English for Engineer

Lecture-7

Socio-Psychological Barriers
Affecting Communication
Barriers can occur at any stage of communication process

Communication is not always successful.

Several things can prevent the message from
reaching the intended receiver or from
having the desired effect on the receiver .

There are problem areas at every stage in

the process of communication.

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Types of Barriers

Barriers to
Communication

Semantic and Socio – Cross-

Physical Mechanical
Language Psychological Cultural
Barriers Barriers
Barriers Barrier Barriers

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Socio Psychological Barriers (Socio+ Psychological )

People have personal feelings, desires,

fears, hopes, likes and dislikes, attitudes,
views and opinions.
Some are formed by family background
and social environment; some are formed
by individual’s own intelligence, inherited
qualities, education and personal
experience.

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Definition of Psychological Barriers

The psychological barrier to communication is the influence

of psychological state of the communicators (sender and
receiver) which creates an obstacle for effective
communication.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

1. Self- Centred Attitude

When we try to see and hear
everything in the light of our
needs , interest and desire.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

2. Group Identification
Our values and opinions are
influenced , in some matters, by
the group to which we belong .
Like family group, locality group,
religion group, age group, city and
country group etc.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

3. Self Image
Self image is our idea about what
we are, what we look like and
what impression we make.
Any message goes against self
image is not accepted by people.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

4. Selective Perception
Sometimes , we fail to get the
complete message which is sent to
us . We see, hear or read
selectively according to our own
needs , interest and experience.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

5. Filtering and Colouring

Filtering is the process of reducing
the details or aspect of message.
Each person who passes on the
message reduces or colours (add)
a message according to his or her
understanding of the situation.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

6. Status Block
People on senior position often
develop the feelings that they
know everything about how to
run a business. They do not agree
that a junior may have a good
idea.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

7. Resistance to change
This a serious psychological
barrier. Some people strongly
resist new ideas which are against
their established opinions,
traditions or customs.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

9. Closed Mind
Limited intellectual
background, limited reading
and narrow interest can cause
a person’s mind to be narrow.
This limits a person’s ability
to take in new ideas.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

10. Halo and Horns Effect

Our communication with people
depends on our past experience
with them.

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Types of Socio-Psychological Barriers

11. Snap Reaction

Drawing conclusion hurriedly
without giving it a second
thought.

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Effects of Socio Psychological Barriers on You

1. Effective communication doesn’t take place.

2. Your mind is cluttered with prejudices and negativity.
3. You fail to look at the other side of the coin (other perspective)
4. You become the victim of false assumptions
5. You prioritize negative emotions over logics unconsciously.
6. You can’t adopt the new change.
7. You judge people quickly without listening and understanding them
properly.
8. Your outlook and perception remains limited.
9. You suffer either inferiority or superiority complex.
10. You become self- centred unknowingly

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How to overcome socio-psychological barrier

1. Remove all the prejudices before reacting to any given message.

2. Listen and understand the view points of others.
3. Accept criticism if it is valid and try to look beyond the self image.
4. Don’t allow emotions to overpower you when you are listening or speaking
with others.
5. Quick judgement should not be formed without understanding and
analyzing other’s points and opinions.
6. Discuss with open mind be ready to understand variety of opinions.
7. Don’t be victim of halo and horns effect while communicating with people
you know.
8. Empathise with others to understand others position.

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Image Courtesy

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/courses-images/wp-content/uploads/sites/4052/2
019/04/08194317/CommunicationProcessModel4.jpg
https://quotefancy.com/media/wallpaper/3840x2160/1307477-Earl-Sweatshirt-Quote-Mis
communication-is-the-number-one-cause-of.jpg
https://image.slidesharecdn.com/barriertoommunication-151129192449-lva1-app6892/9
5/barrier-to-communication-22-638.jpg?cb=1450544513
https://www.bibleportal.com/images/original/articles/0/204.jpg
https://cdn2.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/09/91/group-of-people-biometric-identificati
on-face-vector-18820991.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OeCrT_zd2V4/maxresdefault.jpg
https://technologytherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/miscommunication.jpg
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/courses-images/wp-content/uploads/sites/
1972/2017/07/28192835/boss-454867__340-300x200.jpg
https://cdn0.iconfinder.com/data/icons/innovation-and-creativity-5/64/127-512.png
https://www.mbaskool.com/2019_images/stories/apr_images/halo-horn.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/15/ec/f6/15ecf6792bc70c36d11c53704238ea63.jpg

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References

https://medium.com/@shoury01/psychological-barriers-to-communication-
57b5e6759937
https://sites.google.com/site/theresistancetochange/home/psychological-barriers
https://ifioque.com/communication-barrier/psychological_barriers

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Thank You