Communication Theory Questions

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 a social process in which individuals employ symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment.

To me communication is the way a person or persons try to relate feelings to one another using words or actions to relay to others their emotions or thought process. To me communication is the most important thing in my life. If there was no communication most relationships with other people it would fail. For example if a married couple stops talking, touching, and feeling with each other, the relationship will surely end in divorce. Communication is not easy for a lot of people because it can result in uncomfortable feelings that many people try to avoid. When I communicate with family, my relationship, and coworkers, I try to be an open book. I think that when you are successful at communicating with someone the relationship you have with them will result in a positive manner.

2. Describe the differences between linear, interactional, and transactional communication.
The linear model entails only one way form of communication in that a message is sent and the receiver receives it. This is a one dimensional form of communication.
An interactional model provides not only the message sent, but also the message received and replied to by the receiver to the sender.
A transactional model entails not only the sending and receiving of messages but also the inclusion of nonverbal communications.

3. Why is communication critical to developing self-concept? Provide an example of how communication has helped you develop your self-concept.
Finding out who you are is extremely critical in how you will conduct yourself as a confident productive member of society. If you are social and communicate well as a child, you are more likely to be social and a good communicator as an adult. Failure to provide our children with the necessary tools to become self-aware and have a good self-concept for themselves begins with how we communicate with them and teach them how to communicate with others. Parents and educators should teach children to have respect in all forms of their communications and to expect that same respect in return. The decisions they make will affect how they choose to communication or if they choose to communicate at all.
Personally I have had to overcome many obstacles in my life, if had I not had a voice, whether it be verbal or written forms of communication, I may never have come to the place in life I am now. However, I persevered and taught my children that they could always talk to me, about anything. I never wanted them to feel boxed in as I has so many times.

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 feel that you communicate all the time whether consciously or subconsciously.

2. Words do not mean the same things to the listener as they do to the speaker.
Myth or Reality
Reality- I feel that everyone interprets words in their own way. I do not think that everything has the same meaning to everyone.

3. You communicate primarily with words.
Myth or Reality
Myth- There are many forms of communications that have nothing to do with words.

4. Nonverbal communication is not perceived solely through sight.
Myth or Reality
Reality- You can communicate through sound and touch and taste as well.

5. Communication is not a one-way activity.
Myth or Reality
Reality- I feel that communication can be an any way activity. Whether you receive a message, send a message or are talking to yourself. You are communicating either one way or many others.

6. The message you send is identical to the message received by the listener.
Myth or Reality

Myth- No, because just like with words that are spoken, people interpret messages differently. I love you for example could be received and acknowledged by the receiver, but not accepted because the receiver may not feel the same way.

7. You can never give someone too much information.
Myth or Reality
Myth- You can actually, you can send them into information overload, bore them to death or make them angry because you will not stop talking.

Matching

Match the seven contexts of communication with the appropriate definition by placing the letter of the definition in the blank.

1. _g__ Interpersonal a. Communication within and among large, extended environments

2. __e_ Intrapersonal b. Communication between and among members of different cultural backgrounds

3. _c__ Group c. Communication with a group of people
4. _f__ Public/Rhetorical d. Communication to a large group of listeners

5. _a__ Organizational e. Communication with oneself
6. _b__ Intercultural f. Communication to a very large audience through mediated forms

7. _d__ 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. ___i__ Organizational culture theory

9. ___j__ Agenda-setting theory 10. ___k__ Face-negotiation theory

11. ___e__ Organizational information theory

12. ___l__ Symbolic interaction theory

13. ___m__ Cognitive dissonance theory

14. __n___ Expectancy violations theory

15. ___o__ 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. __b__ Relational dialectics theory

5. __e__ Rhetoric/dramatism/narrative paradigm

6. __e__ Muted group theory

7. __b__ Communication privacy management theory

8. __d__ Organizational culture theory

9. __g__ Agenda-setting theory

10. _f___ Face-negotiation theory

11. __d__ Organizational information theory

12. _c___ Symbolic interaction theory

13. __a__ Cognitive dissonance theory

14. __b__ Expectancy violation theory