At first, I struggled to find a piece of something current that would connect to gender communication because so many movies, articles, magazines, and works of art touch on our society’s view of what is masculine and what is feminine. Then, all of a sudden I had an epiphany- “High School Musical.” Yes, you might be laughing right now because I am connecting something so complex to the Disney channel, but it really does work! At the beginning of the movie we meet Trey. Trey is the star basketball player at his school, and is well liked by both boys and girls. He is awesome at basketball, not to mention ridiculously good looking. From birth, Trey’s dad wants him to play the beautiful American game of basketball. Like every father, Trey’s gives him positive reinforcement when he performs well. His father pretty much wants him to eat, breathe, sleep, and play the game so that he can go to college on scholarship. So, you are probably sitting here wondering what the problem is, right? I mean why wouldn’t Trey want to put all his efforts into something he is actually excellent at? Well, Trey also is great at acting and singing. When he tries out for the play, he gets the lead role. Of course, his leading lady is also beautiful and wonderful vocally. Trey then decides that he will balance basketball practice, play practice, and academics. This is a difficult feat considering each thing takes a great amount of time. Trey starts out doing this well, but then the basketball team learns he is in the school production, things go downhill. The entire basketball team makes fun of Trey because acting today is seen as something that is more feminine than masculine. Trey also receives a lot of grief from his dad, which is negative reinforcement. And although the play is very important to him, he gives it a second thought. Because it is our goal, usually as humans to be similar to our peers, being different in anyway can be troubling. Trey as an individual has so many characteristics that make him unique. Though, when people see him singing and acting on stage instead of playing basketball, they question his masculinity. Even most boys, who have seen the movie, consider Zach Efron to be highly feminine. I believe that this movie is a great example because it is focused towards teens. Disney knew that we have all developed stereotypes about what is masculine and what is feminine, and therefore, we could comprehend why is was difficult for him to be in the play.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Gender Communication- Personal
Personal:
This past year I was president of an organization called “Big Sisters” at my school. Big Sisters is the largest female community service organization at my school. As I looked back at my experience, I realized that in order to fulfill my role, I had to possess both masculine and feminine qualities. This would make me androgynous. I understood that I needed to maintain order within the group, so I had to become a more assertive individual. When another girl would step into my “territory”, I had a higher need for dominance. I thoroughly enjoyed talking in front of a big group because I felt very powerful. After my experience as being president, I have found that I now crave responsibility and leadership. Both of these qualities have been defined by society to be more masculine. Though as a female, I also felt the need to be nurturing towards the girls when things became difficult. If one girl explained to me that her week had been filled with tests, I would often let her off the hook when it came to fulfilling her required hours. If someone approached me and seemed troubled, I picked up on it quickly and became kinder to that individual. If a problem arose, I would sometimes back away from the situation. Though looking back, I can remember many times that I became more argumentative because of my position. It was common for me to not implement rules because it caused confrontation, and I cared deeply about my relationships with the girls. During this time, I also had a Co-president, Sophie. She and I worked together in a very positive manner. Most of my actions were performed to better our relationship. At times, I would also take things into my own hands because I wanted to be seen as the better president. This is something that society expects from a man because they have a need for dominance. Our shirts for Big Sisters were hot pink, which further emphasized the fact that we were an all female organization. I can only conclude that I have been shaped socially because I too believe that males and females posses different qualities. I also believe though, that my performance was purely based on my individual qualities and not my feminine or masculine characteristics.
This past year I was president of an organization called “Big Sisters” at my school. Big Sisters is the largest female community service organization at my school. As I looked back at my experience, I realized that in order to fulfill my role, I had to possess both masculine and feminine qualities. This would make me androgynous. I understood that I needed to maintain order within the group, so I had to become a more assertive individual. When another girl would step into my “territory”, I had a higher need for dominance. I thoroughly enjoyed talking in front of a big group because I felt very powerful. After my experience as being president, I have found that I now crave responsibility and leadership. Both of these qualities have been defined by society to be more masculine. Though as a female, I also felt the need to be nurturing towards the girls when things became difficult. If one girl explained to me that her week had been filled with tests, I would often let her off the hook when it came to fulfilling her required hours. If someone approached me and seemed troubled, I picked up on it quickly and became kinder to that individual. If a problem arose, I would sometimes back away from the situation. Though looking back, I can remember many times that I became more argumentative because of my position. It was common for me to not implement rules because it caused confrontation, and I cared deeply about my relationships with the girls. During this time, I also had a Co-president, Sophie. She and I worked together in a very positive manner. Most of my actions were performed to better our relationship. At times, I would also take things into my own hands because I wanted to be seen as the better president. This is something that society expects from a man because they have a need for dominance. Our shirts for Big Sisters were hot pink, which further emphasized the fact that we were an all female organization. I can only conclude that I have been shaped socially because I too believe that males and females posses different qualities. I also believe though, that my performance was purely based on my individual qualities and not my feminine or masculine characteristics.
Gender Communication- Definitional
Definitional:
In today’s society, we often believe that gender and sex are synonyms. This is not true at all, and it is indeed why so much thought has been put into gender communication. When a woman learns she is pregnant with a child, she usually wants to know whether it is a girl or a boy. If this woman hears she will have a bouncing baby girl, society has made it her duty to run out and buy five gallons of pink paint. She will assume that this little girl will have feminine characteristics. Though what if this little girl likes the color blue? Is that considered normal? The answer is yes- society has shaped our views of sex and gender so much that we expect specific things from them instead of simply considering them “human”.
Gender is something that is socially constructed meaning of masculine and feminine, and sex is something that is biological and genetic. The nature of gender is very complex, and three explanations have been proposed by scholars as things which shape its meaning: biological, social, and psychological.
Biological differences between men and woman explain what is on the surface of gender communication. Men and woman have different sexual organs, physical size, and anatomy. They also have differently structured brains. Research done by Kimura (2000) concluded that, “the right cortex is thicker in males’ brain then the left.”(5) This would mean that their brains are asymmetrical in the speech area which could lead to difficulty in communication. We do not have the evidence to support this claim though. It has also been proposed that females mature faster than men. For example, women tend to have a greater dexterity in things such as handwriting and wrist movement.
In order to look deeper into psychological theories we can look at the Freudian Identification Theory. Freud proposed that children will model their behavior after their same sex-parent in order to learn what society expects from their gender. Male development is centered around defensive identification because they fear power being taken from them. A woman develops from, “anaclitic identification.”(6) They do this because women have a fear of loss and love. This theory is sometimes looked upon poorly because it insinuates women are inferior. Another way of looking at it psychologically is through social learning theory. This theory says that we learn more about the roles of each gender from our significant others and parents. These roles are then “nailed in” using reinforcement. For example, when a little girl puts on makeup, she is told she looks beautiful by her mother. This reinforcement begins at birth. If we understand that girls need love and attention because they fear loss, we can also fathom why girls tend to be “cuddled” more. Because boys fear loss of power, they often get in trouble. Differences such as this increase as the children get older. Stereotypically, we believe that girls are more social and, “boys should be encouraged to move away from their mothers.”(9) If a boy tends to cling to his mother, society calls him a “momma’s boy.” At the age of two, boys and girls can identify the sex of an individual. At age three, the child knows its own sex. Children also learn a great deal about what society expects of them from other children at school. Girls are steered towards cheerleading and boys are taught football. Cognitive Development theory states that children really learn about what it means to be masculine and feminine during the age of five and six. Once children identify their own gender, they begin to like different things associated with their gender. This differs from social learning theory because it states that this development occurs at a certain time in the child’s life. Children actively seek out information that they think will make them similar to their peers. Social roles, “are a set of behavior patterns that define the expected behavior for individuals in a given position or status.” (12) The research of Talcott Parsons states that children learn about these roles from their families. For example, boys understand they cannot be like their feminine mothers so they tend to draw themselves away from them. Blumer and Mead conclude that we learn these roles from the expectations of our significant others. What society expects from men and woman can also vary from culture to culture. Carol Gilligan believes that males and females experience their social environment differently, and therefore develop differently in personality. Girls can automatically learn from their mothers, but boys must first detach themselves from their mothers. Girls gravitate towards the idea of attachment, so they usually shy from doing things that threaten their relationships with others. Because boys are taught to embrace separation, they often argue with others. Women define themselves through their ability to maintain healthy relationships with others which thus makes them kind and nurturing. Woman view separation to be unsafe and men prefer it. Ferguson believed that children develop based on their own priorities and social limits. A woman may want to be the CEO of a major company, so she will work hard to accomplish this task. Though because of what society believes, men will be thought to be better in this position.
There are various perspectives on gender identity. The dichotomous model states that there are basic differences between woman and men. Some see these differences as biological, and some believe they come from social conditioning. Although many differences have not been fully determined, there are some that have been well established. One of these differences is that girls have a greater verbal ability than boys. Girls are, “more responsive to tones, speech patterns, and vocal cues. Girls tend to speak and read earlier than boys.”(17) Male infants have better visual space abilities though. They also develop math skills earlier than girls. If a problem requires the solution to be verbal, girls tend to perform better. Women have better matching skills and a greater verbal fluency. A study also found boys to be more aggressive than girls. Instead of being aggressive, girls tend to handle their problems by being antisocial. Boys and girls find their self esteem in different places. Boys tend to connect themselves with characteristics such as drive, energy, and control. Girls like to associate themselves with words like generous and sensitive. Research also supports that, “girls and boys are equally proficient at all types of learning.”(19) It has been proven that girls often have a better achievement motivation under common circumstances. Research is still being done to prove whether or not girls are more compliant than boys and that boys are more active than girls. Also, it is still questionable whether or not girls are more, “sociable and nurturing than boys.” (19) One study did conclude that girls respond faster to the distress of another. Although many studies have been performed, their conclusions seem “superficial” if you look at the bigger picture.
In order to break down society’s influence on gender, strategies for change have been proposed. The concept of androgyny has been proposed to lessen the division between what is considered masculine or feminine. Sandra Bem brought about the concept of psychology androgyny which maintains that people can posses both masculine and feminine characteristics. An androgynous individual has great leadership qualities but is also sensitive to the needs of others. A person who is undifferentiated associates themselves with neither feminine nor masculine qualities. Androgyny allows a person more “flexibility” in their actions and it allows them to adapt properly to social situations. The concept is considered “healthier.” These individuals report, “better personal adjustment.”(21) As we observe interpersonal situations, our knowledge on gender orientation can be far more helpful than just knowing the sex of an individual. Complex social situations require both masculine and feminine characteristics.
A person’s culture and ethnicity also greatly influence their idea of masculine vs. feminine. It is true that what is expected of Caucasian American woman is entirely differently then what is expected from a Native American woman.
All these differences between men and woman shape our communication behavior. If we know these differences, we can break down stereotypes about what is masculine and what is feminine in order to see a person as an individual
Bibliography:
Stewart, Lea, Friedley, Sheryl, Stewart, Alan, & Cooper, Pamela (Fourth Addition). Gender and Communication.
In today’s society, we often believe that gender and sex are synonyms. This is not true at all, and it is indeed why so much thought has been put into gender communication. When a woman learns she is pregnant with a child, she usually wants to know whether it is a girl or a boy. If this woman hears she will have a bouncing baby girl, society has made it her duty to run out and buy five gallons of pink paint. She will assume that this little girl will have feminine characteristics. Though what if this little girl likes the color blue? Is that considered normal? The answer is yes- society has shaped our views of sex and gender so much that we expect specific things from them instead of simply considering them “human”.
Gender is something that is socially constructed meaning of masculine and feminine, and sex is something that is biological and genetic. The nature of gender is very complex, and three explanations have been proposed by scholars as things which shape its meaning: biological, social, and psychological.
Biological differences between men and woman explain what is on the surface of gender communication. Men and woman have different sexual organs, physical size, and anatomy. They also have differently structured brains. Research done by Kimura (2000) concluded that, “the right cortex is thicker in males’ brain then the left.”(5) This would mean that their brains are asymmetrical in the speech area which could lead to difficulty in communication. We do not have the evidence to support this claim though. It has also been proposed that females mature faster than men. For example, women tend to have a greater dexterity in things such as handwriting and wrist movement.
In order to look deeper into psychological theories we can look at the Freudian Identification Theory. Freud proposed that children will model their behavior after their same sex-parent in order to learn what society expects from their gender. Male development is centered around defensive identification because they fear power being taken from them. A woman develops from, “anaclitic identification.”(6) They do this because women have a fear of loss and love. This theory is sometimes looked upon poorly because it insinuates women are inferior. Another way of looking at it psychologically is through social learning theory. This theory says that we learn more about the roles of each gender from our significant others and parents. These roles are then “nailed in” using reinforcement. For example, when a little girl puts on makeup, she is told she looks beautiful by her mother. This reinforcement begins at birth. If we understand that girls need love and attention because they fear loss, we can also fathom why girls tend to be “cuddled” more. Because boys fear loss of power, they often get in trouble. Differences such as this increase as the children get older. Stereotypically, we believe that girls are more social and, “boys should be encouraged to move away from their mothers.”(9) If a boy tends to cling to his mother, society calls him a “momma’s boy.” At the age of two, boys and girls can identify the sex of an individual. At age three, the child knows its own sex. Children also learn a great deal about what society expects of them from other children at school. Girls are steered towards cheerleading and boys are taught football. Cognitive Development theory states that children really learn about what it means to be masculine and feminine during the age of five and six. Once children identify their own gender, they begin to like different things associated with their gender. This differs from social learning theory because it states that this development occurs at a certain time in the child’s life. Children actively seek out information that they think will make them similar to their peers. Social roles, “are a set of behavior patterns that define the expected behavior for individuals in a given position or status.” (12) The research of Talcott Parsons states that children learn about these roles from their families. For example, boys understand they cannot be like their feminine mothers so they tend to draw themselves away from them. Blumer and Mead conclude that we learn these roles from the expectations of our significant others. What society expects from men and woman can also vary from culture to culture. Carol Gilligan believes that males and females experience their social environment differently, and therefore develop differently in personality. Girls can automatically learn from their mothers, but boys must first detach themselves from their mothers. Girls gravitate towards the idea of attachment, so they usually shy from doing things that threaten their relationships with others. Because boys are taught to embrace separation, they often argue with others. Women define themselves through their ability to maintain healthy relationships with others which thus makes them kind and nurturing. Woman view separation to be unsafe and men prefer it. Ferguson believed that children develop based on their own priorities and social limits. A woman may want to be the CEO of a major company, so she will work hard to accomplish this task. Though because of what society believes, men will be thought to be better in this position.
There are various perspectives on gender identity. The dichotomous model states that there are basic differences between woman and men. Some see these differences as biological, and some believe they come from social conditioning. Although many differences have not been fully determined, there are some that have been well established. One of these differences is that girls have a greater verbal ability than boys. Girls are, “more responsive to tones, speech patterns, and vocal cues. Girls tend to speak and read earlier than boys.”(17) Male infants have better visual space abilities though. They also develop math skills earlier than girls. If a problem requires the solution to be verbal, girls tend to perform better. Women have better matching skills and a greater verbal fluency. A study also found boys to be more aggressive than girls. Instead of being aggressive, girls tend to handle their problems by being antisocial. Boys and girls find their self esteem in different places. Boys tend to connect themselves with characteristics such as drive, energy, and control. Girls like to associate themselves with words like generous and sensitive. Research also supports that, “girls and boys are equally proficient at all types of learning.”(19) It has been proven that girls often have a better achievement motivation under common circumstances. Research is still being done to prove whether or not girls are more compliant than boys and that boys are more active than girls. Also, it is still questionable whether or not girls are more, “sociable and nurturing than boys.” (19) One study did conclude that girls respond faster to the distress of another. Although many studies have been performed, their conclusions seem “superficial” if you look at the bigger picture.
In order to break down society’s influence on gender, strategies for change have been proposed. The concept of androgyny has been proposed to lessen the division between what is considered masculine or feminine. Sandra Bem brought about the concept of psychology androgyny which maintains that people can posses both masculine and feminine characteristics. An androgynous individual has great leadership qualities but is also sensitive to the needs of others. A person who is undifferentiated associates themselves with neither feminine nor masculine qualities. Androgyny allows a person more “flexibility” in their actions and it allows them to adapt properly to social situations. The concept is considered “healthier.” These individuals report, “better personal adjustment.”(21) As we observe interpersonal situations, our knowledge on gender orientation can be far more helpful than just knowing the sex of an individual. Complex social situations require both masculine and feminine characteristics.
A person’s culture and ethnicity also greatly influence their idea of masculine vs. feminine. It is true that what is expected of Caucasian American woman is entirely differently then what is expected from a Native American woman.
All these differences between men and woman shape our communication behavior. If we know these differences, we can break down stereotypes about what is masculine and what is feminine in order to see a person as an individual
Bibliography:
Stewart, Lea, Friedley, Sheryl, Stewart, Alan, & Cooper, Pamela (Fourth Addition). Gender and Communication.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Intrapersonal- Personal entry
As I did some research on intrapersonal communication, I found myself pondering how I performed in my past relationships with family, friends, and the opposite sex. As my eyes moved over each conflict, my brain flashed through every problem I’ve had with communication. I thought back to my last relationship with a boy who I couldn’t seem to trust. I thought about my relationship with my mother and how the space between us has brought us closer. I sit here and smile as I recall the conversation I just had with my best friend. Time has made most of the relationships in my life grow stronger. I believe that time will teach you a great amount about someone. They say that everyone is good; you just have to wait for them to show you that true side of themselves. I have waited for people to teach me about the good they will bring to the table- sometimes they lay it out, and sometimes it never shines through. I have not been in enough relationships to teach anyone about what to do and what not to do. I can tell you that communication in a relationship is an art. It is an art that has to be practiced and failed at. It is an art that will let you make mistakes. Though most importantly, I have learned that every relationship needs to find a balance. I know I should be an open person, but also closed at times. I have found that it is incredibly important to be independent, but it can hurt you if you are too detached. The more relationships that we experience, the more we grow in our knowledge of how we should be treated. I always feel bad for the girls who jump into relationships quickly for a long period of time. I think it is imperative to date around so that you can compare each relationship in order to shape your thoughts on what you are looking for in a future partner. When looking for someone to date, I usually find a person who has similar values, is respectful, and open. I care a lot about my relationships with people, and it puts me in great distress when one of them is not going well. As I looked through all these sections I started to over analyze my past relationships. At times, you have to stop picking at the small things and look at the relationship as a whole. I believe a person should make you happy. When that person starts to make you feel unhappy, then you should step back and ponder your intrapersonal communication.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Intrapersonal Communication-Creative
In the 2009 film, “He’s Just Not that Into You”, viewers get a chance to assess a number of different relationships. Because love is in fact blind, watching a relationship from the outside can bring you a refreshing perspective on dating. Throughout the movie, some relationships break, and some grow. The main character, Gigi, cannot seem to meet a great guy. Instead she waits for a phone call day in and day out from men she meets at a bar. The only problem is that she doesn’t know when to let go after the phone call never comes. Gigi’s work friend, Janine, seems to have the perfect marriage, until she hears that her husband has been cheating on her with a young yoga instructor. Janine’s husband is best friends with a man who cannot ask his girlfriend to marry him after they have been dating for seven years. I could go into this more and more, but it would get far too slippery and confusing. The thing that all the characters have in common is a problem with communication. Gigi is too clingy, and Janine wants comfort and commitment. This movie teaches us a lot about communication, and how it can badly affect our relationships with others. If the characters could step back, and assess the balance they have with their partners, they would determine that something is wrong. The way that these relationships fall apart and come together mirror the exact steps listed in chapter eight and nine of “Human Communication”. After Janine realizes that her marriage is in trouble internally, she seeks advice and help from others. When her husband feels the same, he confronts her about his affair. Both of them decide to stick it out and stay together, which ends up being a terrible idea. The marriage ends up failing, and Janine ends up kicking her husband out. Gigi also seems to have a problem with self-disclosure. She usually over shares, and ends up making herself vulnerable to the men she comes in contact with. She seems blind to the fact that good relationships take time and they are built on trust. Neil, who at first could not commit to marriage after seven years of dating Beth, ends up realizing that she is the person for him. Both Neil and Beth trust each other, and have spent enough time together that they have built a set of rules and norms. The movie proves to be an absorbing drama, and it is perfect for anyone who has experienced a tumultuous relationship.
Intrapersonal Communication- Definitional
Definitional-
Two people in a relationship usually live by rules and norms developed and defined by their society. Norms are rules, implicit or explicit, about our behavior. From these norms, we develop expectations for how people will act. We also have roles, which are a set of norms that connect to a certain class in society. More specifically, we have enacted vs. expected roles. An expected role would be our pre conceived notion of a teacher, and an enacted role would be how that teacher portrays his or herself in the classroom. Interrole conflict occurs when a person is occupying two or more roles that entail contradictory expectations about a particular behavior. You experience an intrarole conflict when contradictory expectations are expected from one role.
A dialectical approach sees relationships in terms of opposing impulses that create tension between two people. This approach makes four main assumptions. One assumption is that contradictions are needed in relationships in order to promote change and create vitality. Second, “there is a dynamic tension between stability and change in all social systems.”(277) The third assumption is that we communicate to others, and we are reactive to the communication we receive in return. Lastly, we understand the dynamics of something only from experiencing other things that help us reflect on the situation. The three primary dialects that create tension are: autonomy vs. connection; certainty vs. uncertainty; and openness vs. closedness. In a relationship we want to feel a strong bond with someone, but we also want our own space, which creates the conflict between autonomy and connection. We look for excitement in a relationship, but we also look for predictability and trust which produces the conflict of certainty and uncertainty. It is important to keep information to ourselves, but it is all imperative that we be open with those in our lives. Sometimes the line in between open and closed can create tension. To assess the quality of an interpersonal relationship we use a few key concepts. One is that after two people have been together, their conversations should be about things other then what is happening around them and more based physiologically. Rules in a relationship that is healthy are usually developed by those two people rather than shaped by tradition. Rules are also defined by specific personal characteristics. In a good relationship, emphasis is placed on individual choices. A key term in this section is self disclosure. Self disclosure is the amount of information you make known about yourself intentionally. The Johari Window is very important when dealing with interpersonal communication. Box one is defined as open. This means that this information is known to you and others. An example of this would be that I am a girl with brown hair. Box two is blind. This information is known to others but not to yourself. This concept goes along with someone not believing they are a good dancer when others think they are. Box three is hidden. This information you know, but others do not. These consist of your personal secrets. The last box is unknown. This is yet to be discovered by anyone. Trust and reciprocity will help guide people around the window. When we trust someone, our information becomes open. We must reciprocate the trust. Internet dating provides a good example of self disclosure. We can reveal or conceal whatever we want about ourselves in order for someone to form a view of us. It is important to ask yourself whether or not self disclosure is appropriate in that particular relationship.
Normally when we hear the word intimacy we think of sexual intercourse. Intimacy though, is defined as closeness, and is measured in numerous ways. It is important in a healthy relationship to find balance between being together all the time and being independent. There are three different attachment types that Tubbs and Moss define. A secure attachment occurs when the two people are secure and comfortable with the relationship. An avoidant relationship happens when the bond between two people makes them uncomfortable. An anxious-ambivalent relationship is between people who have a complete fear of being abandoned. This type of person is probably deeply concerned with affiliation meaning they need to be around people most of their time.
Commitment is something that is horribly important in a relationship. Commitment is defined as, “the resolve to continue in a relationship indefinitely and to make the efforts necessary to ensure that it will continue.”(292) In our society, marriage is the ultimate fulfillment of commitment. Some are very scared of this because it restrains them for the rest of their lives. Living together can also be step that most people fear, even though it is important so that two people can learn to exist in the same place. In a balanced relationship, intimacy, love, passion, and decision/commitment are all in balance. This is highlighted in Sternberg’s Love Triangle. If the sides are unbalanced, the relationship is also unbalanced.
Love styles are something that define a relationship. Eros is a passionate love, and Ludus is a game playing love. Storge is a friendship based love and Pragma is a practical love. Mania is possessive love and Agape love is selfless.
Most commonly in a relationship, you can determine the dominance, status, and power. People with a strong need for dominance and high affiliation are more likely to direct. People with a low need for dominance and a low affiliation usually retreat from a relationship. Tubbs and Moss define status as, “the position of an individual in relation to another or others.”(300) Many people care about their status, and it puts a great strain on the relationship. In order for a person to have power, it must be given. This being said, if someone has power over you, you have let them. This is something in the relationship that you should have control over.
Power is discussed many times in terms of gender. There are four bases of gendered power. Force is asserted through physical force and emotional distress. Men usually lead in force because society sees them to be more powerful in that manner. Men also usually hold positions of power more often and for that they tend to have more resources. Usually, men also control ideology through their roles. Women are usually defined as warm, but because of this, men tend to have more power over their freedom creating unequal social obligations. Many experts agree that even marriages today are still unequal because of gender. To make a relationship equal, partners need to assess their equality and make sure that they are assertive in order to establish their needs. Being too assertive will become a huge problem. Sometimes when you express your own thoughts and feelings, you do so at the other person’s expense. The art of a relationship is balance. Two people will have a healthy relationship if they are constantly reflecting on their “equilibrium”.
In order to understand more about interpersonal communication, we must learn about relationships in detail. There are many bases in human attraction that help us get to know each other more. The first one is proximity, which is our “geographical closeness” to someone. (233) Another is similarity. Many scientists have found that we tend to be attracted to people who are similar to us. There are different things that make us draw ourselves away from someone. These things include knowing if someone likes you back, a change in self-esteem, anxiety, isolation, dating minimally, and online dating.
To define the context of a relationship we have to reflect on two things. The setting or the environment that we have grown up influences our characteristics thus creating similarities with people who also grew up in that environment. Our communication climate is also significant. A way of measuring our climate is through confirmation and disconfirmation. It is satisfying to receive confirmation from your partner and it can be incredibly damaging to receive no confirmation. In a relationship, a good partner is supportive and non defensive. When we feel threatened we immediately become defensive and it is usually not necessary. It is important to realize that the main ingredient for relationships to grow is time. Relationships are all different in the ways they share information. It is important to talk about a variety of topics with a great amount of depth. Trust is a fundamental part of relationships. If we feel lied to or deceived, we immediately close up, and the event can make trusting again difficult. People in relationships must find a balance between affection and control. Affection can be loving and passionate, but it can also be hostile.
Two people may become lifelong partners, but in order to do so they must first go through certain steps. The entire process is defined as, “coming together.” (249) The first step is initiating and making the firsts steps to create conversation. The second step is experimenting where people try to learn more about each other. The intensifying step marks the beginning or intimacy in the relationship. The integrating step happens when two people consider themselves to be a couple. The last step is bonding, which can take form in marriage. A couple comes apart using steps too. The differentiating step occurs when two people decide their relationship is to “clingy”. The circumscribing step refers to a decrease in time that a couple spends with each other. Stagnating happens when two people try to hold onto a relationship that is deteriorating. When a person is on the avoidance step they are trying to cope with the pain in the demise of the relationship. Terminating occurs at end and is the final stage.
As people study why relationships end they realize that it happens in phases. The first phase is intrapsychic. This stage is usually internal. The dyadic phase occurs when the two people in the relationship confront each other. When the couple starts seeking advice from other people they are in the social phase. In the grave dressing phase we usually turn to others so that we may justify that what we are doing is right. To maintain relationships, researchers have found that it helps to be positive, be open, assure the other person, spend time with common friends, and share tasks. It is also imperative to be supportive, a good sharer, and to spend time with each other.
Our relationships with family are usually the ones that matter most to us. Early on in a child’s life, a parent establishes gender roles in the family. It is important to view a family as a system so that you can classify the relationship networks. Nurturing families tend to be open systems. Every family has a set of rules that each family member knows and follows. Families with adolescents usually have an increase in social conflict. Teenagers are going through intense changes and their relationships usually change as a part of that.
Bibliography:
Tubbs, Stewart, & Moss, Sylvia (1974). Human Communication. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill .
Two people in a relationship usually live by rules and norms developed and defined by their society. Norms are rules, implicit or explicit, about our behavior. From these norms, we develop expectations for how people will act. We also have roles, which are a set of norms that connect to a certain class in society. More specifically, we have enacted vs. expected roles. An expected role would be our pre conceived notion of a teacher, and an enacted role would be how that teacher portrays his or herself in the classroom. Interrole conflict occurs when a person is occupying two or more roles that entail contradictory expectations about a particular behavior. You experience an intrarole conflict when contradictory expectations are expected from one role.
A dialectical approach sees relationships in terms of opposing impulses that create tension between two people. This approach makes four main assumptions. One assumption is that contradictions are needed in relationships in order to promote change and create vitality. Second, “there is a dynamic tension between stability and change in all social systems.”(277) The third assumption is that we communicate to others, and we are reactive to the communication we receive in return. Lastly, we understand the dynamics of something only from experiencing other things that help us reflect on the situation. The three primary dialects that create tension are: autonomy vs. connection; certainty vs. uncertainty; and openness vs. closedness. In a relationship we want to feel a strong bond with someone, but we also want our own space, which creates the conflict between autonomy and connection. We look for excitement in a relationship, but we also look for predictability and trust which produces the conflict of certainty and uncertainty. It is important to keep information to ourselves, but it is all imperative that we be open with those in our lives. Sometimes the line in between open and closed can create tension. To assess the quality of an interpersonal relationship we use a few key concepts. One is that after two people have been together, their conversations should be about things other then what is happening around them and more based physiologically. Rules in a relationship that is healthy are usually developed by those two people rather than shaped by tradition. Rules are also defined by specific personal characteristics. In a good relationship, emphasis is placed on individual choices. A key term in this section is self disclosure. Self disclosure is the amount of information you make known about yourself intentionally. The Johari Window is very important when dealing with interpersonal communication. Box one is defined as open. This means that this information is known to you and others. An example of this would be that I am a girl with brown hair. Box two is blind. This information is known to others but not to yourself. This concept goes along with someone not believing they are a good dancer when others think they are. Box three is hidden. This information you know, but others do not. These consist of your personal secrets. The last box is unknown. This is yet to be discovered by anyone. Trust and reciprocity will help guide people around the window. When we trust someone, our information becomes open. We must reciprocate the trust. Internet dating provides a good example of self disclosure. We can reveal or conceal whatever we want about ourselves in order for someone to form a view of us. It is important to ask yourself whether or not self disclosure is appropriate in that particular relationship.
Normally when we hear the word intimacy we think of sexual intercourse. Intimacy though, is defined as closeness, and is measured in numerous ways. It is important in a healthy relationship to find balance between being together all the time and being independent. There are three different attachment types that Tubbs and Moss define. A secure attachment occurs when the two people are secure and comfortable with the relationship. An avoidant relationship happens when the bond between two people makes them uncomfortable. An anxious-ambivalent relationship is between people who have a complete fear of being abandoned. This type of person is probably deeply concerned with affiliation meaning they need to be around people most of their time.
Commitment is something that is horribly important in a relationship. Commitment is defined as, “the resolve to continue in a relationship indefinitely and to make the efforts necessary to ensure that it will continue.”(292) In our society, marriage is the ultimate fulfillment of commitment. Some are very scared of this because it restrains them for the rest of their lives. Living together can also be step that most people fear, even though it is important so that two people can learn to exist in the same place. In a balanced relationship, intimacy, love, passion, and decision/commitment are all in balance. This is highlighted in Sternberg’s Love Triangle. If the sides are unbalanced, the relationship is also unbalanced.
Love styles are something that define a relationship. Eros is a passionate love, and Ludus is a game playing love. Storge is a friendship based love and Pragma is a practical love. Mania is possessive love and Agape love is selfless.
Most commonly in a relationship, you can determine the dominance, status, and power. People with a strong need for dominance and high affiliation are more likely to direct. People with a low need for dominance and a low affiliation usually retreat from a relationship. Tubbs and Moss define status as, “the position of an individual in relation to another or others.”(300) Many people care about their status, and it puts a great strain on the relationship. In order for a person to have power, it must be given. This being said, if someone has power over you, you have let them. This is something in the relationship that you should have control over.
Power is discussed many times in terms of gender. There are four bases of gendered power. Force is asserted through physical force and emotional distress. Men usually lead in force because society sees them to be more powerful in that manner. Men also usually hold positions of power more often and for that they tend to have more resources. Usually, men also control ideology through their roles. Women are usually defined as warm, but because of this, men tend to have more power over their freedom creating unequal social obligations. Many experts agree that even marriages today are still unequal because of gender. To make a relationship equal, partners need to assess their equality and make sure that they are assertive in order to establish their needs. Being too assertive will become a huge problem. Sometimes when you express your own thoughts and feelings, you do so at the other person’s expense. The art of a relationship is balance. Two people will have a healthy relationship if they are constantly reflecting on their “equilibrium”.
In order to understand more about interpersonal communication, we must learn about relationships in detail. There are many bases in human attraction that help us get to know each other more. The first one is proximity, which is our “geographical closeness” to someone. (233) Another is similarity. Many scientists have found that we tend to be attracted to people who are similar to us. There are different things that make us draw ourselves away from someone. These things include knowing if someone likes you back, a change in self-esteem, anxiety, isolation, dating minimally, and online dating.
To define the context of a relationship we have to reflect on two things. The setting or the environment that we have grown up influences our characteristics thus creating similarities with people who also grew up in that environment. Our communication climate is also significant. A way of measuring our climate is through confirmation and disconfirmation. It is satisfying to receive confirmation from your partner and it can be incredibly damaging to receive no confirmation. In a relationship, a good partner is supportive and non defensive. When we feel threatened we immediately become defensive and it is usually not necessary. It is important to realize that the main ingredient for relationships to grow is time. Relationships are all different in the ways they share information. It is important to talk about a variety of topics with a great amount of depth. Trust is a fundamental part of relationships. If we feel lied to or deceived, we immediately close up, and the event can make trusting again difficult. People in relationships must find a balance between affection and control. Affection can be loving and passionate, but it can also be hostile.
Two people may become lifelong partners, but in order to do so they must first go through certain steps. The entire process is defined as, “coming together.” (249) The first step is initiating and making the firsts steps to create conversation. The second step is experimenting where people try to learn more about each other. The intensifying step marks the beginning or intimacy in the relationship. The integrating step happens when two people consider themselves to be a couple. The last step is bonding, which can take form in marriage. A couple comes apart using steps too. The differentiating step occurs when two people decide their relationship is to “clingy”. The circumscribing step refers to a decrease in time that a couple spends with each other. Stagnating happens when two people try to hold onto a relationship that is deteriorating. When a person is on the avoidance step they are trying to cope with the pain in the demise of the relationship. Terminating occurs at end and is the final stage.
As people study why relationships end they realize that it happens in phases. The first phase is intrapsychic. This stage is usually internal. The dyadic phase occurs when the two people in the relationship confront each other. When the couple starts seeking advice from other people they are in the social phase. In the grave dressing phase we usually turn to others so that we may justify that what we are doing is right. To maintain relationships, researchers have found that it helps to be positive, be open, assure the other person, spend time with common friends, and share tasks. It is also imperative to be supportive, a good sharer, and to spend time with each other.
Our relationships with family are usually the ones that matter most to us. Early on in a child’s life, a parent establishes gender roles in the family. It is important to view a family as a system so that you can classify the relationship networks. Nurturing families tend to be open systems. Every family has a set of rules that each family member knows and follows. Families with adolescents usually have an increase in social conflict. Teenagers are going through intense changes and their relationships usually change as a part of that.
Bibliography:
Tubbs, Stewart, & Moss, Sylvia (1974). Human Communication. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill .
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The History of Communication- Self Reflection
Reflection:
The study of communication and rhetoric has influenced my life greatly. What was discovered in those centuries long ago has provided me with a fundamental base for survival. If I did not know how to effectively communicate and advocate for what is important to me I would not be able to donate my thoughts in order to be a citizen of the world. Each year that I studied English, communication, and rhetoric I attained building blocks to be a good speaker. In first grade I began to read! This is when I realized that I could gather all this knowledge through books, news papers, encyclopedias, etc. Once I would read something interesting I would immediately want to present it to someone. Sometimes I would find that I really did not know enough on the subject matter to teach it to someone. This would make me want to learn more and more. As I began to develop by grammar skills I learned to present my ideas in a polished manor that made what I was saying more credible. Through essay writing I learned how to organize my ideas in order to present them clearly. In debate classes I learned about the three types of oratory and the three appeals. Even when I was speaking outside of debate class I would use the three appeals to persuade someone to share my opinion. And I am in fact a very non confrontational person, but knowing the three appeals comes in very handy during verbal disagreements. I had studied Plato and Aristotle before this class, but I had no idea all the ways that they contributed to communication. I think it is also important to acknowledge that many different forms of government were developed just so that we could communicate better. Democracy allows us to have a say in the people that ultimately make the decisions for us.
Every single day I try to effectively communicate with others so that my ideas and opinions can be presented and sometimes used to persuade. This can be very exhausting day in and day out, but I find that I become more eloquent the more I practice. The art of communication is something that happens over a great deal of time. It has taken us centuries to learn the basics. I think it is imperative to look at how communication started and how it has grown. Sometimes when I speak I get so wrapped up in what I am blabbering about that I forget my purpose. I will now use “the five canons” of effective communication when presenting a speech. Sometimes we need to turn back to the fundamental ideas of simply gaining knowledge and organizing before we present our thoughts.
The study of communication and rhetoric has influenced my life greatly. What was discovered in those centuries long ago has provided me with a fundamental base for survival. If I did not know how to effectively communicate and advocate for what is important to me I would not be able to donate my thoughts in order to be a citizen of the world. Each year that I studied English, communication, and rhetoric I attained building blocks to be a good speaker. In first grade I began to read! This is when I realized that I could gather all this knowledge through books, news papers, encyclopedias, etc. Once I would read something interesting I would immediately want to present it to someone. Sometimes I would find that I really did not know enough on the subject matter to teach it to someone. This would make me want to learn more and more. As I began to develop by grammar skills I learned to present my ideas in a polished manor that made what I was saying more credible. Through essay writing I learned how to organize my ideas in order to present them clearly. In debate classes I learned about the three types of oratory and the three appeals. Even when I was speaking outside of debate class I would use the three appeals to persuade someone to share my opinion. And I am in fact a very non confrontational person, but knowing the three appeals comes in very handy during verbal disagreements. I had studied Plato and Aristotle before this class, but I had no idea all the ways that they contributed to communication. I think it is also important to acknowledge that many different forms of government were developed just so that we could communicate better. Democracy allows us to have a say in the people that ultimately make the decisions for us.
Every single day I try to effectively communicate with others so that my ideas and opinions can be presented and sometimes used to persuade. This can be very exhausting day in and day out, but I find that I become more eloquent the more I practice. The art of communication is something that happens over a great deal of time. It has taken us centuries to learn the basics. I think it is imperative to look at how communication started and how it has grown. Sometimes when I speak I get so wrapped up in what I am blabbering about that I forget my purpose. I will now use “the five canons” of effective communication when presenting a speech. Sometimes we need to turn back to the fundamental ideas of simply gaining knowledge and organizing before we present our thoughts.
History of Communiation- Relation to the Present
Connecting with the Present:
I have attached a video of Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture” above. This relates to the history of communication because Pausch’s speech incorporates all the effective tools of rhetoric. The purpose of this speech is to one, relay all that he has learned about attaining his childhood dreams to those sitting in the audience at Carnegie Mellon and two, to record something that his children will be able to view when he is not there. His speech is dynamic, exciting, and interactive. He uses the three appeals Aristotle defined many times throughout his presentation. He establishes his credibility or ethos by proving to us that he has in fact accomplished his childhood dreams through pictures, word documents such as his published article in the encyclopedia, and huge stuffed animals. More simply, he has already built his ethos by being a well liked and brilliant computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The steps that he takes to achieve his dreams are logical. He does not do anything out of the ordinary and he is given the same opportunities as everyone else. The difference in his logic is that when he is turned down he tries again. He connects with his audience on an emotional level because he encourages them to be all that they can be because life is too short to wait for things to come. After listening to his speech I feel inspired which is the kind of feedback he wants- it means his persuasion has worked.
Another way that Pausch effectively communicates with us is through his body language. He uses large hand gestures and powerful facial expressions to show us that he is passionate about what he is talking about. He comes prepared to speak with a PowerPoint and props. We know as we listen to his to his words that he has spent a long time generating and organizing this speech. Though most importantly, he has spent years and years accumulating the knowledge and reason that is imperative to even give the speech. He also greatly considers the thoughts and attitudes of his audience. Most of the people who are watching him are in there twenties and thirties. He acknowledges this by making the speech whimsical and gearing it towards those who are fascinated with computer science. And although the steps he takes to achieve his dreams are fairly complex, the point he is trying to make is not. This makes his speech easy to comprehend by his children. Pausch’s speech is so engrossing that at times you cannot take your eyes off him as he becomes excited about the topics his is presenting. Without knowing how to effectively demonstrate his thoughts, his speech would have just been a bulk of superfluous jargon. Using all that he has attained about communication and rhetoric, he presents a beautiful speech. If Aristotle, Plato, Gorgias, or Cicero had never existed, how would “The Last Lecture” teach anything? Over thousands of years the study of communication and rhetoric has been polished so that those to wish to make a statement can do so powerfully and eloquently.
I have attached a video of Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture” above. This relates to the history of communication because Pausch’s speech incorporates all the effective tools of rhetoric. The purpose of this speech is to one, relay all that he has learned about attaining his childhood dreams to those sitting in the audience at Carnegie Mellon and two, to record something that his children will be able to view when he is not there. His speech is dynamic, exciting, and interactive. He uses the three appeals Aristotle defined many times throughout his presentation. He establishes his credibility or ethos by proving to us that he has in fact accomplished his childhood dreams through pictures, word documents such as his published article in the encyclopedia, and huge stuffed animals. More simply, he has already built his ethos by being a well liked and brilliant computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The steps that he takes to achieve his dreams are logical. He does not do anything out of the ordinary and he is given the same opportunities as everyone else. The difference in his logic is that when he is turned down he tries again. He connects with his audience on an emotional level because he encourages them to be all that they can be because life is too short to wait for things to come. After listening to his speech I feel inspired which is the kind of feedback he wants- it means his persuasion has worked.
Another way that Pausch effectively communicates with us is through his body language. He uses large hand gestures and powerful facial expressions to show us that he is passionate about what he is talking about. He comes prepared to speak with a PowerPoint and props. We know as we listen to his to his words that he has spent a long time generating and organizing this speech. Though most importantly, he has spent years and years accumulating the knowledge and reason that is imperative to even give the speech. He also greatly considers the thoughts and attitudes of his audience. Most of the people who are watching him are in there twenties and thirties. He acknowledges this by making the speech whimsical and gearing it towards those who are fascinated with computer science. And although the steps he takes to achieve his dreams are fairly complex, the point he is trying to make is not. This makes his speech easy to comprehend by his children. Pausch’s speech is so engrossing that at times you cannot take your eyes off him as he becomes excited about the topics his is presenting. Without knowing how to effectively demonstrate his thoughts, his speech would have just been a bulk of superfluous jargon. Using all that he has attained about communication and rhetoric, he presents a beautiful speech. If Aristotle, Plato, Gorgias, or Cicero had never existed, how would “The Last Lecture” teach anything? Over thousands of years the study of communication and rhetoric has been polished so that those to wish to make a statement can do so powerfully and eloquently.
The History of Communication- Definitional
Definitional:
Effective communication began to take shape in the fifth century B.C. when the Greeks created the adversary system. This system was a way of working through problems with others without using physical violence. More specifically, the adversary system of government had a guilty until proven innocent philosophy. The Athenians believed that most everything in their lives was predetermined, so this new way of thinking was hard to accept. This system promoted change in the way that it pushed the citizens to resist what they found untrue, and fight for their rights.
If you could not communicate in an effective manor chances were you would lose most of your verbal battles. This is where sophists came into play. Sophists were the first teachers of communication. They specialized in the studies of rhetoric, communication, and persuasion. A few famous sophists include: Arête, Hippias, Protagoras, Gorgias, Aristotle, and Plato. Arête focused on what the audience brought to the table- attitude and knowledge- in order to form a convincing and direct dialogue. Hippias taught his students that it was imperative to be broadly knowledgeable about their topic so that they could expand or defend their thoughts. Protagoras coined the concept that two sides can have a valid argument, but one side will have a stronger argument. Gorgias wanted people to know that public speaking can excite or “move” a crowd. These men molded our thoughts on communication greatly, but Plato and Aristotle heightened the idea of communication by placing all pre conceived notions of this study together. Plato believed that individuals would uncover fact, and that truth was an ideal for academic scholarship. Aristotle was an empiricist and affirmed that we can make certain claims as long as they are tied to universal principles. Unlike Plato, Aristotle believed that rhetoric could be used positively, but he also accepted that it could be used negatively too. Sophists during this time tended to gain poor reputations because words can be used to deceive.
Aristotle taught his students three broad ideas about oratory and persuasion. Most importantly though, he wanted people to understand that communication has a purpose; we do not speak unless we have something to say. He said that there are three types of oratory: forensics (looking at the past to advocate justice), deliberative (the influence of future action), and epideictic (celebratory). He also contended that persuasion is accomplished through the three appeals of ethos (credibility), logos (logic), and pathos (emotion). To be an effective communicator we must generate ideas, organize them, use language appropriate to the occasion, be knowledgeable on the topic, and deliver the speech in a convincing way. As you can see, the ideas above were created and broadened over time emphasizing the idea that competent communication has been polished over hundreds of years.
The concept of rhetoric in Egypt and Rome was like gold. Not many people wanted to literally learn and practice the art of communication but rather they just wanted to house the knowledge. Alexander the Great created a library to house all the communication expertise. When the library of Alexandria was raided by the Christian Crusaders it started a chain reaction. People would raid other countries libraries so that they could attain this knowledge and translate the ideas so that their people would understand them. This is a very interesting and troubling thought because it created conflict, but without it, communication would not have been changed and evolved so abundantly. The Romans realized that rhetoric could be used to construct or change laws and that is why the country is known for organization and discipline. Three important people during this time period were Quintilian, Aros and Cicero. Aros did not just house knowledge of communication, but he actually studied it further and expanded our analysis of the audience. Cicero contrived that oratory had three objectives- to instruct, to please, and to win over. Quintilian, “developed a detailed theory of rhetoric” into what is now called the “five canons or rhetoric”. (17) As the Roman Catholic Church became the center of knowledge in the fourth and fifth century, people started to spiritually develop their relationship with God. As Europe was declining, the Moors became the ones that possessed a considerable knowledge, “that Christian Europeans lacked.” (19) When Johann Gutenberg created a printing press, books became attainable to all people. This allowed Renaissance scholars to write books in their native languages and print them so that they were widely available.
During the enlightenment period, Francis Bacon performed a scientific study of gestures which started the concept of nonverbal communication. John Locke also famously called language, “the great instrument, the Tye of society” at the time. (24)George Campbell, Hugh Blair, and Richard Whately made significant contributions to the study of rhetoric which would eventually lead to the development of communication programs in American Universities. Elocution was developed after democracy and the rhetoric of England and the new world. Thomas Sheridan taught the lower class how to present their opinions so that they could promote their own justice to the higher class. The lower class would need to develop strong forms of reason, deliver their thoughts sincerely, and present a nice argument.
All of these contributions seem rather overwhelming when broken down by time period. Without all of these additions, our society would be socially inept. As the need to learn to communicate effectively grows, schools will hire more educators and develop departments to, “better conduct research and teach a growing student population.” (24)
Bibliography
Dues, Michael, & Brown, Mary (2004). Boxing Plato's Shadow- An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Effective communication began to take shape in the fifth century B.C. when the Greeks created the adversary system. This system was a way of working through problems with others without using physical violence. More specifically, the adversary system of government had a guilty until proven innocent philosophy. The Athenians believed that most everything in their lives was predetermined, so this new way of thinking was hard to accept. This system promoted change in the way that it pushed the citizens to resist what they found untrue, and fight for their rights.
If you could not communicate in an effective manor chances were you would lose most of your verbal battles. This is where sophists came into play. Sophists were the first teachers of communication. They specialized in the studies of rhetoric, communication, and persuasion. A few famous sophists include: Arête, Hippias, Protagoras, Gorgias, Aristotle, and Plato. Arête focused on what the audience brought to the table- attitude and knowledge- in order to form a convincing and direct dialogue. Hippias taught his students that it was imperative to be broadly knowledgeable about their topic so that they could expand or defend their thoughts. Protagoras coined the concept that two sides can have a valid argument, but one side will have a stronger argument. Gorgias wanted people to know that public speaking can excite or “move” a crowd. These men molded our thoughts on communication greatly, but Plato and Aristotle heightened the idea of communication by placing all pre conceived notions of this study together. Plato believed that individuals would uncover fact, and that truth was an ideal for academic scholarship. Aristotle was an empiricist and affirmed that we can make certain claims as long as they are tied to universal principles. Unlike Plato, Aristotle believed that rhetoric could be used positively, but he also accepted that it could be used negatively too. Sophists during this time tended to gain poor reputations because words can be used to deceive.
Aristotle taught his students three broad ideas about oratory and persuasion. Most importantly though, he wanted people to understand that communication has a purpose; we do not speak unless we have something to say. He said that there are three types of oratory: forensics (looking at the past to advocate justice), deliberative (the influence of future action), and epideictic (celebratory). He also contended that persuasion is accomplished through the three appeals of ethos (credibility), logos (logic), and pathos (emotion). To be an effective communicator we must generate ideas, organize them, use language appropriate to the occasion, be knowledgeable on the topic, and deliver the speech in a convincing way. As you can see, the ideas above were created and broadened over time emphasizing the idea that competent communication has been polished over hundreds of years.
The concept of rhetoric in Egypt and Rome was like gold. Not many people wanted to literally learn and practice the art of communication but rather they just wanted to house the knowledge. Alexander the Great created a library to house all the communication expertise. When the library of Alexandria was raided by the Christian Crusaders it started a chain reaction. People would raid other countries libraries so that they could attain this knowledge and translate the ideas so that their people would understand them. This is a very interesting and troubling thought because it created conflict, but without it, communication would not have been changed and evolved so abundantly. The Romans realized that rhetoric could be used to construct or change laws and that is why the country is known for organization and discipline. Three important people during this time period were Quintilian, Aros and Cicero. Aros did not just house knowledge of communication, but he actually studied it further and expanded our analysis of the audience. Cicero contrived that oratory had three objectives- to instruct, to please, and to win over. Quintilian, “developed a detailed theory of rhetoric” into what is now called the “five canons or rhetoric”. (17) As the Roman Catholic Church became the center of knowledge in the fourth and fifth century, people started to spiritually develop their relationship with God. As Europe was declining, the Moors became the ones that possessed a considerable knowledge, “that Christian Europeans lacked.” (19) When Johann Gutenberg created a printing press, books became attainable to all people. This allowed Renaissance scholars to write books in their native languages and print them so that they were widely available.
During the enlightenment period, Francis Bacon performed a scientific study of gestures which started the concept of nonverbal communication. John Locke also famously called language, “the great instrument, the Tye of society” at the time. (24)George Campbell, Hugh Blair, and Richard Whately made significant contributions to the study of rhetoric which would eventually lead to the development of communication programs in American Universities. Elocution was developed after democracy and the rhetoric of England and the new world. Thomas Sheridan taught the lower class how to present their opinions so that they could promote their own justice to the higher class. The lower class would need to develop strong forms of reason, deliver their thoughts sincerely, and present a nice argument.
All of these contributions seem rather overwhelming when broken down by time period. Without all of these additions, our society would be socially inept. As the need to learn to communicate effectively grows, schools will hire more educators and develop departments to, “better conduct research and teach a growing student population.” (24)
Bibliography
Dues, Michael, & Brown, Mary (2004). Boxing Plato's Shadow- An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Model of Communication
As you can see in picture one, rain drops are falling from the sky to the ground. Each rain drop can represent something like an idea, thought, or an opinion. Picture two depicts the pond receiving the rain. Thus the pond represents a person listening to another. In picture three, the pond expands because it "accepts" the raindrops. This can be feedback because an effective process has occurred. Image four shows a sunshine (aka a stimulant) that forces the raindrops out of the pond and back into the atmosphere. I believe that thoughts taken in should be freely given off to form this constant cycle of knowledge. A weather pattern seemed to most effectively represent a model of communication because it is in constant motion. Words, and nonverbal cues are given off and taken in at every moment. The person who listens to someone speak should walk away feeling like they gained something from the conversation. Hopefully, whatever they have gained can be distributed to others.
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