Communication: Essential Human Behavior

Communication: The process by which individuals use symbols, signs, and behaviors to exchange information.

True or False

• Does talking equal effective communication?
• Do body movements (body language) constitute a language?
• Is more control necessarily better in communication? 
• Are most communication behaviors inborn and entirely natural?
• Is speaking well more important than listening? 

The Functional Perspective: Examines how communication behaviors work or don't work to accomplish our goals in personal, group, organizational, or public situations. All communication occurs within context of interdependent relationships.

All Communication Serves One Or More Main Functions

• Expressing Affiliation
• Achieving Goals
• Influencing Others

Six Characteristics of Communication

• Comm relies on symbols, or arbitrary constructions that refer to ppl, thing
•      and concepts: People usually agree on meanings. 
• Comm requires a shared code, a set of symbols joined to create a meaningful
•     message. It is made up of Encoding and Decoding. 
• Communication is linked to culture

Six Characteristics of Communication

• Communication can be spontaneous, involuntary, and unintentional
• Comm occurs through various channels so we must adapt to channel being used
• Comm is a transactional process with all people acting in sender and reciev
•       receiver roles
• (See Table 1.1 on Pp. 13)

Always Assess Communicative Value

An Outcome has to do with the product of communication.

Process measures the success of communication by looking at how the outcome is accomplished.

Competent communication

• Is appropriate and effective and requires adjusting
•    our behavior to suit the situation
•    - Depends on behavioral flexibility
•    - Requires prioritizing goals appropriate to situation
• Involves using communication skills & Involves using tech

Old Bag Speech

• 2 Minute Speech: Explain Each Item: No Notes
• Bag/Container that represents your life
• 1st Item - Represents your past
• 2nd Item - Represents your present
• 3rd Item - Represents your future