Page 344 - Essentials of Human Communication

Glossary 323

your tendency to be attracted to people with qualities forms a conclusion about the whole on the basis of those
similar to your own and to people who are similar to you. instances.
Contrast complementarity. specific purpose. The information you want to communicate
simile. A figure of speech in which two unlike objects are (in an informative speech) or the attitude or behavior you
compared using the words like or as. want to change (in a persuasive speech).
situational listening. A view of listening holding that effective speech. Messages utilizing a vocal–auditory channel.
listening needs to be adjusted to the specific situation; one speech of demonstration. A speech devoted to showing how
style of listening does not fit all forms of communication. to do something or how something operates.
slang. Language used by special groups that is not considered speech of description. A speech devoted to describing an ob-
proper by the general society. ject or person.
slippery slope. A reasoning fallacy involving the assumption spontaneity. The communication pattern in which a person
that one event (the one the person is arguing against) will verbalizes what he or she is thinking without attempting to
inevitably or most likely lead to another event that every- develop strategies for control; encourages supportiveness.
one agrees would be undesirable. Seek proof of causality stability. A principle of perception stating that our percep-
small group. A collection of individuals who are connected to tions of things and of people are relatively consistent with
one another by some common purpose, are interdepen- our previous perceptions.
dent, have some degree of organization among them, and static evaluation. An orientation that fails to recognize that
see themselves as a group. the world is characterized by constant change; an attitude
small group communication. Communication among a col- that sees people and events as fixed rather than as con-
lection of individuals small enough in number that all stantly changing. Mentally date your statements to avoid
members may interact with relative ease as both senders thinking and communicating that the world is static and
and receivers, the members being related to one another unchanging. In your messages, reflect the inevitability of
by some common purpose and with some degree of orga- change.
nization or structure. status. The relative level a person occupies in a hierarchy; sta-
small talk. Noncontroversial talk that is usually short in dura- tus always involves a comparison, and thus one person’s
tion and often serves as a polite way of introducing one- status is only relative to the status of another.
self or a topic. stereotype. In communication, a fixed impression of a group
snarl words. Highly negative words that express the feelings of people through which we then perceive specific indi-
of the speaker rather than any objective reality. Contrast viduals; stereotypes are most often negative but may also
purr words. be positive. Be careful of thinking and talking in stereo-
social comparison. The processes by which you compare as- types; recognize that members of all groups are different,
pects of yourself (e.g., your abilities, opinions, and values) and focus on the individual rather than on the individual’s
with those of others and then assess and evaluate yourself; membership in one group or another.
one of the sources of self-concept. stimulus. Any external or internal change that impinges on or
social distance. The third proxemic distance, ranging from arouses an organism.
4 to 12 feet; the distance at which business is usually storge love. One of Lee’s (1976) six types of love; a gradually
conducted. unfolding, peaceful and tranquil love marked by compan-
social exchange theory. A theory hypothesizing that people ionability and shared interests and activities, sometimes
develop relationships in which their rewards, or profits, difficult to distinguish from friendship.
will be greater than their costs and that people avoid or ter- subjectivity. A principle of perception stating that our per-
minate relationships in which the costs exceed the rewards. ceptions are not objective but are influenced by our wants
social loafing. A theory holding that you exert less effort and needs and our expectations and predictions.
when you’re part of a group than when alone; people have supporting materials. Usually used in reference to public
a tendency to loaf. speaking, enlarging a concept or principle through the use
social network. An organizational structure that allows peo- of examples, illustrations, and narratives; testimony; defini-
ple to communicate, popularly used to refer to the online tions; statistics; and visual aids. Use supporting materials
sites such as Facebook and Twitter that enable people to that will prove interesting to your audience, that are consis-
communicate with others who share a common interest. tent in style with the rest of the speech, and that clearly re-
social penetration theory. A theory describing how relation- late to the concept and principle that they are designed to
ships develop from the superficial to the intimate levels explain.
and from few to many areas of interpersonal interaction. supportiveness. An attitude of an individual or an atmo-
source. Any person or thing that creates messages. A source sphere in a group that is characterized by openness,
may be an individual speaking, writing, or gesturing or a absence of fear, and a genuine feeling of equality. Try to
computer sending an error message. respond supportively by expressing your empathy, being
specific instances (reasoning from). A form of reasoning in open even to opposing viewpoints, and acting as an equal
which a speaker examines several specific instances and in the interaction.