Communication Principles: Learning Objectives

Objectives

1. Integration in Life: Understand how communication is embedded in daily life.
2. Meeting Needs: Explore how communication fulfills physical, instrumental, relational, and identity needs.
3. Communication as a Process: Examine the concept of communication as a continuous process.
4. Guidance by Culture and Context: Analyze how culture and context influence communication.

Importance of Communication

• Studying communication raises awareness of its impact in various contexts.
• Applying communication principles enhances group work, interpersonal relationships, and ethical decision-making.
• Encourages active participation in communication contexts.

Integration of Communication

• Academic:

  • Connection between communication and academic success.
  • Communication courses improve verbal, non-verbal, and interpersonal skills.
  • Associated with higher GPA and lower dropout rates.

• Professional:

  • Employers value communication skills highly.
  • Key skills: listening, writing, persuading, and interpersonal communication.
  • Good communication skills can improve career prospects.

• Personal:

  • Communication forms and maintains relationships.
  • Specific vocabulary and theories enhance understanding of interpersonal dynamics.

• Civic:

  • Communication is key for civic engagement and community involvement.
  • Involves awareness of social, cultural, and political issues.
  • Aristotle emphasized communication for active citizenship.

Communication Meets Needs

• Physical Needs: Alert others to unmet needs; improve mental and physical health through social interactions.
• Instrumental Needs: Achieve goals and get things done using strategic communication.
• Relational Needs: Develop, maintain, and end relationships through communication.
• Identity Needs: Present oneself in desired ways through communication.

Communication as a Process

• Continual exchange of verbal and non-verbal messages.
• Communication is dynamic, irreversible, and unrepeatable.
• Complex process influenced by multiple contexts.

Cultural and Contextual Guidance

• Communication is learned and guided by cultural norms and contexts.
• Importance of rules, norms, and ethical implications in communication.

Ethics in Communication

• Ethical communication involves truthfulness, fairness, integrity, and respect.
• Ethical implications vary across cultural contexts.
• Organizations have developed ethical guidelines to navigate gray areas.

Key Takeaways

• Communication affects all spheres of life: academic, professional, personal, and civic.
• It meets various needs and is a dynamic, continuous process influenced by culture and context.
• Ethical communication is integral to maintaining human worth and dignity.