Ethics

The final defining characteristic of competent interpersonal communication is ethics, the set of moral principles that guide our behavior toward others (Spitzberg & Cupach, 2002). At a minimum, we are ethically obligated to avoid intentionally hurting others through our communication. By this standard, communication that’s intended to erode a person’s self-esteem, that expresses intolerance or hatred, that intimidates or threatens others’ physical well-being, or that expresses violence is unethical and therefore incompetent (Parks, 1994).

Self-Reflection

Is the obligation to communicate ethically absolute or situation-dependent? That is, are there circumstances in which it’s ethical to communicate in a way that hurts someone else’s feelings? Can one be disrespectful or dishonest, and still ethical? If so, when?

Question

SAU+N/gp52n13yxlBf2c1eCpo6JZBamSt8qsPmacexY=

To truly be an ethical communicator, however, we must go beyond simply not doing harm. During every interpersonal encounter, we need to strive to treat others with respect, and communicate with them honestly, kindly, and positively (Englehardt, 2001). For additional guidelines on ethical communication, review the “Credo for Ethical Communication” on the following page.

We all are capable of competence in situations where it’s easy to behave appropriately, effectively, and ethically. True competence is developed when we consistently communicate competently across all situations that we face, including contexts that are uncertain, complex, and unpleasant. One of the goals of this book is to arm you with the knowledge and skills you need to meet challenges to your competence with confidence.

Credo of the National Communication Association

The National Communication Association (NCA) is the largest professional organization representing communication instructors, researchers, practitioners, and students in the United States. In 1999, the NCA Legislative Council adopted this “Credo for Ethical Communication” (National Communication Association, 1999).

  • We advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential to the integrity of communication.
  • We endorse freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent to achieve informed and responsible decision making.
  • We strive to understand and respect other communicators before evaluating and responding to their messages.
  • We promote communication climates of caring and mutual understanding that respect the unique needs and characteristics of individual communicators.
  • We condemn communication that degrades people through distortion, intimidation, coercion, and violence, or expression of intolerance and hatred.
  • We are committed to the courageous expression of personal convictions in pursuit of fairness and justice.
  • We advocate sharing information, opinions, and feelings when facing significant choices while also respecting privacy and confidentiality.
  • We accept responsibility for the short- and long-term consequences for our own communication and expect the same of others.