Page 341 - Essentials of Human Communication

320 Glossary

positive feedback. Feedback that supports or reinforces the criteria for evaluating solutions, identifying possible solu-
continuation of behavior along the same lines in which it tions, evaluating solutions, selecting the best solution,
is already proceeding—for example, applause during a and testing the selected solutions.
speech. Contrast negative feedback. process. Ongoing activity; communication is referred to as a
positiveness. A characteristic of effective communication in- process to emphasize that it is always changing, always in
volving positive attitudes toward the self and toward the motion.
interpersonal interaction. Communicate positiveness by projection. A psychological process whereby we attribute
expressing your own satisfaction with the interaction, com- characteristics or feelings of our own to others; often re-
pliment others by expressing your positive thoughts and fers to the process whereby we attribute our own faults to
feelings about and to the other person, and express accep- others.
tance and approval. pronunciation. The production of syllables or words accord-
power. The ability to control the behaviors of others. Com- ing to some accepted standard—for example, as presented
municate power by avoiding such powerless message forms in a dictionary. Avoid the common pronunciation errors
as hesitations, too many intensifiers, disqualifiers, tag of omission, substitution, addition, and pronouncing
questions, one-word answers, self-critical statements, sounds that should be silent.
overly polite statements, and vulgar and slang expressions. protection theory. A theory of proxemics referring to the fact
power distance. A cultural dimension referring to the degree that people establish a body-buffer zone to protect them-
of distance between those with power and those without selves from unwanted closeness, touching, or attack.
power. Adjust your messages and listening based on the provisionalism. An attitude of open-mindedness that leads to
power distance orientation of the culture in which you find the creation of supportiveness. Contrast certainty.
yourself. proxemic distances. The spatial distances that people main-
power play. A consistent pattern of behavior in which one tain in communication and social interaction. Use spatial
person tries to control the behavior of another. Use coop- distance to signal the type of relationship you are in: inti-
erative strategies to deal with power plays: (1) express your mate, personal, social, or public. Let your spatial relation-
feelings, (2) describe the behavior to which you object, and ships reflect your interpersonal relationships. Maintain
(3) state a cooperative response. spatial distances that are comfortable (i.e., neither too
pragma love. One of Lee’s (1976) six types of love; traditional close nor too far apart) and that are appropriate to the sit-
approach to love, valuing social qualifications and family uation and to your relationship with the other person.
background and emphasizing logic and practicality over proxemics. The study of the communicative function of space
feelings. and of how people unconsciously structure their space—
pragmatic implication. An assumption that seems logical but the distances between people in their interactions, the or-
is not necessarily true. ganization of space in homes and offices, and even the
premature self-disclosures. Disclosures that are made before design of cities.
a relationship has developed sufficiently. proximity. As a principle of perception, the tendency to per-
presentation aids. Visual or auditory means for clarifying ideas. ceive people or events that are physically close as belong-
primacy effect. The condition by which what comes first ex- ing together or representing some kind of a unit. Also,
erts greater influence than what comes later. Contrast physical closeness; one of the factors influencing interper-
recency effect. sonal attraction.
primacy–recency. A principle of perception stating that we psychological time. The importance placed on past, present,
generally use early information to get a general impres- or future time.
sion of a person and use later information to add specific- public communication. Communication in which the source is
ity to this impression. one person and the receiver is an audience of many
primary relationship. The relationship between two people persons.
who both consider it to be their most (or one of their public distance. The longest proxemic distance, ranging
most) important relationship; the relationship between from 12 to more than 25 feet.
spouses or domestic partners would be an example. public territory. Area that is open to all people—for example,
primary source. Original information about a topic or a restaurant or park.
event—for example, an original research study. See sec- punctuation of communication. The breaking up of continuous
ondary source. communication sequences into short sequences with identi-
primary territory. An area that you can consider your exclu- fiable beginnings and endings or stimuli and responses.
sive preserve—for example, your room or office. punishment. Noxious or aversive stimulation.
problem-solving group. A group whose primary task is to pupillometrics. The study of communication through changes
solve a problem or, more often, to reach a decision. in the size of the pupils of the eyes.
problem-solving sequence. A logical step-by-step process for purr words. Highly positive words that express the speaker’s
solving a problem that is frequently used by groups; con- feelings rather than any objective reality. Contrast snarl
sists of defining and analyzing the problem, establishing words.