COMM 101 Final

Sex vs. Gender (page 139)

Sex- refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women
Gender- Refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.

Androgynous

Exhibiting both masculine and feminine traits

Homophobia

Fear of being labeled or perceived as gay or lesbian, continues to exist among many people. Or fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against gays or lesbians.

Masculine vs. Feminine approach to communication

Masculine: More instrumental, often characterized by assertiveness and getting things done. Usually more emphasis on the content of messages. More focus on the information being exchanged rather than on relational elements in the message. More attention g

Ethnicity

Social classification based on factors, such as nationality, religion, and language as well as biological ancestral heritage, that are shared by a group of people with a common geographic origin.
- People who have identified themselves based on a variety

Race

Based on the genetically transmitted physical characteristics of a group of people who are also classified together because of a common history, nationality, or geographical location.
- Typically based on such visible physiological attributes like skin co

Discrimination

The unfair or inappropriate treatment of people based on their group membership.

Globalization

The integration of economics and technology that is contributing to a worldwide, interconnected business environment, is changing the way we work and relate to people around the world. It has increased the probability that you will communicate with someon

Culture vs. co-culture

- Culture is a learned system of knowledge, behavior, attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms that is shared by a group of people and shaped from one generation to the next.
- Co-culture: a cultural group within a larger culture. Exists within a larger cult

Intercultural Communication

Occurs when individuals or groups from different cultures communicate.

Culture Shock

Feelings of confusion, loss, stress, and anxiety that a person may experience when encountering a culture different from his or her own.

Worldview

A perspective shared by a culture or group of people about key beliefs and issues, such as death, God, and the meaning of life, which influences interaction with others; the lens through which people in a given culture perceive the world around them.

High-Context Cultures vs. Low-Context Cultures

- High-context: a culture in which people derive much information from nonverbal and environmental cues and less information from the words of a message
- Low-context: a culture in which people derive much information from the words of a message and less

Cultural Values

Defined as whatever a given group of people values or appreciates
1. Individualism (value individual accomplishment rather than the collective or collaboration achievement)
2. Power Distribution (value greater power differences between people, more accept

Individualistic Culture vs. Collective Culture

Individualistic culture: culture that values individual achievement and personal accomplishments
Collectivistic Culture: Culture that places a high value on collaboration, teamwork, and group achievement

Decentralized vs. centralized power

Decentralized: Where leadership is not just vested in one person, decisions in a culture are more likely to be made by consensus
Centralized: More comfortable than other cultures with a more structured form of government and with managerial styles that fe

Uncertainty vs. Certainty values

Cultures in which people need certainty to feel secure are likely to develop and enforce more rigid rules for behavior and establish more elaborate codes of conduct.
People from cultures with a greater tolerance for uncertainty have more relaxed, informal

Masculine vs. female cultures

Masculine- Culture that values achievement, assertiveness, heroism, material wealth, and traditional male and female roles
Feminine- A culture that values being sensitive toward others and fostering harmonious personal relationships with others

Long-term vs. Short-term orientation

- Cultures with a long-term orientation to time tend to be future oriented and value perseverance and thrift
- Cultures with a short-term orientation to time tend to value the past and present, respecting tradition, preserving "face", and fulfilling socia

Barriers to bridging differences and adapting to others

- Ethnocentrism (assuming superiority)
- Assuming similarity
- Assuming differences
- Stereotyping and prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Attitude that our own cultural approaches are superior to those of other cultures

Stereotype vs. prejudice

Stereotype: To place a person or group of persons into an inflexible, all-encompassing category
Prejudice: A judgement of someone based on an assumption that you already know relevant facts or background information about the person

Adapting to others who are different than you

1. Seek information about a culture
2. Ask questions and listen to the responses (to motivate yourself to adapt when communicating with others who are different from you)
3. Be patient
4. Strive to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty
5. Become mindful of d

Stages of Intercultural Competence

1) Denial: A person denies that there are other cultural approaches to behavior beyond that of his or her own culture
2) Defense: A person believes that his or her own culture is best
3) Minimization: A person minimizes cultural differences between himsel

Ethnocentric vs. ethnorelative cultural perspectives

Ethnocentric: the first three stages above ^ in which a person assumes that her or his own culture is superior to all other cultures
Ethnorelative: the last three stages where it requires an appreciation for and sensitivity to cultural differences

Mindfulness

To be aware of how you communicate with others

Other-oriented communication

Communication in which we take into account the needs, motives, desires, and goals of our communication partners while still maintaining our own integrity. Being socially decentering and empathic.

Egocentric

Focused on oneself and one's importance

Social decentering

Cognitive process through which we take into consideration another person's thoughts, values, background, and perspectives. Seeing the world from the other person's point of view.

Sympathy vs. Empathy

Empathy: A second strategy for becoming other oriented, feeling the emotional reaction that is similar to the reaction being experienced by another person
Sympathy: Saying sorry for others for the way they are feeling. An acknowledgement that someone is f

Four generations

- Matures: 1925-1942: word hard, have a sense of duty, are willing to sacrifice, have a sense of what is right, work quickly, value personal fulfillment and optimism
- Baby boomers: 1943-1960: value personal fulfillment and optimism, crusade for causes, b

Interpersonal Communication

Communication that occurs between two people who simultaneously attempt to mutually influence each other, usually for the purpose of managing relationships

Mediated Communication

Communication that is carried out using some channel other than those used in face-to-face encounters

Mediated Interpersonal Communication

Communication that occurs when two people attempt to mutually influence each other through the use of a mediate channel, usually for the purpose of managing relationships

Impersonal Communication

Communication that treats people as objects or that responds only to their roles rather than to who they are as unique people

Relationship

An ongoing connection made with another person through interpersonal communication

Relationships of circumstance vs. relationships of choice

Circumstance- Relationship that forms situationally, simply because one life overlaps with another in some way
Choice- A relationship that is sought out and intentionally developed

Elements of interpersonal attraction

The degree to which one desires to form or maintain an interpersonal relationship with another person
- Similarity
- Physical and sexual attraction
- Proximity
- Complementarity

Matching hypothesis

- The theory that one tends to seek out individuals who represent the same level of physical attractiveness as oneself

Interpersonal needs that motivate us to form relationships

- Similarity
- Physical and sexual attraction
- Proximity
- Complementarity

Immediacy

Nonverbal cues, such as eye contact, forward lean, touch, and open body orientation, that communicate feelings of liking, pleasure, and closeness

Strategies for uncertainty reduction

- A driving human motivation to increase predictability by reducing the unknown in one's circumstances
1) passive- seeking information by observing people, scoping out situations, and so forth before more actively working to reduce uncertainty
2) active-

Self-absorbed communicator style

A dominating communication style in which one focuses attention on oneself.
- When people use "I"
- Talk more in statements than questions and constantly try to top someone's story

Self Disclosure

Voluntarily providing information to others that they would not learn if one did not tell them

Social Penetration Model

- Model of self-disclosure that asserts that both the breadth and the depth of information shared with another person increase as the relationship develops

Johari Window

A model that explains how self-disclosure varies from relationship to relationship; the model reflects various stages of relational development, degrees of self-awareness, and others' perceptions

Stages of relational escalation

1) Pre-interaction awareness stage- The stage of becoming aware of one's attraction t another person and observing that person but not actually interacting
2) Initiation Stage- The first contact with a person with whom one desires a relationship; usually

Stages of Relational De-Escalation

1) Turmoil Stage- The stage characterized by increased conflict, less mutual acceptance, a tense communication climate, and an unclear relationship definition
2) Stagnation Stage- The stage in which a relationship loses its vitality, partners begin to tak

Relational Dialectics

Defined as a perspective that views interpersonal relationships as constantly changing rather than stable and that revolves around how relational partners manage tensions
1) Integration-separation: Autonomy vs connection: Although people want to be connec

Cyberinfidelity

Defined as online sexual activity outside of one's in-person, monogamous relationship

Interpersonal Conflict

Struggle that occurs when two people can't agree on a way to meet their needs.

Types of conflict

1) Constructive Conflict: Conflict characterized by cooperation in dealing with differences; helps build new insights and patterns in a relationship
2) Destructive Conflict: Conflict characterized by a lack of cooperation in dealing with differences; dism

Six hallmarks of constructive conflict

1. People change
2. People interact with an intent to learn instead of an intent to protect themselves
3. People don't stay stuck in conflict when the conflict is constructive
4. Constructive conflict enhances self-esteem in the participants
5. Constructi

Differences in how individualistic and collectivistic cultures manage conflict

Individualistic
- the purpose of conflict is to air major differences and problems
- conflict can be either functional or dysfunctional
- repressed, unconfronted problems can lead to dysfunctional conflict
- functional conflict provides an opportunity for

Ways that interpersonal power dynamics typify three forms of romantic relationships

Defined as the ability to influence another in the direction one desires; getting another person to do what one wants
1) Complementary relationship- a relationship in which one partner willingly and continuously cedes power to the other
2) Symmetrical rel

Assertive vs. aggressive communication

Assertive communication takes a listener's feelings and rights into account and aggressive communication is a self-serving communication that does not take a listener's feelings and rights into account

Conflict management styles and types of responses for each

1) Nonconfrontational style- involves backing off, avoiding conflict, or giving in to the other person
-Responses: Placating (seeking approval or attempting to please), distracting, computing (remaining aloof and cool), withdrawing (saying i don't want to

Conflict Management Skills and Techniques

- select a mutually acceptable time and place to discuss a conflict
- plan your message
- monitor nonverbal messages
- avoid personal attacks, name calling, profanity, and emotional overstatement
- use self-talk
- clearly describe the conflict-prducing ev

Elements of conflict

- an expressed struggle
- between at least two interdependent people
- incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference
- achieving a goal

Conflict as a process

1) prior conditions- there are differences in background, experience, culture, attitudes, beliefs, values, opinions, or preferences
2) frustration awareness- one individual becomes aware of differences. thoughts and self-talk about the differences occur.

Constructive vs. destructive conflict

Constructive is conflict that helps build new insights and establishes new patterns in a relationship, destructive is conflict that dismantles rather than strengthens relationships

Conflict Triggers

Defined as common perceived causes of interpersonal conflict.
1) criticism
2) feeling entitled
3) perceived lack of fairness
4) more perceived costs than rewards
5) different perspectives
6) stress and lack of rest

Conflict Myths

1) Conflict is always a sign of a poor interpersonal relationship
2) Conflict can always be avoided
3) conflict always occurs because of misunderstandings
4) conflict can always be resolved

Gender and conflict

Feminine:
- Are concerned with equity and caring; they connect with and feel responsible to others
- Interact to achieve closeness and interdependence
- Attent to interpersonal dynamics to assess the relationship's health
- Encourage mutual involvement
-

Principles of Power

- Power exists in all relationships
- Power derives from the ability to meet a person's needs
- Both people in a relationship have some power
- Power is circumstantial
- Power is negotiated

Power Sources

- Legitimate power- based on respect for a person's position
- Referent power- comes from our attraction to another person, or the charisma a person possesses
- expert power- power based on a person's knowledge and experience
- reward power- power based o

Compliance Gaining Strategies

accuse, acknowledge, hint, inform, comment, joke, etc.

Strategies for Power Negotiation

Assess needs- knowing what you need
identify power-based conflicts
discuss power issues directly

Conflict management styles

avoidance, accommodation, competition, compromise, collaboration

Managing emotions

- be aware that you're becoming angry and emotionally charged
- seek to understand why you are so angry and emotional
- make a conscious decision bout whether to express your anger
- select a mutually acceptable time and place to discuss a conflict
- plan

gunny-sacking

digging up old problems and issues from the past to use against your partner

managing anger

- be determined not to get angry yourself
- get on the same physical level as the other person
- be silent
- express your concern nonverbally by displaying soft emotions
- make an appropriate empathic statement
- remind yourself that you control your own

Managing information

- clearly describe the conflict producing events
- take turns talking
- "own" your statements by using descriptive "I" language
- use effective listening skills
- check your understanding of what others say and do
- be empathic

I" language vs "but" messages

I language- statements that use the word I to express how a speaker is feeling
"but" message- statement using the word but that may communicate that whatever you've said prior to but is not really true

managing goals

- identify your goal and your partner's goal
- identify where your goals and your partner's goals overlap

managing the problem

- use principled negotiation strategies, like collaboration
- separate the people from the problem
- focus on shared interests
- generate many options to solve the problem
- base decisions on objective criteria
- define the problem
- analyze the problem

Face

a person's positive perception of himself or herself in interactions with others

Speaker anxiety and strategies for building confidence

- acquire experience
- prepare, prepare, prepare
- think positively
- use power of visualization
- know that most nervousness is not visible
- don't expect perfection

the specific purpose is...

the main point of your speech, a complete, declarative sentence