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Seminar 1

Foundations of Human Communication

ASK THE RESEARCHER

The Value of a Human Communication Course

I'm taking this course in human communication. I am not certain what practical uses this course will have for me. Why should I be taking this course?

You interact with others every day in a variety of contexts. In most contexts, you have a purpose in mind: To learn or to persuade. In the job interview, you need to know what factors the employer is seeking in nonverbal behavior, language use, attitude, level of knowledge, amount of enthusiasm, and personal motivation. In learning situations, you need to know when to ask a question as well as how to frame your question. As a manager of other people, you need to know what kinds of messages will motivate your subordinates to perform at their highest levels. Human communication is significant for every aspect of your life from learning at school to obtaining positions in a corporation to soliciting a salary increase. Socially, human communication is at the core of what makes relationships work or fail. This course and this book may be among the most important instruments in developing you as a more sensitive and effective person.

Mark Hickson, III (Ph.D., Southern Illinois University) is professor of communication studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He teaches courses in communication theory, nonverbal communication, and organizational communication.

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What Do You Believe about Communication?

Respond to each of the following statements with T (true) if you believe the statement is usually true and F (false) if you believe the statement is usually false.

1. Good communicators are born, not made.

2. The more a couple communicates, the better their relationship will be.

3. When two people are in a close relationship for a long period of time, one person should not have to communicate his or her needs and wants; the other person should know what these are.

4. Complete openness should be the goal of any meaningful interpersonal relationship.

5. Interpersonal or group conflict is a reliable sign that the relationship or group is in trouble.

6. Like good communicators, leaders are born, not made.

7. Fear of speaking in public is detrimental and must be eliminated.

HOW DID YOU DO? As you may have figured out, all seven statements are generally false. As you read this text, you'll discover not only why these beliefs are false but also the trouble you can get into when you assume they're true. Briefly, here are some of the reasons why each of the statements is generally false:

1. Effective communication is a learned skill; although some people are born brighter or more extroverted, all can improve their abilities and become more effective communicators.

2. If you practice bad communication habits, you're more likely to grow less effective than to become more effective; consequently, it's important to learn and follow the principles of effectiveness.

3. This assumption is at the heart of many interpersonal difficulties – people aren't mind readers, and to assume that they are merely sets up barriers to open and honest communication. Although you may feel ethically obligated to be totally honest, this is generally not an effective strategy. In fact, "complete" anything is probably a bad idea.

4. Interpersonal conflict does not have to involve a winner and a loser; both people can win.

5. Leadership, like communication and listening, is a learned skill that you'll develop as you learn the principles of human communication in general and of group leadership in particular.

6. Most speakers are nervous; managing, not eliminating, the fear will enable you to become effective regardless of your current level of fear.

What will you do? Consider how these beliefs about communication influence the way you communicate. Then, as you read this book and participate in class discussions and activities, reexamine your beliefs about communication and consider how new beliefs would influence the way you communicate. The theories and research discussed in this text will help you reconsider your own beliefs about communication, and the skill building activities will help you practice new ways of communicating. Three excellent websites containing a variety of self-tests on emotional intelligence, personality, knowledge, relationships, careers, and more are http://www.allthetests.com, www.queendom.com/tests and http://www. psychologytoday.com.

Figure 1.1

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14