Exam 1: About Communication

Define and illustrate two of the following characteristics of competent communicators: self-awareness, adaptability, perspective-taking, cognitive complexity, ethics.

Competent communication must be both effective and appropriate.

Having empathy means feeling sorry for someone else.

Instrumental needs are the least important needs served by communication.

A sign in the library that reads "No Talking Allowed" would constitute an example of what?

Different cultures have different standards that define competent communication. This cultural variation speaks to which element of communication competence?

Interpersonal communication is governed by both explicit and implicit rules. First, define each of these terms and point out how they are similar and how they are different. Next, identify two distinct examples of explicit communication rules that were enforced in your household while growing up. Indicate what each rule was, how it was conveyed/reinforced in your home, and what happened (or would have happened) when it was violated. Finally, identify one example of an implicit communication rule that was enforced in your home. Indicate what the rule was and how you came to be aware of it (given that it was implicit).

Using concrete examples, explain how two of the following needs are served by communication: physical, relational, identity, spiritual, instrumental.

A sense of morality and the judgment of right and wrong are known as:

In face-to-face interactions, people utilize several channels simultaneously to convey meaning. Identify any four different channels that might be at work in a face-to-face interaction. Discuss how those channels might be used together to create a message. How might they contradict one another? Finally, of the channels you have identified, pick one that you would identify as the most important in face-to-face interactions. Why did you pick that one? Use examples to illustrate why that channel is particularly important.

Metacommunication occurs when individuals discuss the meaning or subtext of their messages.