Ch. 10: Communication Climate Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of Communication Climate?

How individuals feel about each other only in formal settings.

The social tone of a relationship. (correct)

The level of conflict in a relationship.

A measure of verbal communication only.

What does Confirming Communication convey?

Hostility.

Indifference.

Disrespect.

Value to the recipient. (correct)

Which of the following describes Disconfirming Communication?

Acknowledges the importance of the other person.

Signals a lack of regard. (correct)

Enhances a positive relationship.

Encourages open dialogue.

What are Confirming Messages?

Increasingly positive types of messages that recognize and endorse the other person. Signup and view all the answers

What type of messages does Argumentativeness include?

Presenting and defending positions while attacking others' positions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the most destructive way to disagree with someone?

Aggressiveness. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what an Impervious Response is.

It fails to acknowledge the other person's communication attempt. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of Interrupting?

When one person begins to speak before the other has finished making a point. Signup and view all the answers

What does a Tangential response involve?

Acknowledging the other person's communication while steering the conversation in a new direction. Signup and view all the answers

Neutrality indicates a high level of care.

False Signup and view all the answers

What does the term Superiority imply?

Messages suggesting 'I'm better than you'. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four steps in Constructive Criticism?

Check your motives, choose a good time, buffer negatives with positives, follow up. Signup and view all the answers

Define the term Defensiveness.

A predictable reaction to a hostile or indifferent message where one protects themselves from perceived attacks. Signup and view all the answers

What does Climate Patterns refer to?

Patterns of conflict statements that lead to reciprocated behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What should you seek to do in Transforming Negative Climate?

Seek more information and agree with the critic. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Communication Climate

Refers to the social tone of a relationship and how individuals feel about each other during communication.
Shared perception among all participants, influenced by feelings of being valued.
Composed of behaviors and perspectives that define overall communication experiences.

Confirming Communication

Conveys messages that emphasize the value of the other person.
Examples include affirmations like "You matter" and "You're important."
Lack of such messages can lead to emotional and developmental issues, especially in children.

Disconfirming Communication

Signals a lack of regard for others, expressing messages like “I don’t care about you.”
Can manifest through silence or neglect, adversely affecting relationships.

Confirming Messages

Increasingly positive communications that recognize and endorse the other person.
Can include physical gestures (e.g., nodding, hugging) and eye contact.
Represents the highest level of valuing in communication.

Disagreeing Messages

Positioned between confirming and disconfirming communications, expressing that someone is wrong.
Includes elements of recognition but can lead to negative outcomes; three subtypes are argumentativeness, aggressiveness, and complaining.

Argumentativeness

Involves presenting and defending personal viewpoints while critiquing others’ positions.
Positively employed can enhance learning and discussion when focused on issues rather than personal attacks.

Complaining

Personal grievances expressed without preparation to argue, often escalating conflict.
Requires respect to avoid damaging relationships.

Aggressiveness

The most destructive disagreement style, attacking others’ self-concepts.
Can inflict psychological harm and lead to physical altercations.
Emphasizes the importance of assertiveness rather than aggression.

Disconfirming Messages (Subtler)

More damaging than disagreeing messages, often conveying negation of existence or value.
Frequent instances create a negative communication climate.

Impervious Response

Communication fails to recognize or acknowledge the other person's attempts, resulting in "stonewalling."

Interrupting

Occurs when one person interjects while another is still speaking, showcasing a lack of respect.

Irrelevant Responses

Contributions made are unrelated to the conversation, disrupting flow and understanding.

Tangential Responses

Acknowledges the other person's message but redirects the conversation elsewhere.

Impersonal Communication

Involves one-sided monologues with abstract, detached comments, lacking personal interaction.

Ambiguous Messages

Messages that possess multiple meanings, often leading to misunderstandings.

Incongruous Messages

Contain conflicting verbal and nonverbal communication, creating confusion.

Defensiveness

A common reaction to negative messages, protecting oneself from perceived attacks.
Often increases when facing justified criticism, indicating vulnerability.

Climate Patterns

Negative communication often follows reciprocated spiral patterns, where one negative behavior leads to another.
Recovery from these patterns is essential for restoring a positive climate.

Reducing Defensiveness: Gibb Categories

Introduces contrasting behaviors to defensive communications, promoting respect and cooperation.
Employs invitational rhetoric to improve intercultural interpersonal success.

Evaluation

Involves negative judgment without specifics, often using "you" language.
Recommendations include descriptive, constructive feedback using "I" language.

Control

Imposing solutions without considering the needs of the other person reflects a controlling attitude.
Adopting a problem orientation encourages cooperative solution-seeking.

Strategy

Concealing ulterior motives in communication can be detrimental.
Utilizing spontaneity fosters honesty and transparency in interactions.

Neutrality

Displays indifference, leading others to feel unimportant.
Empathy serves as the contrast, demonstrating care for others' feelings.

Superiority

Messages implying one’s superiority create barriers in communication.
Equality in viewpoint encourages respect and acknowledgment of mutual talent.

Certainty

A firm belief in one's correctness disregarding other perspectives.
Provisionalism fosters open-mindedness and encourages dialogue.

Constructive Criticism

Reduces defensiveness through a four-step process: checking motives, timing, buffering negatives with positives, and following up.

Transforming Negative Climate

Seeking more information and agreeing with critiques can help shift communication dynamics positively.

Agree With The Truth

Recognizing the validity of criticism when accurate supports personal growth.

Agree With The Odds

Acknowledging possible consequences of one's actions reflects accountability.

Agree In Principle

Agreement with underlying ideals, even when the comparison is unfavorable, aids in conflict resolution.

Agree With The Critic's Perception

Validating others' perceptions fosters mutual respect and understanding in communication.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Dive into the essential concepts of Communication Climate through our flashcards. Explore key definitions and types of communication that influence relationships and interactions. Ideal for understanding how communication shapes our social dynamics.