Week 6 Blog # 1

Rules and Resources

Rules are rarely stated aloud, but they are propositions that indicate how something ought to be done or what is good or bad.  Resources refers to materials, possessions, or attributes that can be used to influence or control the actions of the group or its members.  This information can be found in Chapter 18 on page 240.  

I find rules and resources interesting because it really emphasizes how great Griffin does with this book and it's analogies when explaining communication ideas.  But now to speaking of these ideas, I really do notice how rules can silence people in group situations.  One isn't supposed to talk about certain things because its one of those unspoken rules.  Also one of the resources I usually use to convince people in groups to feel the same way as I do is try to present all the negatives in their ideas so they will feel that my idea may be better.

~Tornn

Week 5 Blog # 3

Family System

A family system is a self-regulating, interdependent network of feedback loops guided by members' rules; the behavior of each person affects and is affected by the behavior of another.  This system can be found on page 170 and in chapter 13 of our book.  The idea is that an entire family affects one person simply through the family's interactions with each other and that single individual.

This is meaningful to me because I feel my brother is in a similar situation to the guy Mike in the example in this chapter.  Where he uses simply because his family's interactions really bother him, and the family isn't doing a good job at all working with the young man to help his drug abuse.  I need to remember that everything I do and say affects how my brother feels and what he feels like doing.

~Tornn

Week 5 Blog # 2

Constitutive Dialogue

Constitutive Dialogue is communication that creates, sustains, and alters relationships and the social world.  The information on this idea can be found on pages 161-2 in chapter 12 of our book.

The idea that conversations, and communication in general, can change relationships and situations (the social world) may seem to be a straight-forward idea, and yet with the examples in the book, Griffin explains an idea that seemed rhetorical in a way that makes more situations make sense in my social world.  I've noticed that when two people both have some kind of negative (the scars on Jess' legs so she wouldn't wear shorts, and Joe explaining he had some bad scars too), and they communicate with each other about it, they realize that they aren't the only one in their situation and tend to be far less self-conscious about that "negative."

~Tornn

Week 5 Blog # 1

Hyperpersonal Perspective

Hyperpersonal refers to an idea that CMC relationships can actually be more intimate than relationships that are formed when physically together.  This information could be found on page 144 in chapter 11 of our book.  

I can't imagine this being possible!  It baffles me because the people I feel closest to are people that I love spending time around, and can actually sometimes feel lonely without their presence.  I also feel that I have a pretty good amount of insight on both sides of this situation so that I could make an informed judgment either way.  I have played and sometimes do play online games with a great deal of interaction with many kinds of people.  Some who I still choose to communicate with via email.  But I've never felt that I could feel closer or more deeply connected with any of these people in the way I am with my best friends and girlfriend (all of whom I've met in person).   

With all the online social networks now I understand how people can end up meeting online and starting a relationship through email and instant messaging, but I cannot imagine being extremely close to most of those people without face-to-face interaction.  I've had intimate conversations with people through myspace (could be the same for some with facebook, but I'm newer to it and don't have much interest in building new relationships with it) with people I've never met before, but never has a connection arose simply through written text.  Maybe  hyperpersonal perspective with CMC is only valid for certain types of people.

~Tornn

Week 4 Blog # 3

Anxiety/Uncertainty Management (AUM) Theory.

The AUM Theory can be found in Chapter 10 on pages 131 through 133 in our book.  The AUM theory is, "an intercultural theory that claims high levels of uncertainty and anxiety lead to greater misunderstanding when strangers don't communicate mindfully."  In other words, if one meets a stranger who is culturally different, and is anxious when doing so, they may misunderstand what is being said to them and take the communication in a negative way.

I find this theory to be meaningful because it really explains how deeply our feelings can effect our ability to communicate.  If someone is extremely anxious, (past Gudykust's upper threshold) then they may not even be able to communicate at all.  I know from all my own personal experiences, I don't communicate well even with people I am closed to when I'm not emotionally sound, so I can guarantee that if I felt threatened by someone culturally and was not emotionally sound, I would do an extremely poor job communicating.

~Tornn

Week 4 Blog # 2

Minimax Principle of Human Behavior

This principle was originally stated by John Stuart Mill back in the Nineteenth century.  It can be found in chapter 9 of our book on page 118.  This principle claims that people, "seek to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs."  This of course is in regards to the benefits and costs of a relationship, not in regards to anything else.  

I find this principle meaningful because it really shows how selfish people can truly be.  We mainly care about ourselves and our own personal well-being.  What is sad is I also see myself doing this all the time when I look into meeting and making friends.  It is extremely difficult to distance myself from my own feelings and just look into whether or not a new person is someone I'd enjoy spending time with.  I guess this is a good thing because it kind of puts up a barrier between myself and those who could potentially hurt me.  

~Tornn

Week 4 Blog # 1

Closeness through Self-Disclosure

This section can be found on page 114 in chapter 9 of our book.  The idea of self-disclosure is to consciously choose to share private feelings, experiences, secrets, attitudes, or values with someone else.  By sharing these feelings, the individual will (in theory) become closer to the person whom they are sharing with.  

I find this section meaningful because the idea is so simple, and yet so complex, deep, frustrating, and wonderful all at the same time.  When one wants to practice self-disclosure with another, he/she must first get a feeling for whether or not it is even the correct time to do so.  It is an extremely personal way of communicating so both parties need to be on the same page.  While self-disclosure is frustrating and difficult, it can be amazingly rewarding when I have a meaningful conversation with someone and can literally feel myself getting closer with them through the sharing of new, personal information.  I hope I can continue to build relationships and gain deeper insight into my friend's thoughts and feelings through self-disclosure.

~Tornn

Week 2 Blog # 3

Thought: The Process of Taking the Role of the Other     

       Blumer's third premise, and the idea of minding can be found in Chapter 5 on page 62.  This section basically discusses the idea of planning what one will choose to say next, as well as taking the role of others.  

I feel minding is an extremely important concept that the American youth needs to take advantage of.  We need to take those few seconds before we begin to speak to figure out what we're going to say.  When much of the youth speaks it is filled with a great deal of filler words such as, "like," or "ummmmm."  Its frustrating to listen to because one feels as though they are listening to someone who has no clue what they are talking about.  In reality, people who say the word, "like" often as a filler may actually have some very important things to say; but if they sound so unintelligent while they try to express what important things they have to say, no one will listen.

~Tornn

Week 2 Blog # 2

Meaning: The Construction of Social Reality

     This concept of meaning and social reality can be found on page 60 in the 5th chapter of our book.  In this area Griffin presents the idea that social reality is all perception.  I completely agree with the idea that there really is no reality, only perception.  

     This concept is meaningful because people in our society are always far too wrapped up in the "social realities," and what everyone else perceives.  When one thinks of reality they think of their own reality and not what the next person may imagine to be reality.  I always want to do my best to look at things, and ideas (as well as people) from as many perspectives as possible.

~Tornn

Week 2 Blog # 1

The Phenomenological Tradition

       The concept of the phenomenological tradition is an extremely stimulating one in my opinion.  The tradition is an "intentional analysis of everyday experience from the standpoint of the person who is living it."  This concept may be found on pages 49-51 of our textbook in the fourth chapter.  

      This concept is meaningful to me because I feel that I take part in the phenomenological tradition daily.  I am always trying to understand how others view their lives, how different people feel in different situations, and what situations and experiences have led different people to their current lives (though this third one isn't too deeply connected with phenomenological ideas, it is still something I do connected with the first two, heh).  

      Through my own experiences, I have noticed that too many people's inner feelings are not in congruence with their external appearance.  Many of my friends, and especially family members, act as though they are perfectly fine even when they are extremely upset and/or irritated.  This bothers me because people need to be more true to their feelings or they will continue to live in an unhappy state, acting as though all is well; they will be lying to themselves daily, which, in my opinion, is one of the least healthy things we as humans can do to ourselves.

~Tornn