Lori Avery

Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012

Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


Communication Theory Scrapbook Project
No. Theory Theorist(s) Entry Example
1. Symbolic ( Theory
Symbolic language what is
real create our own, looking
glass self and what others
perceive in you.

George Herbert
Mead
Verbal
communication and
meaning

I am a fan of the 1990s TVshow, Friends. One of the main characters,
Monica, has a very strong type A personality, is highly organized and
prides herself on her organization and cleaning skills. In one particular
episode, Monicas Closet , her husband breaks into the Monica mystery
closet to find it full of junk. Monica returns home to find the door to
the mystery closet had been open. She panics and tries to explain the
reason behind the closet was due to the fact that items in the closet
didnt fit into any of her organized buckets or categories. This is a great
example of Meads looking glass self. Monica portrays herself as
organized on the outside, but is really not on the inside.

Source: You Tube The Secret Closet, Friends April 29, 2012

2. Expectancy Violation Theory
Proxemics/Expected zones
Coming in too close


Judee Burgoon
Non-verbal
communications and
semiotics
I am typically a very open, hug kind of person, especially with someone
that I have an established relationship. I have worked with this one
particular board member for almost two years in various capacities. He is
very quiet, but very witty. He is soft-spoken, newly married and is a
CPA. After meeting him the first time, I shook his hand. At the next
board meeting, we reconnected and this time, I went to give him a hug
and he stepped away. His comment to me was I am not really a hug
person. I was taken by surprise and immediately realized I had violated
his space/interpersonal expectations. He is very warm and welcoming
and is friends with other fellow board members who all hug! I made the
wrong assumption. So, we continue to meet, shake hands and smile. He
is the only board member who does this while I respect his space and
position on this matter, it still seems strange to me. We are human
services organization we are supposed to be warm and hug people!
Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


3. Semiotics
Significant signs and symbols
with special meaning.
Roland Barthes
Non-verbal
communication and
semiotics
I was first introduced to Kokopelli during our honeymoon to Santa Fe,
New Mexico twelve years ago. I was not familiar with the legend or
symbol of Kokopelli until our trip and once I became aware of his story
he was everywhere especially in Santa Fe. From time to time, the
symbol will reoccur in a magazine or newspaper article which will bring a
smile to my face.

The Kokopelli legend is considered to be the Anasazi spirit (and symbol)
of fertility who brought well-being to the people. This spirit assured
success in hunting, growing crops, and human conception.
This figure is so prominent in Native American mythology that he has
been compared to Abraham in regards to Judaism or to Paul in regards to
Christianity. It is believed, from the study of the history of Kokopelli, that
Kokopelli has been worshiped since at least the time of the Ancient
Pueblo.
The first known images of him appear on pottery that date sometime
between AD 750 and AD 850; however, the earliest known petroglyph of
the figure dates to about A.D. 1000. Kokopellis image has lasted the test
of time and has even entered onto the commercial scene.


Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


Growing up in Lancaster County, PA, I was familiar with the tagline,
Lancaster, PA The Red Rose City. Lancaster is home of Amish
Country, as well. Everything involving a holiday, seasonal tourist
attraction, etc. involves a variation of a red rose. On New Years Eve, a
red rose is dropped to celebrate the new year. The Red Rose dates back
to Lancasters deep English history.




4. Social Penetration Theory
Self disclosure via peeling
away the layers similar to an
onion.

Irwin Altman &
Dalmas Taylor
Interpersonal
communication
I liked the example of the peeling away the layers of an onion outlined
in our text book. The quote below sums up the layers for me:

Perhaps the most important reason for self-disclosure is that without it,
we cannot truly love. ~Jourard, Sidney

Until both parties offer full disclosure allowing full breadth and depth in
self disclosure, true love cannot happen for the couple.
Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


It becomes difficult for both parties to self-disclose, especially is one
person has been hurt in a past relationship. Years ago, I was engaged to
the man of my dreams who I met at work. For two years we had a long
distance relationship between Ohio and Pennsylvania. After a six month
engagement, (wedding dress bought, invitations purchased, etc.), I came
home to find a box which has been delivered by UPS that had all of my
things that I had kept at his home in Cleveland during long weekend trips.
He decided didnt want to get married and that was really the end of the
relationship. This was my first serious relationship and I had certainly
provided full disclosure as did my fianc. It took me quite some time
before I self-disclosed details about myself once I began dating again.
5. Social Exchange Theory
Based on rewards and costs of
those involved happy if
meets the CL comparison
level.


John Thibaut &
Harold Kelley
Interpersonal
communication
GNO examples get rid of negativity
Rewards and Costs happy if meets comparison level
Or use Margaret and Brittany

6. Relational Dialects
Normal and natural tugs and
pulls in a relationship as the
pendulum swings.

Leslie Baxter &
Barbara
Montgomery
Interpersonal
communication

My husband and I have been married for twelve years and for the most
part, our pendulum swings in a normal fashion. We are both very much
alike, we enjoy being home, enjoying a glass of wine on the deck on a
Saturday night, we are both pretty low maintenance. However, there have
been times (and will continue to be) when one of has said we should
really go out and do something like go uptown to the museums and walk
around and have dinner afterwards or take Max, our dog, over to the
Greenway and walk or Usually one of us will make the decision to
switch things up for a weekend or two and then our pendulum returns to
the normal swing of things.

7. Interactional View based Paul Watzlawick This theory reminds me of someone that I used to work with and several
Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


on general systems theory
change one part, you change
the whole sum. When things
are going well, conversation is
content based, when things are
not going well, relationship
meaning is there.

Relationships within a family
system are interconnected and
highly resistant to change.
Communication among members
has a content component and a
relationship component that
centers on issues of control. The
system can be transformed only
when members receive outside
help to reframe their
metacommunication.
Interpersonal
communication
other co-workers struck up a friendship between the five of us. We are
have different backgrounds and we were in different phases of life. Fot
two years, we would spend one night per month having a girls night out.
We would have dinner or plan an activity (pottery, jewelry making). I
enjoyed my time with everyone, but one of the ladies become a bit
controlling of the group. If one of us could not make the monthly
dinner/activity her attitude would quickly change towards that particular
person. To the point, I just decided to step away from the group.
Interestingly enough, the group fell apart within months. I am the only
one that remains with the company, but I quickly realized that I my
friends are important but, I dont need the negative energy around me.
She has since dismissed herself from everyone. This individual would
quickly say You started it, but not coming to the dinner and other
similar comments. Life is too short!

Only child and power
8. Constructivism
Individuals who are more
cognitively complex in their
perceptions of others have the
mental capacity to construct
sophisticated message plans
that pursue multiple goals.
Very person-centered with
communication. The more
inner-traits you can see, the
better.
Jesse Delia
Interpersonal
communications
I recently received a promotion at work and was moved into a more senior
role and title. In my former role, I was able to work (4) ten hour days and
took Fridays off, unless I needed to attend a meeting or was involved with
a special project. I was fortunate to have this schedule, but with my new
role, I now work five days per week. During a recent conversation
between my husband and close family membe.r, the family member asked
how I was handling the five day work week. He replied by stating shes
fine, worked many Fridays in her former role, as well. The family
member replied with well, she has a title now and will have to step and
do what it takes. This individual is not very person-centered and is not
self-aware. There are many ways with which she could have replied, for
example: I know you really enjoyed your Fridays off, but this is a great
opportunity for you.
Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


9. Uncertainty Reduction
Theory
Belief that its normal for
people to have doubts about
our ability to predict the
outcome of initial encounters.
The ultimate goal is to figure
how a new person acts.


Charles Berger
Interpersonal
communication
The first time I met my husbands friends before we were married and
after his divorce, was very intimidating for me. This particular group of
friends were friends with my husband and his former wife. So, I wanted
to be on my best behavior I assumed they would not like me and that I
would not fit in with this group. After almost 15 years later and
reflecting on those initial meetings for purposes of this assignment, I
realized this theory was in full play! It took a bit longer for us to get to
know each other because we were all living in different cities and states
and the core group were in different phases of life. Most of the ladies in
the group reached out to me with non-verbal warmth, but did not allow
much self-disclosure. The guys in the group provided much more verbal
output. Uncertainty was prevalent on both sides, but we soon found
common ground among each of us. This process took some time.
10. Social Information
Processing Theory
Communicating online.

Joseph Walther
Interpersonal
communication
There are many examples of this theory today including online dating. I
have not ever engaged with on-line dating, but several of my friends have
and my good friend actually married the first person she met online. The
entire process seems creepy to me but, I have always said, should
something happen to my husband, I will enter the convent never to
return to the outside world. My friend was very careful and cautious
about which website to use, etc. Once they met and had their first date, it
was a wonderful relationship.

I also think the use of Face Book and other social websites have their
benefits, but I have not jumped on the Face Book band wagon from a
personal standpoint.

I recently connected with my cousin who lives in California we have
never met. We have emailed a few times back and forth since last fall and
it has been fun connecting with he and his family. Its kind of like a
Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


modern day high tech pen pal. I am able to share with him many stories
from my childhood and share family stories that he was not able to
experience due to living so far away from the rest of the family.

11. Social Judgement Theory
The larger the discrepancy
between a speakers position
and a listeners point of view,
the greater the change in
attitudeas long as the
message is within the hearer's
latitude of acceptance. High
ego-involvement usually
indicates a wide latitude of
rejection. Messages that fall
there may have a boomerang
effect.
Muzafer Sherif
Persuasion

/Theories about persuasion/

Latitudes of acceptance
Jury on the Amanda knox case
OJ trial


12. Elaboration Likelihood
Model
Message elaboration is the
central route of persuasion
that produces major positive
attitude change. It occurs when
unbiased listeners are
motivated and able to
scrutinize arguments that they
consider strong. Message-
irrelevant factors hold sway on
the peripheral path, a more
common route that produces
Richard Petty &
John Cacippio
Persuasian
Insert ads for items by celebrity. Ad for Perpheral route advertisement
Advertising is a great way to explain

Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


fragile shifts in attitude.


13. Functional Perspective

Groups make high-quality
decisions when members fulfill
four requisite functions: (1)
problem analysis, (2) goal
setting, (3) identification of
alternatives, and (4)
evaluation of positive and
negative consequences. Most
group communication disrupts
progress toward
accomplishing these functional
tasks, but counteractive
communication can bring
people back to rational
inquiry.
Randy Hirokawa &
Dennis Gouran
Group
communication
The network TVshows Celebrity Apprentice and The Apprentice are a
great way to demonstrate Functional Perspective with group
communication. There have been countless episodes during each season
where one team member disagrees with other group members, they
become disruptive to the group which in turn usually has negative results
for the project assigned for the week. In these instances, the goal setting
discussions initially begin with positive discussion, but can lead to
negative outcomes as plans and goals are finalized.
14. Cultural Approach to
Organizations

An organization doesnt have a
culture, it is a culturea
unique system of shared
meanings.
Clifford Geertz &
Michael
Pacanowsky
Organizational
communication
I used to work for an independent telephone company in Pennsylvania
the D&E Telephone and Telegraph Company. The company was founded
by William Brossman during the early 1920s and when I worked for the
organization, the daughter of the founder was the President & CEO.
While the company was very progressive for a small town organization, it
had a very formal culture. It was an unwritten rule, but fully expected that
female employees did not wear slacks or jeans every. Casual Friday did
not exist. She was a lovely woman, but had very high expectations for her
staff even though they were not in writing or policy format.

Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012





15. Critical Theory Approach to
Organizations
Advocating for change, citizen
journalism,
Managers can further a
companys health and
democratic values by
coordinating stakeholder
participation in corporate
decisions.
Stanley Deetz
Organizational
communication
During class discussion surrounding this issue, the movie Erin Brokovich
and the recent story of how one woman was able to change the fee
structure and Bank of America, made me think of the 1999 movie, The
Insider, starring Russell Crowe about the tobacco industry. The Insider
tells the true story of a man who decided to tell the world what the seven
major tobacco companies knew (and concealed) about the dangers of their
product. Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) was a scientist employed in
research for a tobacco firm, Brown and Williamson.


16. Narrative Paradigm
Rhetoic, storytelling, listeners
judge the story by the way it
hangs together and relates to
values on the ideal audience.
Walter Fisher
Rhetoric
Narrative Coherence Internal consistency with characters acting in a
reliable fashion the story hangs together. The TV show, The Waltons
comes to mind when I think about narrative paradigm. Each week, the
show would begin with young John Walton talking about his family and
some component that tie into the weeks episode.
17. Cultivation Theory Social
Learning Theory
Violence in the media -
Refers to the cumulative
process by which TV fosters
beliefs about social reality.
Resonance the extent to
which something is congruent
with personal experience.
Amplifies real life experience.
Social Learning theory Learn
through watching others and
George Gerbner
Mass media

Albert Bandura

Part of this theory includes resonance which is the extent to which
something is congruent with personal experience. When I was 15, my
father passed away suddenly due to a heart attack. For several years after
his death, I had a hard time watching a medical show or any TV show or
movie that featured a heart attack victim, a scene in the hospital, etc.

Regarding the social learning theory, the non-profit that I work for
supports children and adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. Our childrens programs are inclusive for children six weeks
of age through age six. Our approach is difference doesnt mean deficit
the children mirror each other as children first and help each other along
the way regardless of their disabilities. They learn through watching
Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


seek to learn behavior that is
socially rewarding and socially
punishing.
others in a positive environment.

18. Spiral of Silence
Public opinion
Willingness to speak out or
not, Ash test, give up point of
view to go with the crowd.
Emotionally based.
Elisabeth Noelle-
Neumann
Mass media
Politics at present
Social issues Ammendment Flyer attach.
Rick Santorum and the birth control issue. Regardless of party things
become out of hand very quickly. Things you dont talk about.
19. Agenda Setting Theory
Media tells us what to think
and how to think about it
Media, public and policy
Top stories of the day
sometimes alter our opinion.
Maxwell McCombs
& Donald Shaw
Mass media
How could we not be swayed one way or another by the media these
days! An example that comes to mind is the Casey Anthony case. We
heard about the case and details for years before she was brought to trial.
I will admit I think she is guilty. But, the media certainly swayed my
opinion and feelings/judgement of her.
20. Face Negotiation Theory
Seeks to explain the influence
of cultural differences in
response to conflict. High
content and low content.

Stella Ting-Toomey
Intercultural
communication
The Amish culture is a very quiet, unassuming culture and group of
people. They support each other and among the Amish sect.
21. Speech Codes
Families are great examples
what not to talk about, secrets,
etc. Through ethnography of
communication we know all
cultures have multiple speech
codes that involve a distinctive
Gerry Philipsen
Intercultural
communication
Growing up, my parents never discussed the fact that my father had been
married before I never knew. No one ever discussed it including my
extended family members. It was as if everyone signed an agreement and
were sworn to secrecy.



Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


psychology, sociology, and
rhetoric. The meaning of a
speech code is determined by
speakers and listeners, and is
woven into speech itself. Artful
use of the code can explain,
predict, and control talk about
talk.
22. Muted Group
Theory/Theories about
Feminist and Gender
Communication
Language has a masculine bias
no ones fault.
Murphy Brown
Man-made language aids in
defining, depreciating, and
excluding women. Women are
less articulate in public
because the words and the
norms for their use have been
devised by men. As women
cease to be muted, men will no
longer maintain their position
of dominance in society.
Cheris Kramarae
Feminist & gender
communication
Lyrics to 9-5 theme song to the movie, song by Dolly Parton.
Tumble outta bed, And I stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition, And yawn and stretch
And try to come to life, Jump in the shower
And the blood starts pumpin', Out on the street
The traffic starts jumpin', The folks like me on the job from 9 to 5

Workin' 9 to 5, What a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by It's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind
And they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy
If you let it
9 to 5, for service and devotion
You would think that I
Would deserve a fat promotion
Want to move ahead
But the boss won't seem to let me
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me

They let you dream,Just to watch 'em shatter
You're just a step, On the boss-man's ladder
Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


But you got dreams, He'll never take away
You're in the same boat, With a lotta your friends
Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in
'N' the tide's gonna turn
And it's all gonna roll your way

They got you where they want you
There's a better life, And you think about it, don't you
It's a rich man's game, No matter what they call it
And you spend your life, Puttin' money in his wallet

The TV Show Murphy Brown

Clip from More Magazine
23. Standpoint Theory
Strong influence on what
people know depends on
where they came from -
Vantage point hard to
understand each others point
of view

Different locations within the
social hierarchy affect what is
seen. The standpoints of
marginalized people provide
less false views of the world
than do the privileged
perspectives of the powerful.
Strong objectivity requires that
Sandra Harding &
Julia T. Wood
Feminist & gender
communication
I grew up on a farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and as an only
child, my vantage point was very skewed in an innocent way. I
assumed that every child in the county lived on a farm, had two parents, a
mom who stayed at home, etc. In my mind, everyone had animals, grew
their own crops, etc. Wow! I was in for a BIG surprise on the first day of
school at Drumore Elementary School. I found out not everyone knew
each other, not everyone lived on a farm, some parents worked away from
the home and not everyones mom was waiting for them when they got
off the school bus each day.

I have worked for a non-profit that supports children and adults with
intellectual and developmental disabilities for almost ten years. Upon
arrival with the agency, I had limited experience with someone who had a
developmental disability. For those friends and associates of mine outside
of my work circle, they could not understand how I go to work every day
to help those poor, special people.
Lori Avery
Comm 250 Communications Theory/Spring 2012
Professor Karen Shearer-Dunn
April 30, 2012


scientific research start from
the lives of women, the poor,
gays and lesbians, and racial
minorities.