"Our survival as social beings depends in large part on our interpersonal communication skills"
Interpersonal Communication theory is one of my favorite aspects of communication studies. When I was at school in the Midwest (for merely a semester), we conducted an experiment that went against interpersonal norms. For instance, we got in an elevator and faced the wrong direction to see how people would react. We also had 2 students go into a swanky department store, one dressed in sweats and the other dressed nicely, to see how the store attendants would treat each 'customer'. The results were as you would expect. The elevator riders became very uncomfortable when someone was facing the wrong direction, and the department store associates ignored the student dressed in sweats and offered help to the person dressed nicely.
Interpersonal communication has many facets. Your book covers dyadic communication, managing interpersonal communication, relational development (stages in intimate dyad's) which also includes Duck's Relational Dissolution Model (quite an interesting section), increasing relational skills (disclosure - always a great topic to study), managing interpersonal conflict, and becoming a more responsible communicator.
This chapter is, by far, one of my favorites in the book. Each of us engages in dyadic communication on a continual basis, and understanding some of these concepts might help to improve those relationships.
Personal Note: You all can probably see my passion when it comes to communication, but there is something special about interpersonal communication that draws me in. These are the weeks I wish that we were able to meet in person. Discussing personal experiences with interpersonal communication, conflict, etc... can really draw a class together.
When I was a graduate student at San Jose State University a number of years ago, I took Shawn Spano's graduate seminar on interpersonal communication. We studied many theories, covered many topics and shared many personal experiences. One of the major course assignments was about mediation (yet another facet of interpersonal communication). We had to mediate a disagreement between two people, and write a research paper about it. That assignment was one of the most interesting assignments I had completed in graduate school. It really showed the inner workings of a close, intimate relationship between two people, and it helped them to workout some issues they were encountering.
As you can see, interpersonal communication has many different facets. I hope that you all enjoy reading and discussing this week. I can't wait to read your posts and comments.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Week of October 29 - November 4
Hello Folks!
Here is what is listed on the Participation Page from BB for this week. The schedule for the entire semester, and the discussion questions for the entire semester are listed on the Schedule and Participation Pages, respectively. In case you do not want to wait for the "Monday Post", you are more than welcome to get started by looking at those two pages on BB.
Due this week:
*Read Chapter 6 - Interpersonal Communication
*Participate in the discussion (see questions below)
*Write Journal #4: Please download Journal #4, read through the assignment sheet and write the short essay assignment. NOTE: The entire journal will not be due until November 18th. However, you should write your journal entries in the week I assign them.
*Continue to work on Concept Application Paper. This paper will be due by November 11 @ 11:59pm.
Discussion Questions:
Answer one question in its entirety in each of your three separate posts, at least 12 hours apart. Please make sure you are creating a NEW POST for each question on your blog. You MUST WAIT at least 12 hours from the first post in order to create a second post. The same is true for the second and third post. I will record dates and time of your posts, so make sure they are at least 12 hours apart. EACH POST MUST BE 150 WORDS OR MORE. Each post is worth a maximum of 5 points.
1). Which pattern (rigid complementarity, competitive symmetry, or submissive symmetry) do you think would be the most difficult to change? Why? Which would be the most damaging to a relationship? Which would be the most potentially damaging to the self-esteem of the individuals involved?
2). Think about the filters you use to eliminate people from consideration as potential romantic partners. What characteristics or behaviors lead you to judge others as unattractive? Does Duck’s theory make sense to you? Have you ever eliminated someone by using a sociological or pre-interaction cue only to reconsider them based on interaction and cognitive cues?
3). Pick one concept from Chapter 6, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
Comments - Remember to post ONE comment ON THREE DIFFERENT BLOGS between 12:01am on Monday and 11:59pm on Sunday. This means that you will log onto MY BLOG at: http://sierracomm10.blogspot.com/ to see a list of your colleagues blogs. Click on those blogs, read what was posted for this week and respond. You need to make sure you are responding to only what was discussed THIS WEEK (starting Monday and ending Sunday of the current week). Comments posted to blogs that were NOT within this week will not be counted for points. Each comment must be a minimum of 100 words and is worth a maximum of 3 points.
Note about comments: When you leave a comment on another blog, make sure you are logged into your blogspot account. In other words, you will need to make sure your "Display Name/Alias Name" shows up on the blog you are commenting on. I record the locations, dates and times of your comments. Please keep record of your posts and comments in case there I have questions about where they are located.
Here is what is listed on the Participation Page from BB for this week. The schedule for the entire semester, and the discussion questions for the entire semester are listed on the Schedule and Participation Pages, respectively. In case you do not want to wait for the "Monday Post", you are more than welcome to get started by looking at those two pages on BB.
Due this week:
*Read Chapter 6 - Interpersonal Communication
*Participate in the discussion (see questions below)
*Write Journal #4: Please download Journal #4, read through the assignment sheet and write the short essay assignment. NOTE: The entire journal will not be due until November 18th. However, you should write your journal entries in the week I assign them.
*Continue to work on Concept Application Paper. This paper will be due by November 11 @ 11:59pm.
Discussion Questions:
Answer one question in its entirety in each of your three separate posts, at least 12 hours apart. Please make sure you are creating a NEW POST for each question on your blog. You MUST WAIT at least 12 hours from the first post in order to create a second post. The same is true for the second and third post. I will record dates and time of your posts, so make sure they are at least 12 hours apart. EACH POST MUST BE 150 WORDS OR MORE. Each post is worth a maximum of 5 points.
1). Which pattern (rigid complementarity, competitive symmetry, or submissive symmetry) do you think would be the most difficult to change? Why? Which would be the most damaging to a relationship? Which would be the most potentially damaging to the self-esteem of the individuals involved?
2). Think about the filters you use to eliminate people from consideration as potential romantic partners. What characteristics or behaviors lead you to judge others as unattractive? Does Duck’s theory make sense to you? Have you ever eliminated someone by using a sociological or pre-interaction cue only to reconsider them based on interaction and cognitive cues?
3). Pick one concept from Chapter 6, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
Comments - Remember to post ONE comment ON THREE DIFFERENT BLOGS between 12:01am on Monday and 11:59pm on Sunday. This means that you will log onto MY BLOG at: http://sierracomm10.blogspot.com/ to see a list of your colleagues blogs. Click on those blogs, read what was posted for this week and respond. You need to make sure you are responding to only what was discussed THIS WEEK (starting Monday and ending Sunday of the current week). Comments posted to blogs that were NOT within this week will not be counted for points. Each comment must be a minimum of 100 words and is worth a maximum of 3 points.
Note about comments: When you leave a comment on another blog, make sure you are logged into your blogspot account. In other words, you will need to make sure your "Display Name/Alias Name" shows up on the blog you are commenting on. I record the locations, dates and times of your comments. Please keep record of your posts and comments in case there I have questions about where they are located.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Week of October 22 - 28
Hello Folks!
Here is what is listed on the Participation Page from Blackboard for this week.
NOTE: The schedule for the entire semester, and the discussion questions for the entire semester are listed on the Schedule and Participation Pages, respectively. In case you do not want to wait for the "Monday Post", you are more than welcome to get started by looking at those two pages on BB.
Due this week:
*Read Chapter 7 - Group Communication
*There is no discussion this week
*Continue working on the Concept Application Paper. This paper is due by November 11th @ 11:59pm.
*Test on Chapters 7 & 12. Please log into BB to take the test.
Reminder: I hold office hours of Tuesday's and Thursday's from 9:30am to 11:30am on Yahoo Messenger. I can also chat with students over the phone during that time, or at your convenience. We can always make an appointment to chat over the phone in case you need clarification about something in the class. And of course, I'm always available through email.
:)
The Blogging Prof.
Here is what is listed on the Participation Page from Blackboard for this week.
NOTE: The schedule for the entire semester, and the discussion questions for the entire semester are listed on the Schedule and Participation Pages, respectively. In case you do not want to wait for the "Monday Post", you are more than welcome to get started by looking at those two pages on BB.
Due this week:
*Read Chapter 7 - Group Communication
*There is no discussion this week
*Continue working on the Concept Application Paper. This paper is due by November 11th @ 11:59pm.
*Test on Chapters 7 & 12. Please log into BB to take the test.
Reminder: I hold office hours of Tuesday's and Thursday's from 9:30am to 11:30am on Yahoo Messenger. I can also chat with students over the phone during that time, or at your convenience. We can always make an appointment to chat over the phone in case you need clarification about something in the class. And of course, I'm always available through email.
:)
The Blogging Prof.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Instructor Wrap Up - Trenholm Chapter 12
Usually during my Comm 10 classes I assign a paper called the Cultural Event Paper. The assignment requires students to find and attend a cultural event in the area and write a paper about their experience. I have found that over the years students have had a difficult time finding cultural events depending on the time in the semester the paper falls.
The Cultural Event Paper is one that I love. The richness of our discussions in class easily highlight the diversity we have in our virtual classroom. The Cultural Event Paper takes this a step further by focusing on culture outside of the classroom.
As you can probably tell by this point, I absolutely love when students take concepts from the course outside the classroom. Thus the journal assignment and the Movie Analysis (Concept Application Paper). I require students to observe and participate outside the classroom because communication is not simply a 'classroom concept'. We engage in communication concepts every single day, and I want my students to make the connection between concept and application.
Comm 10 is an experiential course which requires.....well, experience! How do we do that? We go out and put communication concepts into action. Intercultural Communication is one of those concepts that we should put into action because we engage in IC quite often. Especially being in California, IC is quite important.
I can't wait to read your posts from this week - it's one of my favorites!
The Cultural Event Paper is one that I love. The richness of our discussions in class easily highlight the diversity we have in our virtual classroom. The Cultural Event Paper takes this a step further by focusing on culture outside of the classroom.
As you can probably tell by this point, I absolutely love when students take concepts from the course outside the classroom. Thus the journal assignment and the Movie Analysis (Concept Application Paper). I require students to observe and participate outside the classroom because communication is not simply a 'classroom concept'. We engage in communication concepts every single day, and I want my students to make the connection between concept and application.
Comm 10 is an experiential course which requires.....well, experience! How do we do that? We go out and put communication concepts into action. Intercultural Communication is one of those concepts that we should put into action because we engage in IC quite often. Especially being in California, IC is quite important.
I can't wait to read your posts from this week - it's one of my favorites!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Week of October 15-21
Hello Folks!
Here is what is listed on the Participation Page from BB for this week. The schedule for the entire semester, and the discussion questions for the entire semester are listed on the Schedule and Participation Pages, respectively. In case you do not want to wait for the "Monday Post", you are more than welcome to get started by looking at those two pages on BB.
Due this week:
*Read Chapter 12 - Intercultural Communication
*Participate in the discussion (see questions below)
*Write Journal #3: Please download Journal #3, read through the assignment sheet and write the short essay assignment. NOTE: The entire journal will not be due until November 18th. However, you should write your journal entries in the week I assign them.
Discussion Questions:
Answer one question in its entirety in each of your three separate posts, at least 12 hours apart. Please make sure you are creating a NEW POST for each question on your blog. You MUST WAIT at least 12 hours from the first post in order to create a second post. The same is true for the second and third post. I will record dates and time of your posts, so make sure they are at least 12 hours apart. EACH POST MUST BE 150 WORDS OR MORE. Each post is worth a maximum of 5 points.
1). Do you agree with anthropologist Ruth Benedict that we are "creatures of our culture" and that our habits, beliefs, and impossibilities are shaped by our culture? If so, how can we break through the limits of our cultures?
2). Do you believe in the rationality, perfectability, and mutability premises? What social institutions and practices are based on these beliefs?
3). Pick one concept from Chapter 12, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
Comments - Remember to post ONE comment ON THREE DIFFERENT BLOGS between 12:01am on Monday and 11:59pm on Sunday. This means that you will log onto MY BLOG at: http://sierracomm10.blogspot.com/ to see a list of your colleagues blogs. Click on those blogs, read what was posted for this week and respond. You need to make sure you are responding to only what was discussed THIS WEEK (starting Monday and ending Sunday of the current week). Comments posted to blogs that were NOT within this week will not be counted for points. Each comment must be a minimum of 100 words and is worth a maximum of 3 points.
Note about comments: When you leave a comment on another blog, make sure you are logged into your blogspot account. In other words, you will need to make sure your "Display Name/Alias Name" shows up on the blog you are commenting on. I record the locations, dates and times of your comments. Please keep record of your posts and comments in case there I have questions about where they are located.
Here is what is listed on the Participation Page from BB for this week. The schedule for the entire semester, and the discussion questions for the entire semester are listed on the Schedule and Participation Pages, respectively. In case you do not want to wait for the "Monday Post", you are more than welcome to get started by looking at those two pages on BB.
Due this week:
*Read Chapter 12 - Intercultural Communication
*Participate in the discussion (see questions below)
*Write Journal #3: Please download Journal #3, read through the assignment sheet and write the short essay assignment. NOTE: The entire journal will not be due until November 18th. However, you should write your journal entries in the week I assign them.
Discussion Questions:
Answer one question in its entirety in each of your three separate posts, at least 12 hours apart. Please make sure you are creating a NEW POST for each question on your blog. You MUST WAIT at least 12 hours from the first post in order to create a second post. The same is true for the second and third post. I will record dates and time of your posts, so make sure they are at least 12 hours apart. EACH POST MUST BE 150 WORDS OR MORE. Each post is worth a maximum of 5 points.
1). Do you agree with anthropologist Ruth Benedict that we are "creatures of our culture" and that our habits, beliefs, and impossibilities are shaped by our culture? If so, how can we break through the limits of our cultures?
2). Do you believe in the rationality, perfectability, and mutability premises? What social institutions and practices are based on these beliefs?
3). Pick one concept from Chapter 12, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
Comments - Remember to post ONE comment ON THREE DIFFERENT BLOGS between 12:01am on Monday and 11:59pm on Sunday. This means that you will log onto MY BLOG at: http://sierracomm10.blogspot.com/ to see a list of your colleagues blogs. Click on those blogs, read what was posted for this week and respond. You need to make sure you are responding to only what was discussed THIS WEEK (starting Monday and ending Sunday of the current week). Comments posted to blogs that were NOT within this week will not be counted for points. Each comment must be a minimum of 100 words and is worth a maximum of 3 points.
Note about comments: When you leave a comment on another blog, make sure you are logged into your blogspot account. In other words, you will need to make sure your "Display Name/Alias Name" shows up on the blog you are commenting on. I record the locations, dates and times of your comments. Please keep record of your posts and comments in case there I have questions about where they are located.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Week of October 8 - 14
Hello Folks!
The only thing due this week is the Midterm Exam on BB. Please log onto BB to take the exam. It is open book, open notes and it covers Chapters 1-5, 9 & 10. Remember that the midterm is timed, and it needs to be submitted by 11:59pm on Saturday night. Please do not share answers or test questions with fellow classmates.
REMINDER: Please start working on your Concept Application Paper. This paper is due by Sunday, November 11th @ 11:59pm.
Have a good week everyone!
:)
The Blogging Prof.
The only thing due this week is the Midterm Exam on BB. Please log onto BB to take the exam. It is open book, open notes and it covers Chapters 1-5, 9 & 10. Remember that the midterm is timed, and it needs to be submitted by 11:59pm on Saturday night. Please do not share answers or test questions with fellow classmates.
REMINDER: Please start working on your Concept Application Paper. This paper is due by Sunday, November 11th @ 11:59pm.
Have a good week everyone!
:)
The Blogging Prof.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Grades Updated in BB
Hello Fabulous Students,
I have entered grade into BB for the following items:
Discussion Week of Sept. 24-30
As a reminder, it is your responsibility to check your grades often (at least once a week), and email me if you have any questions.
Have a great day everyone!
:)
The Blogging Prof.
I have entered grade into BB for the following items:
Discussion Week of Sept. 24-30
As a reminder, it is your responsibility to check your grades often (at least once a week), and email me if you have any questions.
Have a great day everyone!
:)
The Blogging Prof.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Instructor Wrap Up - Trenholm Chapter 5
I am very excited about this week's discussion. These are the weeks I wish I could talk to you all face to face so we could really get into a deep discussion about nonverbal communication and share what we have learned through our reading, and of course through our life experiences. While I was in school I participated in a Nonverbal Research Study as a research assistant, which was quite interesting. Although the statistics in that particular research study did not prove to be significant, my conjecture was that the sample size was too small.
Now that you are probably asking, "What was the study about?"....I'll tell you briefly in case you are interested.
Dr. Tim Hegstrom, who is the Dean of Social Sciences at San Jose State University, videotaped dyads to see if their body positioning matched each other during the course of their 10 minute conversation. Most of the participants did have matching body language at some point in the discussion (An example of this would be where one person crosses their arm, and the other follows shortly after. This could either be matching or mirroring with body positioning with legs, arms, etc...). I analyzed the videos one by one (I think there were 50 or so 10 minute videos) and recorded their body positioning to reflect matching, mirroring, or no correlation at all. I stopped the video every minute and recorded their body positions. Like I said, when we ran the statistics through SPSS (a statistical database), the results were not significant. But, had the research been done a bit differently, it absolutely would have produced statistically significant results. Had it proved significant, we probably would have been published in a Communication Journal, but alas, it was not written in the stars. :)
Needless to say, Nonverbal Communication interests me quite a bit. My husband's family is constantly trying to figure out if I'm analyzing them. A couple of years ago one of his family members looked over to a few people and asked me what their body language was saying. Of course this sparked a very interesting conversation between a few people, myself included.
Have fun with this weeks discussion.
Now that you are probably asking, "What was the study about?"....I'll tell you briefly in case you are interested.
Dr. Tim Hegstrom, who is the Dean of Social Sciences at San Jose State University, videotaped dyads to see if their body positioning matched each other during the course of their 10 minute conversation. Most of the participants did have matching body language at some point in the discussion (An example of this would be where one person crosses their arm, and the other follows shortly after. This could either be matching or mirroring with body positioning with legs, arms, etc...). I analyzed the videos one by one (I think there were 50 or so 10 minute videos) and recorded their body positioning to reflect matching, mirroring, or no correlation at all. I stopped the video every minute and recorded their body positions. Like I said, when we ran the statistics through SPSS (a statistical database), the results were not significant. But, had the research been done a bit differently, it absolutely would have produced statistically significant results. Had it proved significant, we probably would have been published in a Communication Journal, but alas, it was not written in the stars. :)
Needless to say, Nonverbal Communication interests me quite a bit. My husband's family is constantly trying to figure out if I'm analyzing them. A couple of years ago one of his family members looked over to a few people and asked me what their body language was saying. Of course this sparked a very interesting conversation between a few people, myself included.
Have fun with this weeks discussion.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Week of October 1-7
Hello Folks!
Here is what is listed on the Participation Page from BB for this week. The schedule for the entire semester, and the discussion questions for the entire semester are listed on the Schedule and Participation Pages, respectively. In case you do not want to wait for the "Monday Post", you are more than welcome to get started by looking at those two pages on BB.
Due this week:
*Read Chapter 5 - Encoding Messages: Nonverbal Communication
*Participate in the discussion (see questions below)
*Study for the midterm (the midterm will cover Ch's 1-5, 9&10 and will be available next week)
*Write Journal #2: Please download Journal #2, read through the assignment sheet and write the short essay assignment. NOTE: The entire journal will not be due until November 18th. However, you should write your journal entries in the week I assign them.
Discussion Questions:
Answer one question in its entirety in each of your three separate posts, at least 12 hours apart. Please make sure you are creating a NEW POST for each question on your blog. You MUST WAIT at least 12 hours from the first post in order to create a second post. The same is true for the second and third post. I will record dates and time of your posts, so make sure they are at least 12 hours apart. EACH POST MUST BE 150 WORDS OR MORE. Each post is worth a maximum of 5 points.
1). Because nonverbal messages can be ambiguous, they are open to misinterpretation. Have you ever been wrong about the meaning of someones nonverbal message? Describe what happened. How can people increase the accuracy with which they interpret nonverbal messages?
2). Although nonverbal messages are more universal than verbal messages, nonverbals do not always carry the same meanings in other cultures. Can you give examples of some of the nonverbal displays that take on different meanings in other countries? If you have moved around within this country, have you ever encountered regional differences in nonverbal meaning?
3). Pick one concept from Chapter 5, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
Comments - Remember to post ONE comment ON THREE DIFFERENT BLOGS between 12:01am on Monday and 11:59pm on Sunday. This means that you will log onto MY BLOG at: http://sierracomm10.blogspot.com/ to see a list of your colleagues blogs. Click on those blogs, read what was posted for this week and respond. You need to make sure you are responding to only what was discussed THIS WEEK (starting Monday and ending Sunday of the current week). Comments posted to blogs that were NOT within this week will not be counted for points. Each comment must be a minimum of 100 words and is worth a maximum of 3 points.
Note about comments: When you leave a comment on another blog, make sure you are logged into your blogspot account. In other words, you will need to make sure your "Display Name/Alias Name" shows up on the blog you are commenting on. I record the locations, dates and times of your comments. Please keep record of your posts and comments in case there I have questions about where they are located.
Here is what is listed on the Participation Page from BB for this week. The schedule for the entire semester, and the discussion questions for the entire semester are listed on the Schedule and Participation Pages, respectively. In case you do not want to wait for the "Monday Post", you are more than welcome to get started by looking at those two pages on BB.
Due this week:
*Read Chapter 5 - Encoding Messages: Nonverbal Communication
*Participate in the discussion (see questions below)
*Study for the midterm (the midterm will cover Ch's 1-5, 9&10 and will be available next week)
*Write Journal #2: Please download Journal #2, read through the assignment sheet and write the short essay assignment. NOTE: The entire journal will not be due until November 18th. However, you should write your journal entries in the week I assign them.
Discussion Questions:
Answer one question in its entirety in each of your three separate posts, at least 12 hours apart. Please make sure you are creating a NEW POST for each question on your blog. You MUST WAIT at least 12 hours from the first post in order to create a second post. The same is true for the second and third post. I will record dates and time of your posts, so make sure they are at least 12 hours apart. EACH POST MUST BE 150 WORDS OR MORE. Each post is worth a maximum of 5 points.
1). Because nonverbal messages can be ambiguous, they are open to misinterpretation. Have you ever been wrong about the meaning of someones nonverbal message? Describe what happened. How can people increase the accuracy with which they interpret nonverbal messages?
2). Although nonverbal messages are more universal than verbal messages, nonverbals do not always carry the same meanings in other cultures. Can you give examples of some of the nonverbal displays that take on different meanings in other countries? If you have moved around within this country, have you ever encountered regional differences in nonverbal meaning?
3). Pick one concept from Chapter 5, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
Comments - Remember to post ONE comment ON THREE DIFFERENT BLOGS between 12:01am on Monday and 11:59pm on Sunday. This means that you will log onto MY BLOG at: http://sierracomm10.blogspot.com/ to see a list of your colleagues blogs. Click on those blogs, read what was posted for this week and respond. You need to make sure you are responding to only what was discussed THIS WEEK (starting Monday and ending Sunday of the current week). Comments posted to blogs that were NOT within this week will not be counted for points. Each comment must be a minimum of 100 words and is worth a maximum of 3 points.
Note about comments: When you leave a comment on another blog, make sure you are logged into your blogspot account. In other words, you will need to make sure your "Display Name/Alias Name" shows up on the blog you are commenting on. I record the locations, dates and times of your comments. Please keep record of your posts and comments in case there I have questions about where they are located.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)