Why We Communicate
 Physical Needs
 Identity Needs
 Social Needs
 Practical Goals
Why We Communicate
 Physical Needs
 Social isolation increases risk of:
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Coronary disease
 Rivals cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and lack of
physical activity
Catching the common cold
Premature death
 Positive communication and strong social ties lead to
better health
Why We Communicate
 Identity Needs
 Identity comes from how we interact with others
 Acting human is a learned process
 Messages influence our identity throughout our lives
Why We Communicate
 Social Needs
 Communication is used to:
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Obtain pleasure, affection, companionship, relaxation, escape
and control
Create happier relationships and social lives
 Theorists argue that positive relationships may be the
most important source of human satisfaction and
emotional well-being
Why We Communicate
 Practical Goals
 Getting others to behave in ways we want
 Communication is the tool that:
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Lets you explain your needs to the hair stylist
Helps you negotiate household duties
Is essential in virtually every career
 Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Physical, Safety, Social, Esteem and Self-Actualization
The Process of Communication
 Linear View
 Communication is “done to” a receiver
Figure 1.1 Page 10
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VIEW??
The Process of Communication
 A Transactional View
 Communication as a uniquely human process
Figure 1.2 Page 11
The Process of Communication
 Transactional Communication
 The model
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Messages are sent and received at the same time
Sender/Receiver become communicators
Environments
 Physical location
 Personal experiences and cultural backgrounds
Noise
 Internal as well as external noise is represented
Channels retain significant role
Principles and Misconceptions
 Principles
 Intentional vs Unintentional communication
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Overhearing another's conversation
 How does the meaning change?
Nonverbal Communication
 Unaware of your expressions
 Sour face, restlessness, sighs of boredom
 Unknowingly being observed
Principles and Misconceptions
 Principles
 Communication is irreversible
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Impossible to “unreceive” a message
Words said and deeds done are irretrievable
 You cannot not communicate!
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Intentional and unintentional behaviors send a message
Inaccuracy in interpreting received (decoded) message)
Principles and Misconceptions
 Principles
 Communication is unrepeatable
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Communication is an ongoing process
It is impossible to repeat the same event
 The act of repetition changes the intended meaning
 Both communicators have changed because they have lived
longer
The “same” words and behaviors are different each time they
are spoken or performed
Principles and Misconceptions
 Principles
 Content and relational dimension
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Content dimension
 Involves the information being explicitly discussed
Relational dimension
 Involves how you feel about the other person
 Like or dislike
 In control or subordinate
 Comfortable or anxious
Principles and Misconceptions
 Misconceptions
 More communication is not always better

Excessive communication can be unproductive and can also
backfire
 Pestering a potential employer about a job prospect
 Texting too many “call me” messages
 Meanings are not in the words

Saying something is not the same as communicating it
Principals and Misconceptions
 Misconceptions
 Communication and shared understanding

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Successful communication doesn’t always involve shared
understanding
 Being deliberately vague
 Sacrificing clarity to spare another's feelings
More satisfying relationships can sometimes come from lessthan-perfect understanding
Principals and Misconceptions
 Misconceptions
 People/Events do not cause another’s reaction
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Communication is transactional, ongoing and collaborative
Communication does not occur in a vacuum
 Communication will not solve all problems
Social Media and Interpersonal
Communication
 Social Media
 Describes all channels that make personal
communication possible

The difference between face-to-face and virtual relationships
is eroding
Social Media and Interpersonal
Communication
 Social Media
 Isn’t always a threat to relationships
 Isn’t replacement for face-to-face interaction
 Can increase quantity and quality of interpersonal
communication

Asynchronous nature
 Challenges
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Leaner Messages
Disinhibition
Permanence
What Makes an Effective
Communicator?
 Competent Communicator Characteristics
 Wide range of behaviors
 Ability to choose the most appropriate behavior
 Skill at performing behaviors
 Cognitive complexity
 Empathy
 Self-monitoring
 Commitment
What Makes an Effective
Intercultural Communicator?
 Competence
 Co-cultures
 Know rules of specific culture
 Motivation
 Tolerance for ambiguity
 Open-mindedness
 Knowledge and Skill
 Mindfulness
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Passive observation
Active strategies
Self-disclosure
What Makes an Effective
Social Media Communicator?
 Competence
 Think before you post
 Be considerate
 Keep your tone civil
 Don’t intrude on bystanders