INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Unit 3 SeminarSelf-concept and communication

SELF CONCEPT

The relatively stable set of perceptions you hold of yourself.

SELF ESTEEM

The part of the self-concept that involves evaluations of self-worth.

Self-concept• Values – refers to your relatively

permanent ideas of what is good or bad, worthwhile or not.

• Beliefs – what you think is true based on logic.

• Attitudes – refer to more specific application of your values. How you act.

• Feeling – emotional responses to things such as events, people, places or situations

Self-disclosure• This is the process of sharing personal

information or feelings with others. This process is often difficult.

• This process can take place in three settings.

Public Public-privatePrivate

• Factors that influence self-disclosure include1. The place2. The person or group

Communication behavior

• People change their communication in direct response to the situation, place and people.

• Situation – with the Dean, in trouble

• Place – in class, after school, at Mass,

• People – teachers, parents, friends

For discussion

• What do you remember being told as a child that still influences your behavior today in a negative way? In a positive way?

BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ROOTS OF THE SELF

Biology

1. Personality

Socialization

1. Reflected Appraisal

• Significant Others

2. Social Comparison

• Reference Groups

CHARACTERISTICS OF SELF-CONCEPT

1.The self-concept is subjective.

1.Obsolete information

2.Distorted feedback

3.Myth of perfection

4.Social expectations

2.The self-concept resists change.

1.Cognitive conservatism

INFLUENCES ON IDENTITY

1.Culture

2.Sex and Gender

For discussion

• How are your identity and social views defined, sustained, and reinforced by the cultures within which you immerse your life?

SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY

Occurs when a person’s expectations of an event and her/his subsequent behavior based on those expectations make the outcome more likely to occur than would otherwise have been true.

Two types: self-imposed

others-imposed

Changing your self-concept

• Have a realistic perception of yourself.

• Have realistic expectations.• Have the will to change.• Have the skill to change.

IDENTITY MANAGEMENT

The communication strategies people use to influence how others view them.

PERCEIVED SELF: the person you believe yourself to be in moments of honest self-examination

PRESENTING SELF: the way we want others to view us

For discussion

• What is a strong value, belief, or attitude you have that you learned from your family while growing up?

CHARACTERISTICS OF

IDENTITY MANAGEMENT

1.We strive to construct multiple identities.

2.Identity management is collaborative.

3.Identity management can be deliberate or unconscious.

4.Identity management varies by situation.

5.People differ in their degree of identity management.

For discussion

• How might you benefit from changing your self-concept?

WHY MANAGE IDENTITIES?

To start & manage relationships; adhere to social rules

To gain compliance of others; accomplish personal goals

To save others’ faceHOW DO WE MANAGE

IMPRESSIONS?Face-to-face: manner, appearance, setting

Mediated: choices to include and exclude

For discussion

• What are some general world views that you hold? Where did you learn them?