Creating A Supportive Climate Group Learning Activity: Interpersonal Communication Instructions: Define each concept and convert defense

producing statements to supportive statements. As a group, write your answers in this Word document. Email this assignment to joan.aitken@park.edu and each group member. Please include this assignment in your course portfolio. This activity provides you with concrete examples of communication that cultivates defensiveness, and this activity also gives you experience in transforming communication that fosters defensive climates into communication that fosters supportive climates. Listed below are 6 statements using language that cultivates defensive communication climates. Provide an alternative statement that is more likely to build a supportive communication climate. EXAMPLE Definition of supportive climate in my own words: a. A supportive climate is one that is nonjudgmental so the other person does not feel defensive by my communication. A defensive climate makes the other person feel self-protective. Defense-Producing Statement: You are such a whiner. Your Assignment: Change evaluation to description. b. You seem to be making a lot of complaints lately. 1. PROVISIONALISM Provisionalism is being open-minded. Define provisionalism in your own words. a. Defense-Producing Statement 1: The right thing to do is crystal clear. Your Assignment: Change certainty to provisionalism. b. 2. SPONTANEITY Spontaneity is saying what you think without using strategies. Define spontaneity in your own words. a. Defense-Producing Statement 2: Don't you owe me a favor from when I typed that paper for you last term? Your Assignment: Change strategy to spontaneity. b. 3. DESCRIPTION Defense-Producing Statement 3: You're acting very immaturely. a. Description gives nonevaluative information.

Your Assignment: Change evaluation to description. b. 4. PROBLEM ORIENTATION Problem orientation is trying to work together to solve a problem instead of controlling the other person. Define control in your own words. Problem orientation is when you try to work it out together. a. Defense-Producing Statement 4: I think we should move where I have the good job offer since I'll make a bigger salary than you anyway. Your Assignment: Change control orientation to problem orientation. b. 5. EQUALITY Equality is treating another person as equivalent to me. Define equality in your own words: a. Defense-Producing Statement 5: I can't believe you got yourself into such a dumb predicament. Your Assignment: Change superiority to equality. b. 6. EMPATHY Empathy is putting yourself in someone elses place. a. Defense-Producing Statement 6: I don't want to get involved in your disagreement with your parents. Your Assignment: Change neutrality to empathy. b. Reference Wood, J. T. (2007). Interpersonal communication - Everyday encounters. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Accessed October 24, 2006 from http://www.wadsworth.com/cgiwadsworth/course_products_wp.pl? fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=049500653X&discipline_number=48