Paragraph Questions
Answer the following questions in your own words. Each response must be written as an academic paragraph of at least 150 words. Be clear and concise, and provide explanations for your answers. Format your sources consistent with APA guidelines.
1. According to Introducing Communication Theory (2010), what is the definition of communication? What does communication mean to you personally? Provide an example.
Communication is conveying information through messages, perceptions, knowledge, and exchange of thoughts, writing and one’s behavior. Communication is meaningful information exchanged between two or more living creatures. Communication can be intentional or unintentional and may involve conventional or unconventional signals. My personal opinion of communication is two or more people exchanging information to one another whether it be through verbal communication or by text message, written on paper or by phone. Many people communicate in many ways such as through cell phone text messages, email, social media, writing letters, sign language or using symbols instead of words. There a numerous ways to communicate and people or animals have their own way of communication.
2. Describe the differences between linear, interactional, and transactional communication.
Linear model of communication involves only one way communication that is messages are sent and the receiver only receives it. It is one dimensional, for example like the radio or television. Interactional model involves not only messages sent but also the feedback from the receiver for example text messaging where it is a two way process, where as in transactional
communication model besides sending messages and giving feedback we also have nonverbal messages, it effects all parties involved.
3. Why is communication critical to developing self-concept? Provide an example of how communication has helped you develop your self-concept.
Communication is critical in developing self-concept because you need to know yourself and have confidence in yourself and when you speak so that other people can understand and compare themselves. This plays an important role in your personality as children grow they start to learn about themselves and figure themselves out through relationships and seeing other people emotions and actions. A child’s level of confidence is affected by their early experiences, successes and failures and it is recognized that a child’s confidence is linked closely to three factors: becoming aware of the self (self-concept), developing one’s identity (self-esteem) and learning about one’s own strengths and weaknesses (self-knowledge). Psychologists refer to how, during early childhood, the self-concept undergoes a major change and sees the start of the lifelong process of self-discovery. From childhood to adolescence many changes take place both physically and mentally. These changes involve continuing increases in the complexity of sensorimotor skills and substantial body changes and the self-concept shifts from self-centered to an increasing awareness of others.
Myth or Reality?
Identify whether each of the following sentences is a myth or a reality. Explain your answers.
1. You communicate only when you consciously and deliberately choose to communicate. Myth or Reality
Myth. I believe this would be a myth because people communicate whenever, where ever. People communicate at times when they are not spoken to.
2. Words do not mean the same things to the listener as they do to the
speaker. Myth or Reality
Myth, Words can have their own meaning to things. You need to know how they are being said and described otherwise they can be offensive to people if they don’t know how to take them. For example when emailing someone. You need to be respectful and write your words out and be understanding since the receiver is reading what you write and can’t see your tone of voice or know what or how you mean what you type.
3. You communicate primarily with words.
Myth or Reality
Reality, Communication is usually used with words as some people do use symbols and sign language but primarily it’s using words to communicate like through email, text message although some people use symbols such as hearts and smiley faces.
4. Nonverbal communication is not perceived solely through sight. Myth or Reality
Myth, when we are attempting to transfer our meaning to another person, we use three different modes, methods, or channels to carry our intentions. We use these modes to tell people who we are, how we experience the world, and the meaning we attach to our experience. We communicate verbally and nonverbally, and often with mixed signals or noise. When two persons, A and B, are attempting to communicate with each other, their communication is distorted by their personalities, attitudes, values, belief systems, biases, the assumptions they are making about each other, their experience, background, and so on. A’s communication to B flows through A’s screen and through B’s screen. When B responds to A, B is responding to what she heard rather than what A might have intended. She shoots her message back to B through her own screen of attitudes, values, and so on, through A’s screen. What is often not understood is that the way we get messages through our screens and through another person’s screen often is confusing and distorting in and of itself. We add to what we hear, we fail to hear, and we
distort messages according to the modes that are used to convey messages.
5. Communication is not a one-way activity.
Myth or Reality
Reality, Communication is made between two people and offer feedback to one another.
6. The message you send is identical to the message received by the listener. Myth or Reality
Myth, Ones message that is sent can be of a different meaning if you don’t understand the communication or topic. It can be offensive or disrespectful in the tone if it is not known.
7. You can never give someone too much information.
Myth or Reality
Myth, I believe you can give someone too much information. This can lead to someone staling your thoughts and ideas or even your identity. You want to make sure whatever you speak of and whom your speaking to the information you give is not too much but just what is needed.
Matching
Match the seven contexts of communication with the appropriate definition by placing the letter of the definition in the blank.
1. _C_ Interpersonal
a. Communication within and among large, extended environments
2. _A_ Intrapersonal
b. Communication between and among members of different cultural backgrounds
3. _D_ Group
c. Communication with a group of people
4. _F_ Public/Rhetorical
d. Communication to a large group of listeners
5. _G_ Organizational
e. Communication with oneself
6. _B_ Intercultural
f. Communication to a very large audience through mediated forms
7. _E_ Mass
g. Face-to-face communication between people
Communication Theories
Match the communication theories with their descriptions by placing the letter of the description in the blank.
1. _C__Social penetration theory
2. _F___Communication accommodation theory
3. _D___Spiral of silence theory
4. __A__Relational dialectics theory
5. __G__Rhetoric/dramatism/narrative paradigm
6. _B__Muted group theory
7. __H__Communication privacy management theory
8. _K__Organizational culture theory
9. __J__Agenda-setting theory
10. _O___Face-negotiation theory
11. __I__Organizational information theory
12. __E__Symbolic interaction theory
13. __M__Cognitive dissonance theory
14. _N__Expectancy violations theory
15. _L__Groupthink
A. Explains why parties to communication experience conflicting pulls that cause relationships to be in a constant state of flux. The closer individuals become to one another, the more conflict arises to pull them apart.
B. Explains why certain groups in society are muted, which means they are either silent or not heard
C. Explains why, as relationships develop, communication moves from less intimate levels to more intimate, more personal levels
D. Explains why people tend to remain silent when they think their views are in the minority
E. Explains how organizations make sense of the information that is essential for their existence
F. Explains some of the reasons for changes to speech as individuals attempt to emphasize or minimize the social differences between themselves and their interlocutors
G. Explains that people are essentially storytellers who make decisions on the basis of good reasons. History, biography, culture, and character determine what people consider good reasons.
H. Explains the process that people use to manage the relationship between concealing and revealing private information
I. Explains meanings for routine organizational events, thereby reducing the amount of cognitive processing and energy members need to expend throughout the day
J. Explains that mass media has a major influence on audiences by choosing what stories are newsworthy and how much prominence and space to give them
K. Explains how different cultures manage conflict and communication. The theory explains that the root of conflict is based on identity management on individual and cultural levels.
L. Explains how individuals act toward things on the basis of the meanings they assign to them. The meaning comes from the social interaction individuals have with others and with society.
M. Explains the tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions, such as beliefs and opinions. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors (dissonance), something must change to eliminate the dissonance. In the case of a discrepancy between attitudes and behavior, it is most likely that the attitude will change to accommodate the behavior.
N. Explains how people have expectations about the nonverbal behaviors of others. Violations of these expectations may trigger a change in the perception of exchange—either positively or negatively, depending on the relationship.
O. Explains how individuals may withhold their opposing opinions to promote cohesiveness. Individuals may also withhold their opposing opinions because they fear rejection by the group.
Communication Theories and Contexts
Match the communication theories to their contexts by placing the letter of the context in the blank. Note. Letters may be used more than once.
A. Intrapersonal
B. Interpersonal
C. Group
D. Organizational
E. Public
F. Intercultural
G. Mass
1. __B__Social penetration theory
2. _F___Communication accommodation theory
3. _G___Spiral of silence theory
4. __A__Relational dialectics theory
5. __D__Rhetoric/dramatism/narrative paradigm
6. __F__Muted group theory
7. __B__Communication privacy management theory
8. __F__Organizational culture theory
9. _C___Agenda-setting theory
10. _A___Face-negotiation theory
11. __C__Organizational information theory
12. _E___Symbolic interaction theory
13. _G___Cognitive dissonance theory
14. _D___Expectancy violation theory
