Chapter 11, 12 and 13

For this chapter, our lecturer did not emphasize much on his own presentations, but instead, told us to prepare slides in order to help us understand more about the three chapters. So we prepared our own slides and presented it to the class.

In small groups, there are many different roles in a group that are involved in solving a specific task that are assigned to them, they are :

• Initiator
• Information Seeker
• Opinion Seeker
• Information giver
• Elaorator
• Coordinator
• Orienter
• Evaluator
• Energizer
• Procedural Technician
• Recorder

However, when the group is at a disagreement or faces complications, several individuals of the particular group will have to take roles as maintenance. These roles are important in order to build and improve the relationships of the group. The roles in particular are :

• Encourager
• Harmonizer
• Compromizer
• Gatekeeper
• Standard Setter
• Observer
• Follower

As there are roles that help to build and improve the relationships of the group, there has to be a negative side which affects the group, there are 8 in particular :

• Aggressor
• Blocker
• Recognition Seeker
• Self-Confessor
• Playboy/Playgirl
• Dominator
• Help Seeker
• Special Interset Pleader

Chapter 10 : Small Groups

Small Group

What is a small group? Are there several format or types of small groups? Do effective groups differ from groups that are ineffective?

Small groups are considered as collections of individuals that are connected to one another who have the same common purpose, people who possess degrees of organization among them, are interdependent and see themselves as a group member-like person. Small groups are commonly formed out of several characteristics like :

• Purpose
• Interdependence
• Organization of Rules
• Self-Perception as a Group

Teams that are effective always possess these traits :

• Specific Purpose
• Clearly Defined Roles
• Goal Directed
• Content Focused

As the flow of conversation happens, the small groups often follow the same stages as interpersonal communication, they are :

• Opening
• Feed-Forward
• Business
• Feedback
• Closing

There are several formats of small groups which are :

• Round Table
• Panel
• Symposium
• Symposium-Forum 

In a group, every individual brings different roles to the groups, these roles are also known as the power inherent in different individuals, there are 6 types and they are :

• Legitimate Power
• Referent Power
• Coercive Power
• Expert Power
• Information Power

There are 4 types of small groups :

• Idea-Generation Group
• Personal-Growth Group
• Informaion-Sharing Group
• Information-Sharing Group
• Problem-Solving Group

There are also 6 types of critical thinking hats, where each color indicates the type of traits that an individual possesses.

Chapter 9 : Friends, Lovers and Families

Friendship

What is it? Why is it essential for us to make friends?

Friendship is considered an interpersonal relationship. Friendships must be mutually productive, and is characterized by a few factors such as support, trust and sharing interest. There are three types of friendships :

• Reciprocity (used for close friends)
• Receptivity (students and lecturers)
• Association (neighbors)

Many individuals seek friendship for :

• Utility purposes (aiding to achieve goals)
• Affirmation (helping to recognize potential)
• Ego support (supporting and encouragement)
• Stimulation (new ideas)
• Security (prevention from getting hurt)

There are also 3 development stages of friendships :

• Initial contact and acquaintanceship
• Casual friendship
• Close and intimate friendship

Friendships are also affected by three different factors which are :

• Culture
• Gender
• Technology

Romantic Relationships

There are six different types of love :

• Eros : Erotic, lust and desire
• Ludus : Fun and excitement
• Storge : Peaceful and slow
• Pragma : Practical and traditional
• Mania : Extremist of opposites
• Agape : Unconditional love

Different cultures have different interpretations of love, for example, in the United States of America, many couples are more explicit when it comes to showing their love in public. But when it comes into comparison with eastern countries, it's the other way around. For many male individuals, the usual type of love is either "Ludus" or "Eros", whereas for women, it is usually "Pragma".

Family

• Every family would have common traits such as : 
• Defined roles
• Recognition of responsibilities
• Shared history and future
• Shared living space

There are three types of families, they are :

• Traditional families (conventional form of families)
• Independent (focuses on the individuals as the main theme)
• Separate (staying together for benefits)

Families usually stick to 4 principles of communication :

• a. Equality (equal respect and understanding)
• b. Balanced Split (equal responsibility)
• c. Monopoly (only one doing all the works)
• d. Unbalanced split (one person in the family is the authorizer/authority)

Chapter 7 and 8: Interpersonal Communication

Chapter 7 and 8: Interpersonal Communication

What is Interpersonal Communication?

Interpersonal Communication is a two way communication between the sender and the receiver.

The conversation process of Interpersonal Communication is segregated into 5 different processes which are :

• Opening : First step in conversation
• Feedforward : Second step in conversation
• Business : Third stage in communication and the message portion
• Feedback : Fourth stage in communication and the response stage
• Closing : The fifth and final stage of communication

There are 3 types of principles of conversation, they are :

• Principles of Turn - Taking
• Principles of Dialogue
• Principles of Immediacy

Everyday Conversations :

• Small talk
• Excuses and Apologies
• Complimenting
• Advice

There are six types of relationship stages, they are :

• Contact : First stage of relationship where people become aware of another's existence.
• Involvement : Second stage of relationship where people have tighter bonds and engagements with one another
• Intimacy : Third stage of relationship where people have a deep and committed relationship
• Deterioration : Fourth stage of relationship where other communication factors such as temporal, cultural or societal context weakens the bonds with one another
• Repair : Fifth stage of relationship where those affected in deterioration stage try to work things out
• Dissolution : Sixth and final stage of relationship where bonds are broken or returned to a platonic. 

There are also six type of relationship theories :

• Attraction Theory
• Relationship Rules Theory
• Relationship Dialectics Theory
• Social Penetration Theory
• Social Exchange theory
• Equity Theory

There are also dark sides of Interpersonal communication : 

• Cognitive Jealousy
• Emotional Jealousy
• Behavioral Jealousy

Chapter 6 : Non-Verbal Communication

What is Non-verbal communication?

It is a communication without words like gesture, touch and tone. Even, appearance and body smell counts too. Anything basic human senses can sense other than hearing words.

• Body Gestures
• Facial Expressions
• Paralanguage
• Touch
• Clothing
• Smell/Odor

Nonverbal communication consists of 6 functions : 

1. integrating nonverbal and verbal messages - used to form complement impression.

    * accent/emphasize the verbal message

    * add meaning to verbal message

    * contrast the verbal message

    * regulate and control verbal message 

    * substitute verbal message 

2. forming and managing impressions 

 i. Being liked

ii. Being believed
iii. Avoiding failure
iv. Securing help
v. Hiding faults
vi. To be followed
vii. Confirming self image and to communicate it to others

Defining relationships are also essential for an individual, there are 4 ways of how relationships are defined :

a. To employers
b. To normal friends
c. To best friends
d. To first few dates with the person you're attracted to

Influencing and Deceiving

I. Influence : Affirming statement that has been said, and also to offer support.

II. Deceive : Covering a "white" lie, normally communicated towards someone who already know you are lying to someone else.

There are 10 ways of how Non-Verbal communication can be channeled, they are :
a. Smell
b. Facial
c. Silence
d. Eye
e. Chronemics
f. Touch
g. Paralanguage
h. Body Message
i. Spatial Message
j. Artifactual communication

There are 10 channels of nonverbal communication. But we only discussed 3 in class due to the lack of time. 

1. body movements - there are 5 types of body movements.

    * emblems

    * illustrators

    * regulators

    * affect displays

    * adaptors

    body appearance - influences how you communicate and how people commucnicate with you.

2. facial communication

    - degree of pleasantness, agreement, and sympathy felt.

    - there are certain facial management techniques like : 

3. eyes communication 

    - one of the most important communication.

    - its functions are :

      * seek feedback

      * signal openness

      * change psychological distance 

      * help others maintain privacy 

      * signal lack of interest

Chapter 5B

For this weeks class, our lecturer emphasized on the second half of chapter 5. The second half of the chapter emphasizes on the topics of "Racism, Sexism, Heterosexism and Ageism".

Racism : Anything that makes race looks inferior to another race. 

It is important that we must always avoid being racist, and at the same time avoiding racist remarks which may cause unnecessary events to occur.

Few suggestions to avoid racist remarks would include :

a. Avoid using derogatory terms for members of a particular race

b. Avoiding interacting with members of other races through stereotypes perpetuated by the media

c. Never generalize and connect attacks with extremists of religions

Sexism : Practicing or supporting favoritism that may criticize of having bias-ness towards a specific gender.

Suggestions to avoid sexist remarks

a. Avoid using man/women generically. Gender-neutral terms can easily be substituted.

b. Do not insult or attribute others according to gender bias.

c. Refrain from using he and his as generic. Alternating pronouns, restructuring sentences to eliminate any reference.

Heterosexism : Attitudes, behaviors and languages used to disparage gays and lesbians. The type of language that presumes that all people are heterosexual.

Suggestions to avoid heterosexism

a. Avoiding offensive nonverbal mannerisms that may parody people who are stereotypical.

b. Avoiding "complimenting" gay men and lesbians on their heterosexual appearance.

c. Avoiding the assumption and individual gay person can speak for all gay people.

Ageism : Discrimination towards individuals based on age, usually is directed towards older people.

a. Avoid putting off someone because he or she is older.

b. Being patient with older individuals.

c. Never assume that older individuals are not interested in relationships.

d. Never assume that older people are not interested in the world around them.

Verbal Messages can : 

a. Symbolize Reality : Representing things, events, situations and the people around us.

b. Expresses both facts and Inference : Messages are infused with emotions, thoughts and feelings.

c. Be relatively static : Messages used are formed as part of our judgement and perception.

d. Obscure Distinctions : Messages can be confusing and can over generalize contexts and people.

Class replacement

Class replacement .....

Today is our presentation days for all the groups.

To be honest, our member had something come up so we all had absent on that day.