COMM 1500 Lecture 1: Chapter 1 Class Notes
● Define Communication- process through which people use messages to generate
meaning within and across contexts, culture, channels, and media (read situation and
find best way to interact)
○ Is a process, btw 2 or more people
■ Process evolves over time (brick by brick)
■ You bring stuff in from past communications
○ Consists of messages
○ Occurs in a variety of situation or contexts
■ Message, talking, skype, etc…
■ Comm is VERY dependent on the situation
● Choose the appropriate form of comm
○ Uses variety of channels
■ Non Verbal (tone, look, position, body lang)
■ Verbal (talk, text, letter)
○ Wide range of media tools
○ {Verbal & non verbal
○ Transference of emotion
○ Building relationships
○ 2 or more people}
● Why study Communication
○ You communicate all day everyday
○ It’s pervasive (ie it’s everywhere)
■ 75% of your day is spent communicating
■ Need to find a way for people to understand your POV and hear you
○ It’s Important!
■ Quality, not quantity is important
● Effectiveness!
■ Good Comm Skills = Success
● Know how to interact appropriately in diff situations
● (E.g. Well being, relationships, careers)
● High comm skills = more well rounded person
● Motives for Interpersonal Communication
○ Fulfils human needs, to belong
■ Everyone want to fit in with others → need to comm to do so
■ Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
● Social needs (btw coworkers, friends, lover)
● Self-esteem needs (from feedback during comm)
● Self Actualization needs (from disagreements, learn other POV’s;
learn how you are diff compared to others)
○ Fulfills Goals:
■ 1. Self presentation
Document Summary
Define communication- process through which people use messages to generate meaning within and across contexts, culture, channels, and media (read situation and find best way to interact) Is a process, btw 2 or more people. Process evolves over time (brick by brick) You bring stuff in from past communications. Occurs in a variety of situation or contexts. Comm is very dependent on the situation. Non verbal (tone, look, position, body lang) 75% of your day is spent communicating. Need to find a way for people to understand your pov and hear you. Know how to interact appropriately in diff situations. High comm skills = more well rounded person. Everyone want to fit in with others need to comm to do so. Self actualization needs (from disagreements, learn other pov"s; learn how you are diff compared to others) People to think of you a certain way.