Evaluating Communication Ethics: Ethics and the Self Concept

EVALUATING COMMUNICATION ETHICS

Evaluating Communication Ethics

Ethics and the Self-Concept

You and your romantic partner, Peyton, have been together for three years and have supported each other through many ups and downs, particularly in your professional lives. Both of you have successful careers and have made sacrifices to help each other achieve personal and professional goals. Most recently, the two of you moved to Washington, D.C., from Saint Louis so that Peyton could accept a promotion with a large financial investment firm. Since you were thrilled for Peyton’s career opportunity and since you are able to work from a home office, you consented to the move. But it has been difficult because Peyton works long hours and your entire family and most of your close friends are still in Saint Louis.

Peyton comes home early one afternoon to announce that the investment firm has offered another promotion to a position that would require travel from Monday to Friday two weeks out of the month. Peyton talks excitedly about the increase in status and in pay and the new opportunities that the position would afford you both. Your immediate reaction is one of anger. How could Peyton consider taking a position that required so much travel, especially since this would leave you alone in a city where you know few people and where you work alone out of your home? Hadn’t you sacrificed enough by moving halfway across the country for Peyton’s career?

You confront Peyton, who is first surprised and then angry. “I thought we were working for the same thing—a better opportunity for our future,” Peyton says. “I am good to you, and I give you everything you want. I thought I could count on you to support me in this. It is not like it will be much different from the way it is now since I work so late. After all, I’ll be home every weekend.”

You are hurt. You value harmony in your home and your relationships, and you value time spent with your partner. You believe that you are a flexible, reasonable person who appreciates joint decision-making. You feel that you have been supportive and that you have made Peyton’s career a priority in your home. Peyton’s reaction, however, sends a much different message that makes you uneasy. You are upset by the different ways that you and Peyton perceive the situation and the ensuing communication difficulties.

Think About This

  1. Consider the different elements that make up both your self-concept and your partner’s. What do you each value? What are your goals and ideals? What are your thoughts and beliefs about work, relationships, and other important matters?

    Question

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    Consider the different elements that make up both your self-concept and your partner’s. What do you each value? What are your goals and ideals? What are your thoughts and beliefs about work, relationships, and other important matters?
  2. How might your self-concept have affected the way that you perceived Peyton’s message about the promotion? How might the message have affected your self-esteem?

    Question

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    How might your self-concept have affected the way that you perceived Peyton’s message about the promotion? How might the message have affected your self-esteem?
  3. Now take Peyton’s perspective. How might your partner’s self-concept have affected the way that the news of the promotion was shared with you? How might your reaction have affected Peyton’s self-esteem?

    Question

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    Now take Peyton’s perspective. How might your partner’s self-concept have affected the way that the news of the promotion was shared with you? How might your reaction have affected Peyton’s self-esteem?