Problem:
Coming back to school after almost 30 years has definitely made me notice how much communication has changed or maybe it's how much I just never stopped to think about it before. After I read the first 2 chapters in the book, a few ideas really stood out to me and made me think about my own relationships, but especially as a parent.
One idea I thought was interesting was the difference between the transactional view of communication compared to the linear view. The linear view is basically how I always pictured communication one person talks, the other listens. But the transactional view makes more sense in real life, especially in families. We are trying to raise up our children to become functioning members of the world so even when Im talking to my children, say teaching them about something, I want to make sure they understand what I'm saying and then can participate in the conversation back to me.
And to further that thought, even though I might be the one talking, my kids can still "communicate" back to me through eye-rolling, tone, body language, or silence.
It actually makes me wonder how often misunderstandings happen because we think communication is one-way when it really isn't.
1. Does anyone find that communication breaks down more when people don't realize they're sending messages even when they're not speaking? Need Assignment Help?
Another idea that stood out was the quantitative vs. qualitative views of interpersonal communication. The quantitative side tells us how often we communicate, and the qualitative side tells us how meaningful that communication is. I like to say "does it fill my cup" As a parent, this really hit home. We can talk to our kids every day, but that doesn't always mean we're actually connecting. Sometimes a short, honest conversation means more than hours of surface level talk.
2. Do you think we confuse constant communication with good communication, especially since most of us communicate through texting and social media?
Finally, I was really drawn to the idea of self concept and how it resists change. In chapter 2 it explains that once we have an idea of who we are, we tend to hold onto it, even when we get new information that suggests we've grown or changed. I can definitely relate to this coming back to school as an adult. it's hard not to see myself as "someone who's been out of school forever," or as a kid I always said I hated school, but the reality was I had to work hard to get good grades unlike some of my friend's. So even though I'm learning new things every week and as an adult I know my childhood experiences don't have to continue to be the same as an adult learner, I still find myself going back to the person who says "I haven't been in school for 30 years". It also made me think about how our kids might resist feedback because it doesn't match how they see themselves.
3. Have you noticed times when yourself image made it hard to accept feedback even if it was meant to help you and did you recognize it at all?
Overall, this module made me realize how closely communication, identity, and relationships are connected. I'm curious to hear how others related to these ideas, especially those of us balancing school, work, and family life, so far it's been a bit of an adjustment for my entire family!
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