Group Reflection Essay
Real Communication
Chapter 2
Perception
Cognitive process through which we interpret our experiences and come to our own unique understandings
Communication Processing
The means by which we gather, organize, and evaluate information we receive
Formality – America enjoys its informality but others countries see this as disrespect (Mexico, Germany, and Egypt titles are an important way of showing respect)
Social Customs – greetings are different from a bow to a handshake. Business cards are very important in Japan – they should be studied and revered. In many cultures giving a gift is protocol, but you must know the customs before doing so (no leather in India where cows are sacred)
Style of Dress – dress to the culture and common sense. A business suit for men and a conservative dress or suit for women.
Time – Americans and most northern Europeans have a monochronic view of time meaning, seeing it almost as a tangible substance. (making time, having time, saving time) schedules are adhered to rigidly and tasks are performed in a scheduled order, one at a time
Some culture have polychronic orientation of time and see it as a back seat to personal relationships. Latin American, as well as southern Europe and Middle Eastern cultures have this orientation.
Conflict Styles – Americans are typically harsher than other cultures.
Gender Roles – Women can still be slighted across the world due to gender.
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Schemas
Mental structures that let us put together related bits of information to form patterns to create meaning at a more complex level
Help us understand how things work or should work
Challenges to Competent Communication
Mindlessness
Passive automatic response that may be inaccurate
Selective Perception
Allowing bias to influence thought
Undue Influence
Giving other sources to much say
Attributions
Used when we need to explain why someone says or does something that does not fit into our own beliefs
Interaction Appearance Theory
We change our thoughts of a person’s physical appearance as we communicate with them
We see them differently the more we communicate with them
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Fundamental Attribution Error
Tendency to assume another person’s wrong behavior is due to an internal flaw, while attributing our own behaviors to external factors
Challenges to Perception
Cultural Myopia
Failure to see beyond our own beliefs and circumstances
Stereotyping
Generalizing about people
Prejudice
Dislike toward a particular group plus a sense of one’s own superiority
Self-Concept
Who do you think you are?
Self-Esteem
How we feel about ourselves
How do we feel about who we think we are
Self-Efficacy
Ability to predict actual success from self-concept and self-esteem
Affects our ability to cope with failure and stress
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Predictions about self that cause you to alter your behavior in a way that the prediction is more likely to occur
Why can this be dangerous?
Self Evaluation
1. Self actualization
Feelings and thoughts we get when we have done the best we possibly could have
2. Self-adequacy
Feelings and thoughts as sufficient or acceptable
3. Self-denigration
Criticizing or attacking ourselves by placing undue importance on weaknesses or shortcomings
Self Presentation
Intentional communication designed to show elements of self for strategic purposes
How we let others know about ourselves
Use Self Monitoring – watch others and environment for clues on how to present ourselves