A Study Tool
Now that you have finished reading this chapter, you can:
Define the communication process:
- Communication is the process by which we use symbols, signs, and behaviors to exchange information (p. 4).
- Communication is much more complex than “common sense” (pp. 4–5).
Describe the functions of communication:
- The functional perspective examines how communication behaviors work (or don’t work) to accomplish goals (p. 4).
- Relationships are the interconnections, or interdependence, between two or more people that function to achieve some goal (p. 6).
- Relationship interdependence means that what we do affects others, and vice versa (p. 7).
- There are three primary functions in communication:
- Expressing affiliation, or feelings for others (p. 6).
- relationships (pp. 6–7).
- Negotiating control, over others (pp. 7–9).
Assess the quality or value of communication by examining its six characteristics:
- Communication relies on symbols, arbitrary constructions related to the people, things, or concepts to which they refer (p. 9).
- Communication requires a shared code, or a set of symbols, that creates a meaningful message; encoding is the process of producing and sending a message, whereas decoding is the process of receiving a message and making sense of it (p. 10).
- Communication is linked to culture, the shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group of people, and co-cultures, smaller groups within a culture (p. 10).
- Communication may be intentional or spontaneous (p. 11).
- Communication requires a channel, the method through which it occurs (p. 11).
- Communication is a transactional process: you influence others while they influence you (pp. 11–12).
Define what communication scholars consider to be competent communication:
- Competent communication is more process than outcome focused (pp. 13–14).
- Ethics is the study of morals (p. 14).
- Communication is appropriate when it meets the demands of the situation (p. 15).
- Behavioral flexibility involves knowing and using a number of different behaviors to achieve appropriate communication (p. 16).
- Communication is effective when it achieves desired goals (p. 16).
- Communication skills are behaviors that help communicators achieve their goals (p. 18).
Describe the visual representations, or models, of communication:
- In the linear model, a sender originates the message, carried through a channel—perhaps interfered with by noise—to the receiver (p. 20).
- The interaction model expands on the linear model by including feedback between the receiver and the sender (pp. 20–21).
- The competent communication model is a transactional model incorporating three contextual spheres in which individuals communicate (pp. 21–22).
- Communicators: Cognitions, thoughts communicators have about themselves, influence behavior, observable communication, and how the message is interpreted before preparing feedback. Cognitive complexity enables communicators to think about multiple and subtle nuances in the messages of their partners (p. 23).
- Relational context: Communication occurs within the context of a relationship and is influenced by the relational history (pp. 23–25).
- Situational context: The circumstances surrounding communication, influence communication (p. 25).
- Cultural context: Cultural identity, how individuals view themselves as a member of a specific culture, influences communication choices (p. 26).
Describe why communication is vital to everyone:
- The informed citizens become aware of the power of speaking out (p. 26).
- Interactions and relationships occur between dyads, groups, organizations, speakers and audiences, and mass and mediated contexts (pp. 28–30).