Categories
Uncategorized

Validation in Therapy

This editorial cartoon relates to the chapter “Interpersonal Communication” from Survey of Communication Study, because it demonstrates the concept of communication climate, or the “overall feeling or emotional mood between people.” Specific to this scenario, the clinical setting of being in therapy could be seen as a confirming climate (under the section “Communication Climate”), where the presence of both the patient and therapist could be affirming to the care of the patient, who works with the therapist to improve their mental well-being.

Recognition messages would then be at play here, in which the presence of the therapist would confirm “existence” of the patient, who might be struggling with mental health. Standardly, therapists would also use acknowledgment messages and / or endorsement messages, whether through verbal communication or body language (a form of nonverbal communication) to validate the patient’s circumstances or feelings.

Because patients who go to therapy vary in nature and backgrounds, they may use different methods of communication with the therapists. The section “Relational Dialectics” demonstrates some principles that are relevant to interactions between a therapist and a patient. For example, the novelty-predictability notion, in which “predictability” and “spontaneity” are both encouraged in “relationships,” is at play here. While the therapy meetings are scheduled (a form of predictability), the patient may not know what to expect or learn something new during the sessions, as they work out their feelings and thoughts through therapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, in which new ways of thinking and processing information are introduced to the patient).

Finally, this cartoon relates to me, because I have studied psychology, and volunteered at a mental health organization, so the topic of mental health is especially familiar to me. Mental health is applicable to all of us, and whenever we feel down, we may consult someone (not necessarily a therapist) such as a friend to validate our feelings through acknowledgment messages and endorsement messages.

Categories
Uncategorized

Punctuality

Image result for editorial cartoon being late

This editorial cartoon depicts an airline delay, in which the attendant declares to offer the stranded person peanuts as “compensation.” The situation relates to the chapter “Nonverbal Communication” in Survey of Communication Study in numerous ways. The concept of chronemics is present here. Under the section “Types of Nonverbal Communication,” chronemics is described as “the study of how people use time.” In this case, the airline is delayed, or “not on time.” Inferring that the people are from the United States, where punctuality is valued, the airline delay could be interpreted negatively by the person who was stranded (“stranded” also denotes a negative meaning).

This cartoon can also be connected to the section “Differences Between Verbal and Nonverbal Communication.” On one hand, verbal communication is “linear”; on the other hand, nonverbal communication is dependent on the context of the situation. Specific to this cartoon, although the communication from the attendant to the stranded person is verbal, nonverbal communication may also be present, as factors such as the lateness of the airline and the verbal confirmation of only offering peanuts as “compensation” may reflect negatively on the airline company as a whole.

Connecting the concept of chronemics to myself, as someone who comes from a Chinese household and growing up in America, I value punctuality and tend to apply it to my life. For example, while I could understand that things outside our control could happen and affect our punctuality, I think that someone who is chronically late to meetings isn’t showing respect to the people at the meetings. As someone who has worked in many collaborative settings, punctuality is important for getting things done effectively and timely as a group.

Categories
Uncategorized

Online Communication

This cartoon relates to the chapter “Verbal Communication” in the Survey of Communication Study because it is a real-world example of the model of synchronous communication and asynchronous communication. The examples given in the textbook section “Spoken versus Written Communication: What’s the Difference?” for synchronous communication happens in the real-world and in real-time, such as “public speaking situations” and “a conversation with a friend.” In this cartoon, synchronous learning is depicted during a time of the pandemic, when online learning is required for students to continue their education safely.

Additionally, the context of this cartoon can be related to the terms of communicating informally and communicating formally. While the real-world environment of the home is commonly associated with relaxation and comfort, the factor of interacting with teachers and classmates that typically takes place in school brings in a more formal air. For example, it could be etiquette to not show up to a Zoom meeting in a tank top; some students might change into more presentable clothes to more formally present themselves on screen.

The editorial cartoon relates to my life, because I have experienced online learning during my high school years (not to mention the COM. 1000 course is asynchronous or takes place over a “longer period of time”). Like preparing to get ready for school, I tend to brush my teeth and eat breakfast before getting on Zoom, as well as wear more presentable clothes when joining the class Zoom meeting. The real-world environment may be more relaxed (my home), but the situational context (an online school environment) calls for more formal communication.

Categories
Uncategorized

The Evolution of Communication

Communcation across eras.

In this cartoon, an interaction between two doctors is seemingly depicted. One of them communicates that “The patient wants a second opinion from an A.I.” Directly, the concept of ethos is at play here. According to the section “The Classical Period (500 BCE-400 CE)” from Survey of Communication Studies, ethos is essentially “the speaker’s credibility.” In this scenario, the credibility of the doctor is doubted, and the A.I.’s credibility seems to be placed above the doctor’s expertise, from the patient’s point of view.

In my interpretation, this satirical representation of misplacing a doctor’s knowledge of medical science over A.I.’s information is a good example of the context of technology in today’s society of information overload. Health Communication, a “field that focuses on communicating health information interpersonally and to the public,” is touched upon here. While A.I. may provide general information on medical symptoms to the public, they lack the individualistic assessment and “interpersonal” care – or pathos – that human doctors have.

This editorial cartoon of a scenario surrounding the credibility of a human doctor versus an A.I. in medical assessment relates to me, because I would trust (an example of pathos) the assessment of a human doctor, with the aid of technology, rather than artificial intelligence alone.

Categories
Uncategorized

Communication: a 2-way street

Communication through the lens of performance!

In Chapter 1 – Foundations: Defining Communication and Communication Study of Survey of Communication, numerous models of communication are used to represent the definition of communication: “the process of using symbols to exchange meaning.” The first model that was introduced was the Linear Model of Communication, which states that communication is direct from the sender to the receiver (refer to section “Defining Communication”).

This method of representing communication, however, does not accurately portray communication in the context of the real-world. It disregards the receiver’s ability to interact with the sender, labeling them as a vessel that only receives information. This is where the Transactional Model of Communication comes in: in this model, the receiver is not a receiver, but instead a communicator. In a world of noise and contexts (e.g. social, cultural, and relational), a transactional approach to communication is more multi-dimensional.

Based on the editorial cartoon, the term “audience participation” is emphasized as the image depicts in who I interpret as an audience member walking up to the stage to perform with the actors. In this context, potential noise such as nerves about the spontaneity of having to perform could affect the audience member’s ability to play the role needed for the performance. The Transactional Model of Communcation more accurately depicts this situation as it is more interactive than a 1-way street from the actors to members in the audience.

As a dancer, this editorial cartoon relates to my life as a performance is a 2-way street between the dancers on stage and the audience members. For example, the energies of the performer can reach the audience, and vice versa. Etiquette such as cheering and clapping can build onto the energies of the dancers who worked hard to prepare a performance that could be enjoyed by family, friends, and strangers alike. This live interaction between performers is comprised of both verbal and nonverbal forms of communication – not just limited to dancers, but those practicing artistic crafts such as singers!

Categories
Uncategorized

Constantly (k)evolving !

Welcome! My name is Kevin, and I am a junior @ Brooklyn College studying communication. Thank you for visiting!