Definitions, Models and Perspectives - Why do I care??????
"Communication is a complex process that can be viewed in many ways." Pg. 17
You read through Chapter 1 last week, arguably, an incredibly interesting chapter!!!! I know most people don't think about where current communication theory began, but being a Comm major (obviously), this chapter was incredibly interesting. The same can be said for the current chapter in the Trenholm text. What should you care about Definitions, Models, and Perspectives?
I'll tell you why - - - - in the most simple terms possible, because it provides context for the rest of the semester. The chapters starts out on page 17 by giving you the origin of the word 'definition'. It means "to determine, bring to an end, or settle".
We must first define communication in order to understand it. However, by doing so, we immediately put boundaries on the concept. The course text talk about how definitions can either be thought of as discoveries or constructions. The Trenolm book takes the view that definitions are constructions. This perspective lends itself to creativity. Definitions as constructions is a definition that is useful - and there can be several definitions for a single phenomenon (see Table 2.1 on page 19).
Another way to understand Communication is to build models of it. This discussion starts on page 22. We must remember, however, that while models are useful to aid in our understanding, not all models are perfect. They can be incomplete, and contain hidden assumptions.
When the assumptions we make about the phenomenon form a coherent set and embody a single philosophy, they are called perspectives. The Trenholm text discusses four perspectives:
1). Psychological Perspective: sees communication as message transmission.
2). Social Constructionist Perspective: sees communication as a process of world building.
3). Pragmatic Perspective: views communication as patterned interaction.
4). Cultural Studies Perspective: views communication as a tool for creating and maintaining power relations within cultures.
We can learn a great deal from each of these perspectives. No matter one's perspective, a key to understanding communication is observing interaction, as our book states.
The Blogging Prof.
We must first define communication in order to understand it. However, by doing so, we immediately put boundaries on the concept. The course text talk about how definitions can either be thought of as discoveries or constructions. The Trenolm book takes the view that definitions are constructions. This perspective lends itself to creativity. Definitions as constructions is a definition that is useful - and there can be several definitions for a single phenomenon (see Table 2.1 on page 19).
Another way to understand Communication is to build models of it. This discussion starts on page 22. We must remember, however, that while models are useful to aid in our understanding, not all models are perfect. They can be incomplete, and contain hidden assumptions.
When the assumptions we make about the phenomenon form a coherent set and embody a single philosophy, they are called perspectives. The Trenholm text discusses four perspectives:
1). Psychological Perspective: sees communication as message transmission.
2). Social Constructionist Perspective: sees communication as a process of world building.
3). Pragmatic Perspective: views communication as patterned interaction.
4). Cultural Studies Perspective: views communication as a tool for creating and maintaining power relations within cultures.
We can learn a great deal from each of these perspectives. No matter one's perspective, a key to understanding communication is observing interaction, as our book states.
The Blogging Prof.
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