Communications is the process
of acting upon information. Someone does or says something and others think
or do something in response to the action or words as they understand them.
Communications is not unique to humans; animals communicate
The process of making sense out of the world and sharing that sense with others. We learn about the world by listening, observing, tasting, touching,and smelling; then we share our conclusions with others. Human communication encompasses media: speeches, songs, radio and TV, e-mail, letters, books, articles, poems and advertising.
Interpersonal communications is a special form that occurs when we interact simultaneously with another person and mutually influence each other. Simultaneous interaction means that the communication partners are both acting upon the same information at the same time. Mutual Influence means the both partners are affected by the interaction. (thoughts, feelings, interpretation)
* simultaneous interaction or mutual influence may or may not involve words: catch some one's eye, a knowing glance, a smile, along intimate conversation
* interpersonal communication is a tool to forge and maintain relationships
* it's a necessity to well being in the many roles we play: friend, sister/brother, mother/father, employee, student, coworker, boss
* it plays a key part in shaping our personal identity- when effective it helps solve problems and enhances self worth
| PEOPLE | The senders of communications messages |
| MESSAGES | The content of the communications |
| CHANNELS | The media through which a message travels |
| NOISE | Interference with our ability to send or receive messages |
| FEEDBACK | Information received in exchange for messages |
| CONTEXT | The environmental, situational, or cultural setting in which the communication takes place |
| EFFECT | The result of the communication episode |
PEOPLE
WHO?
* communicating with one: intrapersonal communication
* communicating with three or more: group communication
* communicating with many more: public or mass communications
HOW?
* a range from impersonal ---> intimate
* the more you know a person the more you are able to describe their behaviour, predict their behaviour or explain their behaviour
* each person functions as sender and receiver and uses knowledge of the other to interpret
MESSAGES
* meaning is derived through verbal and nonverbal communications
* we choose who to speak to, what to speak about, what we do as we interact,the words we use, the sound of our voice, our posture, our facial expression, our touch, even our smell to comprise the message
* message may be auditory (sound), visual (sight), gustatory (taste),olfactory (smell), tactile (touch), situational-manipulational (communicated through environment)
* everything we do has potential to pass a message
CHANNELS
* the media through which message travels - we send messages through all senses- can use many at once-verbal/nonverbal
* a hug/sincere smile may tell more than words
* effective communicators use many channels
NOISE
* noise is anything that interferes or impedes our ability to send or receive a message
* noise distracts communicators and focuses their attention on something outside the communication
* an effective communicator finds ways to get through the noise
* noise: environment, physical discomfort, psychological state, intellectual ability
* noise can come from internal or external source
* external noise: sight, sound,smell, feel of the environment
* internal noise: personal thoughts,personal feelings, sexism, racism, feelings of inadequacy,hunger, excessive shyness, excessive extroversion, deficient knowledge, too much knowledge
FEEDBACK
* feedback is information we receive in exchange for messages we have sent: verbal or nonverbal
* feedback tells us if message is being received correctly "how we are coming across"
* feedback can be positive or negative, external or internal
* positive feedback enhances behaviour in progress-reinforcing
* negative feedback stops behaviour-serves a corrective function-aids in eliminating inappropriate behaviours
* internal feedback is feedback you give yourself as you assess your communication during the communication
* external feedback is feedback you receive from the other party
CONTEXT
* the environmental (physical), situational
(social, psychological,temporal-history)
or cultural context (beliefs,values)
can affect the outcome of the communication
EFFECT
* interaction causes an effect- we are influenced- one may feel effect more, or may react faster
* effect may be immediately observable or not observable
* effect can be emotional, physical, cognitive, or a combination
Source: Mastering Human Relations 3rd Edition, A Falikowski, 2002. Pearson Education