Presentation Transcript

1. COMM 4471: Communication in Marriage and Family

   Fall 2012
2. 2 Definition of Communications 1) Information Exchange (Shannon & Weaver, 1949) 2) Symbol use and meaning making (Braithwaite & Baxter, 2006)
3. Information Exchange Model (Feedback) Receiver Sender Message (encoding) (decoding) Channel with Noise
4. Semantic Triangle Reference (Thought) Referent (Thing) Symbol (Word)
5. Functional Definition of Interpersonal Communication Interpersonal Communication is any interaction (messaging) between two or more persons who exchange information, create meaning, and influence each other and who through this process achieve goals, create social reality for themselves and others, and create and maintain relationships with each other.
6. Functions of IPC Exchange information Create meaning Influence Achieve goals Create social reality Create & maintain relationships
7. Consequences of Definitions Determines what is/what is not part of communication Determines what is focused on and what is ignored in research Implies presence/absence of certain explanatory mechanisms
8. Defining Marriage & Family What is Marriage? What is Family? What are the defining attributes/characteristics? Where do definitions reside? Who has influence on definitions?
9. Marriage/Family Properties Long-term commitment Types of relationships biology, law, affection Enmeshment in kinship/social networks Ongoing interdependence Institutionalization
10. Ways of defining M&F Structural by membership Task-Orientation by goals & outcomes Transactional by communication behaviors & relationships
11. Consequences of Definitions Psychological Social Legal Theoretical
12. Locations of definitions Individual Psychology mind, brain, cognition Psychology affected by: Dyad/Group Community/Society
13. Cognitive Representation of Marriage & Family Dyad/ Family Society/ Community Individual Psychology
14. Systems Theory (general assumptions) Wholeness: Complete interdependence of parts Nonsummativity: System is more than sum of parts Openness: Systems interact with the environment and are self-regulating Self-Regulating: Cybernetic
15. Cybernetics Systems are self-regulating Have goals Can perceive actual states (feedback) Compare actual state with goal Determine deviation from goal Engage in corrective action
16. Systems Theory (family specific assumptions) Patterns/regularity: Families develop interaction patterns Interactive Complexity: Process matters more than inputs (causality) Complex Relationships: Systems are hierarchically linked to other systems Equifinality: Outcomes are not pre-determined by inputs
17. Diagrams of Family Systems Draw your own family system Where do you draw your boundaries? What are the different subsystems? How permeable are the boundaries? What other systems interact?
18. Group Work In groups of 4-5, compare & contrast your diagrams How are your family systems similar? How are they different? Do differences affect your definitions of family? The functions family has?
19. Evaluation of Systems Theory Strengths Emphasis on whole family & interdependence Emphasis on process Weaknesses Complexity and interdependence make testable hypotheses difficult or impossible Diffuse responsibility for dysfunction (e.g., abuse, sexism, etc.)
20. Circumplex Model of Family Functioning Two primary dimensions: Adaptability (Flexibility) Cohesion Facilitating Dimension Communication
21. Family Functioning Functioning Dimension: adaptability/cohesion
22. Family Communication and Facilitation
23. Criticisms of Olson’s Model Lack of evidence for curvilinear relationships of adaptability and cohesion with functioning “Communication” largely underconceptualized
24. General Questions What have we learned? List 1-2 fundamental insights gained from the reading How can what was learned be applied? Give examples of how new knowledge can be used to affect desirebale outcomes in family interactions
25. The Theory of Evolution Organisms evolve through the dual process of random mutation and natural selection, such that those changes that increase a gene’s (i.e., usually its carrier) reproductive success are passed on to future generations and spread through the gene pool, whereas changes that decrease a gene’s (i.e., usually its carrier) reproductive success are not passed on and disappear from the gene pool.
26. Theory of Evolution (Darwin) Competition (inter & intra-species) Variation (random change of traits) Inheritance (passing on of traits to offspring) Selection (of advantageous traits) - Survival - Reproduction
27. Linking Evolution & Behavior Genetic bases of behavior (instincts) Physical structure, including brain Temporary expressions, such as proteins, hormones, neuro-transmitters, etc. Link is probabilistic rather than deterministic
28. Inclusive Fitness (Hamilton) Evolution understood from the gene’s perspective (i.e., “Selfish Gene”) Essentially, genes (information) evolve Solves “problem” of altruism (i.e., co-operation) Success of others carrying one’s genes benefits own genes Varying % of relatedness (100,50,25,12.5, etc) Relatedness predicts assistance/sacrifice
29. Evolved Psychological Mechanisms brain functions subject to evolution solve specific recurring problems of survival or reproduction take in limited information use decision rules to obtain output output can be psychological, physiological, or behavioral
30. Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness Last 100,000 – 400,000* years of hunter-gatherer existence for modern humans, but ~ 5 million years for huminids Relatively small groups of related individuals Division of labor by sex* Hierarchical social structures Intra-species competition (warfare)
31. Adaptive Functions of Interpersonal Relationships Reproduction Procreation Raising of offspring Survival Assistance & co-operation Sharing of resources Defense
32. Areas of Evolved Behaviors related to Relationships Mate selection, mating strategies Attachment – interpersonal relationships Affiliation – social relationships Co-operation & exchanges Decision making Social hierarchies, status & dominance Commitment, loyalty, fairness, etc. Morality and Ethics?
33. Evolution and Families Paternal and Maternal Care (Parental Certainty) Family Conflict (Inclusive Fitness) Resource Allocation (discriminative parental solicitude)
34. Parental Certainty Men = low certainty Less attachment to children Less parenting / resources Women = high certainty More attachment to children More parenting /resources
35. Parental Investment Selection of Sexual Partner Men = low investment (intercourse) Less selectivity Attraction based on fertility Women = high investment (pregnancy) More selectivity Attraction based on ability to provide and loyalty
36. Parental Investment Into children Men = large reproductive ability maximize # of children maximize quality of children Women = limited reproductive ability maximize quality of children
37. Relational Model Theory Only four relational models are bases of all social behavior Culture specific implementation rules (preo) determine use of models Models are generative Models are pervasive Models are universal
38. Communal Sharing no distinction between self and other Need/ability based distribution of resources categorical system
39. Authority Ranking hierarchical distinction between self and other status based distribution of resources ordinal system
40. Equality Matching self and partner distinct, but on equal level socially even (i.e., in kind) distribution of resources interval system
41. Market Pricing self and partner distinct but equal, although inequalities might result from behavior market based distribution of resources ratio system
42. Asocial & Null Relationships Alternatives available if persons interact with others without perceiving a relationship Asocial = awareness and use of relational models for ends unrelated or antithetical to relationship Null = failure to perceive other as potential relationship partner
43. Elementary Features of Relational Models 1) Models are morally obligating 2) Violations of models are sanctioned 3) Actualization of models intrinsically enjoyable 4) Models operate in disparate domains in diverse cultures 5) Models form an ordered set in terms of relations and operations that define structures 6) Models exist in more primitive mammalian and other animal life
44. Predictions Regarding the Universality of Relational Models 1) Models emerge spontaneously regardless of culture (teaching) 2) Models are externalized (not internalized) 3) In novel situations, people use models to organize social life
45. Predictions Regarding the Acquisition of Relational Models 1) Models are acquired in a predetermined sequence 2) Uses of newly acquired models are learned and fine tuned through experimentation 3) Much like language, acquisition of relational models independent of general intelligence
46. The Role of Culture (PREO) For any given relationship culture determines which relational model (or combination of models) applies to which specific relationship domain.