Communication

Communication

1. Non-verbal communication

   • Functions
     • Information
     • Regulates interaction
     • Defines relationships
     • Interpersonal influence
     • Impression management
   • Components
     • These elements of non-verbal behaviour reinforce each other to convey consistent information about a person's sentiments and intentions   
     • Facial expression
     • Gazing behaviour
     • Body movement
     • Touch
     • Interpersonal distance
     • Smell
   • Sensitivity
     • Women are better at encoding and decoding non-verbal behaviour 

2. Verbal communication

   • Self-disclosure
     • Self-disclosure: process of revealing personal information to someone els
     • Self-disclosure is good for people (for their health and well being)   
     • Development
       • Social penetration theory
         • Social penetration theory: relationships develop through systematic changes in communication   
       • Interpersonal process model of intimacy
         • Interpersonal process model of intimacy: intimacy is likely to develop when there is a certain level of responsiveness present   
     • Secrets
   • Gender differences
     • Conversation
     • Self-disclosure
       • Women tend to self-disclose more, and they encourage others to self-disclose as well 
     • Expressivity vs. instrumentality
       • Women tend to be higher in expressivity (comfortable sharing their feelings)        
       • BUT any person with high expressivity (male or female) experiences the same benefits (share emotions, self-disclose, etc.) 

3. Dysfunctional communication

   • Constructive techniques
     • Behaviour description
       • Behaviour description: specifying a particular event, without getting into generalities   
     • I-statements
       • I-statements: describing a distinct emotional reaction
     • Stay calm