Theories of Discourse and Interaction Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Communication
Is a transactional process in which the ones actions have wide-ranging influences on the Actions of others. Mutual influence = Two way impact

Key Terms
Speech Act Theory Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory (CMM) Communication Accommodation Theory Expectancy Violation Theory

Speech Act Theory

Performing an Action 1. Assertives 2. Directives 3. Commissive 4. Expressives 5. Declaratives 5 Types of Speech Acts

Assertives
You are the weakest link! The advocate that truth value of a proposition. State Claim Declare Hypothesize

TO:

Directive
That attempt to get the listener to do something

TO:

Order Request Beg Invite Advise Ask

Declaratives
I am going to pass Comm. Theory By their very assertion, make something so Quit Nominate appoint Define Name

TO:

Illocutionary v/s

Perlocutionary

Illocutionary Act What is the message?

When I say: It s cold in here Am I saying that because of experience or am I asking for a jacket or asking to turn up the heat.

Illocutionary v/s
Perlocutionay

Perlocutionary

Deals with the effect on the receiver Deals with the impact on the impact of the receiver Causing the receiver to put another log on the fire or turn of the thermostat

Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory (CMM) Providing some understanding of how meanings are created, coordinated, and managed in the social world. Management Meaning Coordination The hierarchy of meaning will change depending on how well you know someone

Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory (CMM)

Meaning are Managed by Rules 1. Constitutive Rule = Expression of Mild disbelief

Knowing what the words count for!

O.M.G. (oh my gosh) Get out of hear

The Interpretation of the receiver gives meaning to the worlds

Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory (CMM)

Meaning are Managed by Rules cont. 2. Regulative Rules = Patterns of regular behavior within certain situations

If you say O.M.G. all the time when someone tells you a story, O.M.G switching from a constitutive word or phase to a Regulative word of phase because of the repetition of the use of that word or phase.

Hierarchy of meaning
A kiss in church or You can count on me can take on different meaning as the relationship changes. At the introduction phase of a relationship words or phases could take different meaning that a relationship of many years. From Dictionary content to Relationship experience

Meshing
How intentions and interpretation mesh Meaning + Action = Coordinate Two people having an argument and both people thinking that they came out on top

Communication Accommodation Theory

Originated in Communication Seeks to explain with monitors and adjustment Change your style of talk or word based on the person you are talking with. Talk slow to with old people, Speak with a southern drawl in the south, Baby talk

Communication Accommodation Theory

Speaker Attune: Matching someone else speech characteristics; Accent Length of utterances, Speech rate, Tone

Communication Accommodation Theory

Convergence: To make similar to someone else Individuals adapt to each other s speech Changing you word to sound like your: professor, friend from England or your Cajun roommate

Communication Accommodation Theory

Divergence:
When interactants try to highlight differences between themselves and others in the interactions.

Full: Partial: Hyper: Unimodal: Multimodal:

individual matches the communication behavior of the other

individual come close to the other but does not match the behavior of the other
the individual goes beyond the behavior of the other (know as mocking) aka cross-over converging the vocabulary (Uni = one) several dimensions of behavior

Symmetrical

vs.

Asymmetrical

Symmetrical : Both parties in the Interaction attempt to converge towards each other

Asymmetrical: Only one party in the interaction attempts to converge

Antecedents to Accommodation
Antecedents (aka) Cause to Accommodation

Wanting to be like another Need for social approval, especially if future interaction is likely Status & Power

Consequences of Accommodation
Depends of the interpretation we make of others accommodation Negative consequences for convergence if we perceive that the person is accommodating to curry favor. Doctor patient interaction

Expectancy Violation Theory

Began as a theory of nonverbal communication

Arousal

causes us to pay more attention to the violation than other elements of the interaction

Expectancy Violation Theory

Violation of Expectation Depends on 2 Factors; 1. Your evaluation of the violation itself 2. Your evaluation of the person committing the violation

Expectancy Violation Theory

Negative Valance ~ Does less than expected Positive Valance ~ Does more than expected Threshold level is the behavior recognized as violating the expectation Arousal = causes an alertness that diverts attention

Expectancy Violation Theory

Communicator reward valence Reward valence is based on a host of factors that influence assessment of the violation; 1. 2. 3. 4. Personality, Physical attractiveness Likelihood of future interaction Status or power

Theories of Relational Development

Relationships is how we explain the world
Key Terms
Orientation Outcomes Social penetration theory Exploratory affective exchange Uncertainty reduction theory Axioms Reciprocity Affective exchange Stable exchange Self-disclosure

Chapter 10

Social Penetration Theory

The development of relationships and self-disclosure 4 sequential stages of relationship 1. Orientation 2. Exploratory affective 3. Affective exchange 4. Stable exchange

Social Penetration Theory

Orientation: The earliest stage were cautions and tentative in their interaction of sharing information. Surface and Small Talk

Social Penetration Theory

Exploratory affective exchange: The individuals begin to relax and share some information beyond small. Family and Back ground

Social Penetration Theory

Affective exchange: Many barriers have been crossed with a great deal of open exchange occurs. Close friends and Romantic

Social Penetration Theory

Stable exchange: Continued openness and interactions. Communication occurs often and can be nonverbal level Solid and stable Friendship. Rate of selfdisclosure is slowing down.

Social Penetration Theory

Breadth and Depth ~ As people move through these stages, both the breadth and depth of information exchange increase

Social Penetration Theory

Self Disclosure: involves communication about self and can be both intimate and non-intimate.
Self-Disclosure
In

I am from Michigan I want to be the Mayor I have very few close friends I have low back pain

Relationships

Social Penetration Theory

Reciprocity ~ When one person reveals something about themselves, the other person will tend to feel an obligation to reply with similar information. Is not automatic Not tit-for-tat Reply can accrue later in the relationship

Social Penetration Theory

Self Disclosure and Reciprocity The rate of exchange changes as individuals move through relational stages.

Social Exchange Theory

Cost Rewards = Outcome

We compare our outcomes in a current relationship to past relationships and to possible Future relationships Evaluating relationships in an economic fashion

Social Exchange Situation

Outcomes ~ involves a consideration of both
the rewards derived from the relationship and the cost.
The outcome will lead to a decision

Comparison level (CL) ~ Our assessment of part relationships Comparison level of alternatives (CLalt) ~ Assessment of
possible future relationships Past, Present and what else is available

Uncertainly Reduction Theory

Uncertainly Reduction: A process of increasing
predictability outcomes of complete strangers

Going through certain steps and checkpoints in order to reduce uncertainty about each other and form an idea of whether one likes or dislikes the other

Uncertainly Reduction Theory

According to this theory uncertainty is NOT GOOD Reduce uncertainties by information seeking The stages of the relationship is determined by the value, one person places on the relationship and the cost verses the rewards. According to Social Penetration Theory: Things that cause unusual depth discovery lake emotion and social exchange theory lacks emotion.

Information-Seeking Strategies
Passive Stategies~ (aka) Observation : Watching someone in a variety of social situations. Information gathering without interaction Example:
You could watch how Glenda acts during parties especially those at which she is particularly comfortable.

Information-Seeking Strategies
Active Strategies ~ Asking questions of 3rd parties to test the rules
Individuals might ask other people questions about the target individual or might structure the environment in ways that information can be gathered. Example You could talk with Glenda s friends about her behavior or invite her to a gathering

Information-Seeking Strategies
Interactive Strategies ~ The target person is asked direct questions or in which self-disclosure is used with hope that reciprocation will lead to more information Example: You could ask Glenda yourself (interrogation) or Share your own views and hope for reciprocation

Motivations for Reducing Uncertainty

Future interaction: If we think we are going to have future interaction with someone Incentive: values or possible potential rewards Deviation: Better understanding with someone is outside the norm.

Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory (Axioms = Taking at face value)

Axiom 1: Given the high level of uncertainty at the onset, Increasing verbal communication between Strangers will decrease the level of uncertainty

Uncertainties

verbal communication

Theories of Communication Process

Positive Feedback Negative Feedback Equifinality Content Function Content Function Relational Function Complementary Chapter 11 Contradiction Praxis External Dialectics Internal Dialectics Praxis Patterns Symmetrical Dialectics

One Cannot NOT Communicate

Communication is not always intentional People receive messages, regardless of whether they were sent intentional or not.

Major importance in Interpersonal Communication

Content and Relationship Function

Each message attempts to express content, but it also says something about the relationship Relationship Function classifies the content of the function Context = words Relationship = Tone

Content and Relationship Function cont.

Did you give Ben his meds yet Content dimension: words within the statement Relationship dimension: Tone of voice can give different meaning negative positive

Provides meaning

Symmetrical vs. Complementary

Symmetrical ~ based on equality, mirroring, equal
(Talking to your husband, wife or associate)

Complementary ~ based on maximizing difference, power imbalance, ( I am more important than you )
(Talking to a student, teacher or boss)

Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Axioms 2:

uncertainty

nonverbal

Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Axioms 4: High levels of uncertainty Cause Low levels in intimacy

Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Axioms 5: High levels of uncertainty Produce high rates of reciprocity

Application of Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Intercultural:
Continuing Relationship People from different Countries

Organizational Socialization

How fire fighters remove the uncertainties from work

Relational System Theory

Relationship are systems and need maintenance

Chapter 11

Maintaining the Relationship System

Regular communication Acts of service Gifts Spending quality time Words of affirmation

Positive Feedback: Leads to change or improvement

within the relationship

Negative Feedback: Preserves the status quo

Maintaining the Relationship System

Environment

Relationship

Permeability ~ Relationships are open to environmental influence Environment ~ Can and will effect relationships Equifinality ~ Multiple ways to reach the desired level of satisfaction

Theories of Relational Dialectics

Contradiction~ Perhaps the most central and dining feature of a dialectical approach. One in which both forces can and do exist simultaneously. (In a relationship you can simultaneously desire intimacy and distance )

Dialectics within a Relationship

1: Connectedness Separateness

Individual autonomy must be sacrificed To much connection results in Identity lose

Dialectics within a Relationship

2. Certainly Uncertainly

Without predictability and uncertainly a Healthy Relationship would become bring and could not be sustained. Managing the tension between certainty and uncertainly is a central part of relational communication

Dialectics within a Relationship

3. Openness Closedness

Not a linear path to intimacy Sometimes we need for the other person to know everything All feeling and facts need not be shared

Dialectics within a Relationship

4. Inclusion Seclusion

Need seclusion to bond and must negotiate the tension between doing things as a couple and doing things within a larger group Need out side exposure for stimulation support

Dialectics within a Relationship

5. Conventionality Uniqueness

Excessive uniqueness makes others uncomfortable (following social norms) Intimacy requires that relational partners fell different from the rest of the world Things that are only known inside the relationship
(Pet names, eating cereal from a cool whip bowl)

Dialectics within a Relationship

6. Revelation Concealment

Going Public about one issue or another provides opportunities for support.
There are times within the relationship you will want To keep things private (mis-carriage) and other times you will want to be public (wedding)

Patterns of Relational Praxis identified

Paxis Pattern Denial Disorientation Spiraling inversion Segmentation Balance Recalibration Definition Connectedness but ignoring needs for separateness. Don t work out in the long run Overwhelmed. Contradictions are regarded as inevitable, negative, and unchangeable. Bouncing back & forth between poles, meets most of the needs of the Relationship Compartmentalization, some issues are dealt by favoring one pole other another Reconcile both poles / in compromise Temporarily reframing situation so that poles don t seem oppositional

Theories of Communication Context

Weick s theory of organizing:
equivocality, enactment, selection, retention, recipes, causal maps

Unobtrusive and concertive control theory:

simple, technological, bureaucratic, and concertive control; identification, discipline Chapter 12

Dialogue(Littlejohn)
Dialectics, Chronotopic similarity Self-becoming Amplitude salience

Dialogue
Used to maintain relationships ! A coming together of diverse voices in conversation Conversation that defines & redefines Relationship as they emerge in actual situations over time What we use to manage dialectical tensions

Dialogue
Can be used as a turning point in a relationship Need not be verbal comm., could be an action Self, other and relationship are constructed and maintained through talk.

Dialogue
Create moments (photos) or turning points to remember as important Retelling old stories that highlights similarity and shared experience (chronotopic similarity) Identify and reinforce difference between and others (self-becoming)
(men are from mars women are from venus)

Dialogue
Unity with in difference: Dialogue gives us a chance to achieve unity within diversity We use conversations to manage competing needs for connection and autonomy Express needs and perceptions and empathize with needs and perceptions of others

Dialogue
What changes our relationships: Amplitude: Strength of feeling and behaviors Salience: focus on past situations, present or future (babies, marriage, etc )

Dialogue
Sequence order of events in the relationship How you organize your time What you do around and with one another

Pace/Rhythms: Rapidity of events, length of intervals between events

Dialogue is Aesthetic
Aesthetic perceived pattern in the relationship that makes it seem identifiable, unique and whole Dialogue produces an overall sense of what the relationship is like When we talk about our relationship and tell stories about them out talk reflects that aesthetics Momentary and evolving

Narrative Paradigm
Narrative: Express and understand thru story telling which is a natural part of being human Our beliefs and behaviors are reflected in and shaped by narratives More board than theory Narrative = perspective or approach

Narrative Paradigm
In contrast to narrative , many theories of communication are grounded in rational paradigm Narration symbolic actions words and or deeds that have sequence and meaning for who create or interpret them

Narrative Paradigm vs. Rational Word Paradigm

Narrative
We are story tellers Decision are based on good reasons Good reason are based on history Biography, Culture and chamber Rationality is based on how internally consistent and truthful stories seems We experience the world thought stories

Rational
we are rational being Decision are based on arguments Arguments should be logical and Sound Rationality is based on quality of knowledge and formal reasoning The world can fully understand though reasoning

Narrative Rationality
Traditional, test of rationality include do claims correspond to actual facts? Have all the facts been considered? Are arguments internally consistent? Does the reasoning that connects bacts and claims seem logical?

Narrative Rationality
Coherence: Structural Coherence: Do the elements of the story flow smoothly Material Coherence: Is t he character in the story Characterological: Fidelity: Does the story seem believable? Does it ring true? Fidelity: A measure of simplistic

Evaluation the Narrative Paradigm

An interpretive theory Criticized as overboard Narrative rationality may be overrated But does help to explain why we tell stories and why some are more believable

Narrative is in more of Political films

Real world emphasis on groups and teams design of typical organizations has changed (Growing decision task complexity) Simple vs. complex problems Half of all decisions fail (nutt)(if a decision sticks for a year, it is considered a good decision.

Functional theory of Group Decision Making

Key functions Include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Understanding of the issues Criteria for evaluation Identification of alternatives Evaluation of alternatives Selection of alternative that matches established criteria

Process To Make Decisions

Chapter 13

Functional Theory of Group Decision Making 1. Analysis of problem situation 2. Establish criteria for evaluation solutions 3. Consider positive & negative attributes of specific solutions 4. Must establish operating norms and procedures that guide groups communication Functional Theory argues that these functions associated with higher quality decisions

Functional Theory of Group Decision Making

Research generally supports the theory, but individual studies often differ with regards to which functions are most related to decision quality. Overall, research shows that the most important factors are 1. Assessing negative consequences of potential solutions. 2. Problem analysis

Functional Theory of Group Decision Making

Criticisms: Applies only to groups with no history, (not real groups) aka ad hoc groups Applies only to task related groups

Multiple Sequence model

Unitary sequence path ~ Follows the traditional sequence of orientation, Rational, logical and standard

Complex cyclic path ~ Multiple problem-solution cycles Solution-oriented path ~ Centers of solutions and involves no activity to problem definition or analysis.

Symbolic convergence theory

Fantasy Theme ~ Ignites group interaction.
Refers to something outside

Fantasy Chain ~ chaining out Sharing of group

fantasies that groups develop a sense of community and shared identity

Fantasy Type / Vision ~ emerges when same set of themes cross several groups Once ideas goes across groups it becomes a vision

Impact of Symbolic Convergence Theory

Believes that the sharing of group fantasies Indentifying who is in and out of the group Clearly divides the sympathetic or good people (we) from the unsympathetic or the evil people (they)

Bona fide group (BFG) perspective

Groups are complex and contextual Treats groups as a social system linked to its context BFG are marked by shifting membership BFG are clearly not zero-history or ad hoc groups