Overview
This lecture discusses the five basic functions of communication—control, social interaction, motivation, emotional expression, and information dissemination—and explains how each serves a specific purpose in daily human interactions.
Functions of Communication
- Communication is a tool used by humans to achieve tasks or goals, whether verbal or non-verbal.
- The five main functions of communication are control, social interaction, motivation, emotional expression, and information dissemination.
Control or Regulation
- Communication can control or regulate human behavior and activities.
- Examples include giving commands, making requests, or policies (e.g., doctor’s prescriptions, teacher instructions, employer directives).
Social Interaction
- Communication facilitates developing and maintaining relationships and social bonds.
- Examples include greetings, making friends, conversation, bonding, and small talk.
Motivation
- Communication is used to motivate or persuade oneself or others by expressing needs, desires, or ambitions.
- Can be intrinsic (self-motivation) or extrinsic (motivating others), useful in leadership and business.
Emotional Expression
- Communication lets individuals express emotions verbally and non-verbally (facial expressions, gestures, body movements).
- Includes sharing feelings like love, anger, joy, or fear.
Information Dissemination
- Communication is used to give or receive information, focusing on clarity and accuracy.
- Involves sharing facts, updates, and news (e.g., deadline announcements, factual statements).
Examples and Applications
- Advisor postponing deadline = information dissemination.
- Manager enforcing dress code = control/regulation.
- Friends discussing movies = social interaction.
- Confronting someone about missing item = emotional expression.
- Giving tips or encouragement = motivation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Control/Regulation — using communication to direct or manage behavior.
- Social Interaction — using language to build relationships and interact with others.
- Motivation — inspiring action or expressing needs and ambitions through communication.
- Emotional Expression — conveying feelings through verbal or non-verbal cues.
- Information Dissemination — sharing or exchanging facts and knowledge.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and identify examples of each function in daily conversations.
- Prepare for a quick activity distinguishing communication functions in sample scenarios.