Communication Theories from 1900 to 1950

Study Notes

Early 1900s: Speech courses were integral to English or Theatre departments, focusing on public speaking, literature performance, debate, and persuasion.
1914: Two schools emerged; Cornell School emphasized humanities, while the Midwestern School adopted a scientific approach to speech.

1926: Piaget's research analyzed children's interaction through role-playing, focusing on interaction patterns and observational research methods.
Human Relations Movement studied workplace social interactions, emphasizing supervisor-employee dynamics and peer influence on productivity.
General Semantics Movement, led by Korzybski, investigated the significance of spoken language, aiming to improve clarity and prevent misunderstandings.
Symbolic Interactionism, introduced by Mead, highlighted identity formation through interactions and the co-construction of meaning.

Rawlins identified three eras of interpersonal communication.
Social Integration Era focused on communication in groups, persuasion, and authority dynamics, prioritizing societal over individual needs.
Individual Integration Era examined communication practices that support personal growth, especially post-WWII.
Situational Integration Era explored interpersonal attractiveness, self-disclosure, and the complexities of verbal and nonverbal communication.
Key theories emerged, including Cognitive Dissonance, Attribution Theory, and Social Exchange Theory.

The rise of civil rights and feminist movements shifted focus towards self-awareness and face-to-face communication methods.
Goffman introduced the metaphor of performance in public behavior.
Blumer expanded on Symbolic Interactionism, emphasizing cultural dynamics and meaning-making in communication.
Communication theories evolved to include interactional and pragmatic perspectives.

Contemporary studies challenge previous assumptions and redefine interpersonal communication methods and goals.
Shift from individual-centric communication to relationship-based understanding emphasizes how communication shapes identities and realities.
Focus on dialectics highlights the interplay of contradictory elements within relationships, such as stability vs. change.

Defined as the verbal and nonverbal exchange between interdependent individuals.
Communication impacts relationships, shaped by the type and quality of the interaction.
Exists on a continuum ranging from impersonal to highly personal communication.
Involves both verbal and nonverbal messages, including body language and facial expressions.

Transactional nature emphasizes mutual exchange and feedback in communication.
Irreversibility acknowledges that messages cannot be taken back once communicated.
Situatedness reflects that communication occurs within specific contexts affecting message interpretation.
Relationship Framing Theory categorizes messages based on perceived dominance and affiliation, impacting the communication dynamic.

Self-perception is influenced by direct definitions from significant others and broader societal views.
Reflected appraisal reveals how the perceptions of important others shape individual self-identity.
Identity scripts develop early in life, guiding behaviors and expectations in relationships.
Attachment styles, formed through caregiving patterns, influence relationship approaches and dynamics.