Chapter 3 Explaining Theories of Cognition and Intrapersonal Communication
Chapter 3
Explaining Theories of Cognition and Intrapersonal Communication
BlackBoard Follow Up
Introductions
Who is Howard Gardner
Changing Minds
Brian Solis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3hi0V13oag
Social listening
Talking to you and through you
Investing in social capital
Cognitive Process
Communication has early roots in psychology
Cognitive scholars are concerned with the mental processes that are used to process stimuli and generate particular effects
Contrasts behavioral view that focuses solely on external causes (or stimuli) and behavioral effects
Cognitive/Intrapersonal Theories
Message Design Logics
Premise: Message Design Logics predicts that people strategically design messages sent to others
Message Design Logics
Three types of Design
Expressive design
Conventional design
Rhetorical design
Message Design Logics
Problems interacting with different MDL styles
When individuals share the same MDL: they are more likely to acknowledge
communication problems
When individuals have different MDLs: they are more likely to blame their problems
on the other’s bad intentions, mistaken beliefs, or undesirable personality characteristics
Cognitive/Intrapersonal Theories
Message Design Logics
Communication Accommodation Theory
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Expectancy Violations Theory
Communication Accommodation Theory Giles & Coupland
Premise: when individuals interact with others, they will:
accommodate their speech and language patterns
by matching their partner’s speech
by differentiating their speech and language use
Communication Accommodation Theory Individuals belong to a wide variety of social
groups
These groups shape each person’s collective identity
In-groups: social affiliations to which an individual feels he or she belongs
Out-groups: social affiliations to which a person feels that he or she does not belong
Language, speech, and nonverbal messages all communicate one’s in-group and out-group status
What In-groups are you part of?
Social affiliations to which an individual feels he or she belongs
What language, speech, and nonverbal messages are you aware of?
What out-groups are you aware of?
Social affiliations to which a person feels that he or she does not belong
What language, speech, and nonverbal messages did you observe?
Communication Accommodation Theory
Communication Accommodation Theory Individuals adjust their speech and
conversational patterns either to assimilate with or to deviate from others
Convergence: altering your speech and behavior so that it matches that of your conversational partner
Divergence: rather than match your partner’s communication patterns, you seek to make your speech different
Communication Accommodation Theory Predictions
When a person wants to be viewed as part of an in-group, s/he will accommodate by convergence
When a persona wants to be viewed as distinct from a certain group, s/he will alter your speech through divergence
In addition to expressing disagreement or rejection of a speaker, divergence also illustrates one’s cultural identity or differences in one’s status.
Communication Accommodation Theory Accommodation is not always appropriate or
effective
When in doubt, individuals rely on social norms to inform their decision to accommodate (or not)
Scenario #1
Convergence
Pros Cons
Divergence
Pros Cons
Communication Accommodation Theory
Positive Effects Increased attraction,
social approval, and increased persuasion
Negative Effects Incorrect stereotypes of
out-group, perceived condescension, loss of personal identity
Communication Accommodation Theory
Positive Effects Protects cultural
identity, asserts power differences, and increased sympathy
Negative Effects Perceived disdain for out-
group, perceived lack of effort, and increased psychological distance
Uncertainty Reduction
Theory
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Berger & Calabrese
Premise: URT explains and predict when, why, and how individuals use communication to minimize their doubts when interacting with others
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
URT functions based on three assumptions
Primary goal of communication is to minimize uncertainties that we have about the world
Individuals experience uncertainty regularly; the experience of uncertainty is unpleasant
Communication is the primary vehicle for reducing uncertainty
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Reducing uncertainty
3 antecedent conditions: influence whether we have the motivation to reduce uncertainty
Anticipation of future interaction
Incentive value
Deviance
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Two types of uncertainty
Behavioral uncertainty
Cognitive uncertainty
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
8 Axioms Explaining the Uncertainty Reduction Process
Axiom 1: Verbal communication
Axiom 2: Welcoming nonverbal communication
Axiom 3: Information-seeking behaviors
Axiom 4: Intimacy
Axiom 5: Reciprocal communication strategies
Axiom 6: Perceived similarities
Axiom 7: Liking
Axiom 8: Shared communication networks
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Berger (1995, 1997) noted that much of social interaction is goal driven; we communicate for a reason and we create plans to guide interaction
Uncertainty reduction strategies
Passive strategy
Active strategy
Interactive strategy
Expectancy Violations
Theory
Expectancy Violations Theory
Burgoon
Premise: explains the meanings that people attribute to the violation of their personal space and predicts their response to such infringements
Assumptions
EVT builds on numerous axioms
Primary assumption: humans have competing needs for personal space and for affiliation
Expectancy Violations Theory
EVT makes predictions as to how individuals will react to a given violation
Reciprocate: match someone’s behavior
Compensate: counteract by doing the opposite of your partner’s behavior
Expectancy Violations Theory
Core Concepts
Expectancy Context of the behavior Relationship with the person in question Communicator’s characteristics
BlackBoard Questions
What cultural differences have you observed related to any single theory we discussed?