Physical Needs
Need for health and survival
Relational Needs
Need for companionship, affection, relaxation, and escape
Identity Needs
Who we are and who people perceive us to be
Spiritual Needs
Values, beliefs, and spiritual practices
Instrumental Needs
Practical, everyday needs
Models of Human Communication
-Action
-Interaction
-Transaction
Model
A formal description of a process
Action Model
Depicts communication as a one-way process
Interaction Model
Depicts communication as a two-way process
Transaction Model
Depicts both people in a conversation as sources and receivers
Source
The orginator of the thought or idea
Encode
To put an idea into language or gesture
Message
Verbal and nonverbal elements of communication to which people assign meaning
Channel
A pathway through which messages are conveyed
Decode
To interpret or give meaning to a message
Receiver
The party who interprets a message
Noise
Anything that interferes with the encoding or decoding of a message
Feedback
Verbal and nonverbal responses to a message
Context
The physical or psychological environment in which communication occurs
Characteristics of Communication
-Relies on multiple channels
-Passes through perceptual filters
-People give it it's meaning
-Has literal meanings and relational implications
-Sends a message, whether intentional or unintentional
-Is governed by rules
Channel-Rich Contexts
A communication context involving many channels at once
Channel-Lean Context
A communication context involving few channels at once
Perceptual Filters
The tendency to filter incoming messages through our own perceptions, biases, etc.
Symbol
Representation of an idea
Content Dimension
Literal information that is communicated by a message
Relational Dimension
Signals about the relationship in which a message is being communicated
Metacommunciation
How people distinguish between content and relational dimensions; communication about communication
Explicit Rules
Rules about behavior that have been clearly articulated
Implicit Rules
Rules about behavior that may not be clearly articulated but are understood
Dispelling Communication Myths
-Everyone is not an expert.
-Communication will not solve everything.
-Communication cannot break down.
-Communication is not inherently good.
-More communication is not always better.
Interpersonal Communication
Communication that occurs between two people within the context of their relationship and that, as it evolves, helps them to negotiate and define their relationship
Intrapersonal Communication
Communication with oneself
Mass Communication
Communication from one source to a large audience
Small Group Communication
Occurs within small groups of 3 or more people
Dyad
A pair of people
Why Communication Matters
-It is pervasive.
-It can improve our relationships
-It can improve our health.
Communication Competence
Communicating in ways that are effective and appropriate for a given situation
Effectiveness
Describes how well your communication achieves its goals
Appropriateness
Attending to the rules and expectations that apply in a social situation
Characteristics of Competent Communicators
-Self Awareness
-Adaptability
-Empathy
-Cognitive Complexity
-Ethics
Self Awareness
Being aware of behavior and effect on others; how behavior fits or doesn't fit certain social settings
Self-Monitoring
Awareness of one's behavior and how it affects others
Adaptability
The ability to adapt one's communication to fit the circumstances
Empathy
The ability to think and feel as others do
Cognitive Complexity
The ability to understand a given situation in multiple ways
Ethics
A code of morality or a set of ideas about what is right