Communication Theory

  1. Based on the principles of CAT, what suggestions would you offer to a person going on a job interview? Make sure the answer includes key terms (e.g., aspects of convergence and divergence) from the theory along with an example. Communication Accommodation Theory , thought of by Howard Giles, explains whether or not people are going to accommodate to fit in with others. Accommodation is the “adjustments to communication that decrease social distance” that people do when they meet others — such as changing speech patterns (such as calling soft drinks soda, pop, or coke, depending on where you are regionally) (Griffin, p. 423).  Based on the principles of CAT, there are various different suggestions I could offer a person going into a job interview. For starters, I would advise them to converge with the person(s) conducting the interview, specifically by matching their speech patterns and sense of humor. Convergence is “a strategy of adapting your communication behavior t...

1. In what ways does knowledge of Tannen's theory make us better or worse communicators? Make sure your answer includes examples from real life and identifies specific communication encounters that Tannen discusses in her theory (e.g., report v. rapport talk, etc.).  Deborah Tannen developed genderlect styles of communication in the 1990s. Genderlect is “a term suggesting that masculine and feminine styles of discourse are best viewed as two distinct cultural dialects” (Griffin, p. 385). Tannen’s theory describes how men and women communicate differently, depending on the circumstances, such as when they are listening, telling a story, or when there is conflict. In my own experiences, I have seen this play out massively. I will give people those nonverbal cues — I will smile or nod, give noises of agreement (typically a mhm or an uh-huh ), all just to show I am listening and am paying attention. When I am talking to others and I do not get those nonverbal cues, I assume they are...

1. How would you describe your own television viewing habits – which typology typically describes your television viewing habits? How does the “typology” meet a particular need of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs? On a typical day, I don't usually watch a lot of television. But when I do, I watch it with friends. My roommates and I will put on a show (usually an anime) and watch it while we all work on homework. With my boyfriend, we watch different Star Wars  shows (like The Mandalorian  or  Book of Boba Fett ) and his favorite, Letterkenny .  The typology, or "a  classification scheme that attempts to sort a large number of specific instances into a more manageable set of categories,"  I would use to describe my television viewing habits is passing time  and companionship  (Griffin, p. 350). When my roommates and I put on a show, we are using it mostly as a distraction or background noise while we complete homework; hence, passing time. But, we are a...

1. Consider McLuhan’s claim, “the medium is the message.” How does the medium impact the content and meaning of the advertisement’s message? For instance, do you think your response to the message varies from one medium to the other? If so, how and why? What implications do you think your responses have for producers of persuasive messages and for your own role as a receiver of a message?  Marshall McLuhan thought of the study of thought, media ecology . Media ecology refers to the study of media, technology, and communication and how each affects human environments (Griffin, p. 310). Within media ecology is McLuhan’s most famous quote: “ The medium is the message .” This means that “media—regardless of content—reshape human experience and exert far more change in our world than the sum total of the messages they contain” (Griffin, p. 310). The medium , “a specific type of media; for example, a book, newspaper, radio, television, telephone, film, website, or email,” affects the mes...