what problem did it attempt to solve)? 2.Who does it benefit and who does it harm? 3.Can we build a better theory together? (is this what we would choose to do and believe if we knew we had a choice)?

57. IN SUM A critical communication theorist seeks to make implicit theories explicit, ask who benefits and who is disadvantaged by a certain way of seeing, reclaim indeterminacy, and foster forms of participatory communicative interaction better suited to solve the big problems we face.