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Journal Reflection Chapter 12 - Relationships with Family Members

A family is a network of people who share their lives over long periods of time, are bound by blood, marriage, or commitment, consider themselves family, and share a significant history and anticipated future (McCornack and Morrison 327) . Families often possess a strong sense of family identity and share intense complex emotional bonds. There are several different types of families and family dynamics. How families communicate is dependent upon the family communication pattern. The family communication pattern is influenced by two dimensions: conversation orientation and conformity orientation. Conversation orientation is the "degree to which family members are encouraged to discuss a variety of topics" (McCornack and Morrison 334). Conformity orientation is the "degree to which families believe communication should emphasize similarity or diversity" (McCornack and Morrison 334). Dependent on where your family stands on these two dimensions will decide your famil...

Journal Reflection Chapter 11 - Romantic Relationships

A romantic relationship is "a chosen interpersonal involvement in which the participants perceive the bond as romantic" (McCornack and Morrison 291). There are different types of love associated with romantic relationships: storge, agape, mania, pragma, ludus, and eros (McCornack and Morrison 291). Understanding the love type specific to your romantic relationship is useful. It is also important to understand that all romantic relationships undergo stages. A relationship consists of stages of coming together and stages of coming apart. It's perfectly healthy to go back and forth at any time. H owever, if the relationship stays in the coming apart stage for too long sometimes the relationship is terminated if not managed in a timely manner. Lastly, understanding how to maintain romantic relationships is vital to creating a healthy and long-term relationship. Relational maintenance strategies use communication and supportive behaviors to sustain a healthy relationship. Str...

Journal Reflection Chapter 14 - Relationships in the Workplace

A workplace relationship is any affiliation you have with a professional peer, supervisor, subordinate, or mentor (McCornack&Morrison, 2019, p.384). The way in which you conduct those involvements is influenced by three dimensions: status, intimacy, and choice (McCornack&Morrison, 2019, p.384). Power dynamics influence workplace relationships. The culture of the workplace also influences workplace relationships. Workplace culture is influenced by workplace values, workplace norms, and workplace artifacts. The workplace culture is dependent upon the organization you work for. Each job is different and it is important to keep that in mind when working and forming workplace relationships. I am yet to have my first job however once I finish this semester I plan on working. I will keep this in mind when looking for jobs though. However, to relate, I would like to think that relationships at school are similar to this. In reference to college, the culture is vastly differen...

Journal Reflection Chapter 10 - Managing Conflict and Power

According to the textbook, "conflict is the process that occurs when people perceive that they have incompatible goals or that someone is interfering in their ability to achieve their objectives" (McCornack&Morrison, 2019, p.260). Most conflicts can be characterized by four features: begin with perception, involve clashes in goals or behaviors, is a process, and it is dynamic (McCornack&Morrison, 2019, p.260). Conflict is inevitable however, understanding these four features can help to recognize conflict thus allowing you to handle conflict more appropriately. It is also important to understand you deal with conflict. Understanding your conflict style allows you to analyze how you deal with conflict. For example, after taking the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument assessment my highest scores were in compromising (sharing) and avoiding withdrawal. This means, I either compromise with others in a conflict or I avoid conflict altogether. After learning this I fee...

Journal Reflection Chapter 8 - Verbal Communication

Verbal communication is the foundation of interpersonal communication. Verbal communication is "the exchange of spoken or written language with others during interactions" (McCornack&Morrison, 2019, p.204). Understanding verbal communication is vital to improving interpersonal communication competence. In order to improve, it is important to understand the six functions of verbal communication that influence interpersonal communication: sharing meaning, shaping thought, naming, performing actions, crafting conversations, and managing relationships. I think that sharing meaning is an interesting concept. Sharing meaning verbally through the use of language conveys two types of meanings: denotative and connotative meaning. Denotative meaning refers to the literal meaning found in the dictionary and connotative meaning refers to the implied meaning. Denotative and connotative meanings also influence how language evolves. For example, a word that has become trendy in the yea...

Journal reflection chapter 9 - Nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication if not more. Nonverbal communication is the "intentional or unintentional transmission of meaning through non-spoken physical and behavioral cues" (McCornack&Morrison, 2019, p.233). Understanding that nonverbal forms of communication can be influenced by culture, gender, and technology can improve interpersonal communication competence. Verbal communication accompanied by nonverbal communication can clarify the message one is trying to get across or do the opposite. When verbal communication does not coincide with nonverbal communication it can cause mixed signals inhibiting efficient communication. An example of when someone's verbal communication does not match their nonverbal communication is when you are talking to someone and they say yes to something but actually shake their head side to side (no). It is also important to understand the seven codes of nonverbal communication: kinesics, voca...