Interpersonal Communication 212
1) “We live in an ‘appearance culture,’ a society that values and reinforces extreme, unrealistic ideas of beauty and body shape.”
Do you live in this culture?
- Yes, I definitely live in an appearance culture. I buy the magazine Cosmopolitan every month and it does influence my purchases when I go shopping and what the latest trends are.
- Looking-Glass Self: A lot of what my parents said about me influenced how I viewed myself growing up. I know when they commented on my behavior being 'snobby' I tended to continue to behave that way since they were going to keep thinking of me as a snob so I might as well be one.
- Social Comparison: I am the oldest of 4 sisters and we constantly had an icon we emulated. I noticed though, being the oldest, if I dressed similar to a certain popstar/actress my sisters would do the same or if I stopped doing so then my sisters would do the same behavior as well.
- Self-Awareness: I know I follow the trends I see in ads, movies, & magazines but I also try to mix in a little bit of my own style when I go shopping for the latest and greatest.
- Self-Discrepancy Theory: My ideal and ought self aren't too differing from each other so I feel like I have good self esteem and the people around me are happy.
2) Consider the channels you choose for interpersonal communication. Over the course of two “typical days”, analyze how you communicate with family, significant others (best friends, romantic partners), friends, acquaintances (co-workers, fellow students etc.). Do you communicate primarily face-to-face, phone, text, email, instant messaging, facebook (or other similar sites), online chat, discussion forums, online video gaming, etc.? For each type of relationship (family, significant other, friend, acquaintance): 1) describe the two or three primary channels you use and 2) evaluate how effective these are in maintaining/developing that type of relationship.
- Fiance: Face-to-Face, Phone, Text
- Face-to-Face communication with my fiance is the best means in developing our relationship and the one we do the most often. We sometimes talk over the phone or text just to keep in touch and maintain communication through out the day or whenever he's away on business.
- Daughter: Face-to-Face
- Well, since she's only a month old we're just starting and developing our communication with each other through face-to-face contact.
- Well, since she's only a month old we're just starting and developing our communication with each other through face-to-face contact.
- Mom: Facebook, Phone, Letters,
- My mom lives on the west coast of the country so calling each other is the fastest way of maintaining our relationship and letting each other know what's going on in each others lives. Using Facebook and writing each other letters is a more fun way of developing our relationship since we can't spend time with each other face-to-face.
- My mom lives on the west coast of the country so calling each other is the fastest way of maintaining our relationship and letting each other know what's going on in each others lives. Using Facebook and writing each other letters is a more fun way of developing our relationship since we can't spend time with each other face-to-face.
- Dad: Face-to-Face, Phone, Email,
- My Dad lives a few hours away from me so the phone and emailing each other is a quick means of getting in touch with each other. We meet face-to-face when one of us is able to travel and visit the other which helps develop and maintain our relationship.
- My Dad lives a few hours away from me so the phone and emailing each other is a quick means of getting in touch with each other. We meet face-to-face when one of us is able to travel and visit the other which helps develop and maintain our relationship.
- Sister: Face-to-Face, Phone, Text
- My sister is away at college so we mostly text since it's the fastest way for us to talk to each other in short spurts which maintains our relationship. We mostly use the phone to call each other to make arrangements to meet face-to-face which enriches our relationship.
- My sister is away at college so we mostly text since it's the fastest way for us to talk to each other in short spurts which maintains our relationship. We mostly use the phone to call each other to make arrangements to meet face-to-face which enriches our relationship.
