People are social beings, so communication for them is an important process, including the exchange of information. But communication is not only the conversation of two or more interlocutors: in fact, all beings enter into communication, but only in humans the process of transmitting information has a different typology, involves various means and varies depending on the situation.
Communication Characteristic
Communication can have different characteristics and vary depending on who is talking. So, everyday communication is different from corporate communication, and male communication is different from female. The communication process can be verbal and non-verbal. After all, not only words convey information. Views, touches, deeds, steps - all this communication, which people resort to daily.
In general, we can say that this is a complex process of interactions between people, especially if we consider it from the point of view of science. There are many definitions of this concept, because many people consider this issue from different points of view. But in general, the following can be said:
- Communication is a complex multi-level process of establishing dialogue between people, including the exchange of information, the perception and understanding of the opponent. Simply put, this is a connection between people, during which psychological contact arises.
Main aspects
In the process of transmitting information, two or more people participate. The one who speaks is called the communicator, and the listener is called the recipient. In addition, in communication there are several aspects:
- Content. The nature of the message being transmitted can be very diverse. For example, the opponent’s perception, interaction, mutual influence, activity management, etc.
- The purpose of communication. For what a person makes contact.
- The method of transmitting information. That is, the means of communication can be words, gestures, correspondence, the exchange of voice or video messages. A lot of options.
Another separate aspect is to highlight the competence in communication. This is a very insidious concept, because successful communication consists of many elements, and their list can vary from situation to situation, therefore competence can only be discussed with respect to any one skill. But the ability to listen in all communicative skills takes an honorable first place.
Communication features
Depending on the point of view of the communication process, several functions can be distinguished. According to V. Panferov, there are six of them:
- Communicative - determines the relationship of people at the level of interpersonal, group or social interaction.
- Information - transfer, exchange of information.
- Cognitive - comprehension of information based on imagination and fantasy.
- Emotional is a manifestation of an emotional connection.
- Conative - correction of mutual positions.
- Creative - the formation of new relationships between people, that is, their development.
According to other sources, the communication process performs only four functions:
- Instrumental. The process of communication is a social mechanism for the transfer of information, which is necessary to carry out the necessary actions.
- Syndicative. The communication process brings people together.
- Self-expression. Communication helps to improve mutual understanding in a psychological context.
- Broadcast. Transfer of grades and forms of activity.
Communication structure
The process of transmitting information messages consists of three interrelated parties: perceptual, communicative and interactive.
The communicative side is the exchange of information between people and understanding of what has been said. In this matter, a person should be able to distinguish good information from bad. In ethics and psychology of communication, speech is a method of suggestion, suggestion. In the process of communication, three types of counter suggestion are distinguished: avoidance, authority, and misunderstanding. In the process of avoidance, a person tries in every possible way to avoid contact with the interlocutor. He may not listen, be inattentive, distracted, and not look at the interlocutor. Avoiding communication, the individual may simply not appear at the meeting.
It is also human nature to divide communicators into reputable and not. Having designated the circle of authorities, the individual listens only to their words, ignoring the rest. Also, a person can protect himself from dangerous information by depicting a complete misunderstanding of the transmitted message.
To attract attention
In the communication process, people often encounter communication barriers. It is important for each individual to be listened to and heard, so it is imperative to keep the attention of the recipients. The first thing a person encounters in the process of communication is the problem of attracting attention. You can solve it using the following communication methods:
- "Neutral phrase." A person can pronounce a phrase that is in no way related to the main topic of the conversation, but valuable to those present.
- "Enticement." The speaker should be very quiet and incomprehensible to utter a phrase, this will make others listen to his words.
- "Eye contact". If you look closely at a person, then his attention will be fully focused. When a person avoids looking, he makes it clear that he does not want to make contact.
Communication barriers can be presented in the form of noise, lighting, or the recipient’s desire to enter into a conversation as soon as possible, so you need to learn how to “isolate” the person you are talking to from these factors.
The interactive and perceptual side of communication
Entering the process of communication, it is important to understand what position is present relative to each other. Psychologist E. Byrne said that when he makes contact, a person is in one of the basic conditions: a child, a parent, or an adult. The condition of the “child” is determined by such qualities as increased emotionality, playfulness, mobility, that is, the whole spectrum of attitudes developed from childhood is manifested. "Adult" pays attention to real reality, so he carefully listens to a partner. “Parents” are usually critical, condescending and arrogant, this is a special state of EGO with which there is nothing to be done. Therefore, the choice of the method of communication and its success depend on who takes part in the conversation and how much their EGO corresponds to each other.
The perceptual side of the issue makes us think about the process of perceiving each other and establishing mutual understanding. It is not for nothing that people say that they’re met by their clothes. Studies have shown that people tend to consider an attractive person more intelligent, interesting and resourceful, and an untidy individual is usually underestimated. Such a mistake in the perception of the interlocutor is called an attractiveness factor. Depending on whom the communicator considers attractive, his communication style is formed.
Psychological studies have shown that not only the appearance, but also gestures and facial expressions carry information about the emotional state of a person and his attitude to what is happening. To understand your opponent in communication, you need not only knowledge and experience in talking, but also a psychological focus on the opponent. Simply put, in the culture of communication there should be such a thing as empathy - the ability to put oneself in the place of another and look at the situation from his point of view.
Means of communication
Naturally, the main means of communication is language - a special system of signs. Signs are material objects. A certain content is invested in them, which acts as their meaning. People learn to talk, learning these meanings of signs. This is the language of communication. All signs can be divided into two large groups: intentional (specially created to transmit information), non-intentional (give out information inadvertently). Usually, emotions, accent, facial expressions and gestures that speak about the person himself are referred to as non-intentional.
In communication lessons, they often focus on the fact that you need to learn to know another person. For this, mechanisms of identification, empathy and reflection are used. The easiest way to understand the interlocutor is identification, that is, likening oneself to him. During communication, people often use this technique.
Empathy is the ability to understand the emotional state of another. But very often, the process of understanding is complicated by reflection - knowledge of how the opponent understands the communicator, that is, a kind of mirror relationship between people.
Also in the process of transmitting information, it is important to act on the recipient. The main types of exposure include the following communication styles:
- Infection is an unconscious transfer of emotional state to another.
- Suggestion is a directed influence on an individual in order to adopt a different point of view.
- Persuasion - in contrast to suggestion, this effect is supported by weighty arguments.
- Imitation - the communicator reproduces the traits of the recipient's behavior, most often copies his pose and gestures. On a subconscious level, this behavior causes trust.
Types of communication
In psychology, there are various types of communication. On the one hand, they are divided in accordance with the situation in which the interlocutors are located. So, they determine direct and indirect communication, group and intergroup communication, interpersonal, therapeutic, mass, criminogenic, intimate, trusting, conflicting, personal, business. On the other hand, types of communication are defined as follows:
- “Contact masks” is a formal communication in which there is no intention to understand the opponent. When contacting, standard “masks” of modesty, politeness, indifference, etc. are used. That is, the whole spectrum of actions is used, which allows you to hide true emotions.
- Primitive communication - in the process of human interaction, they are evaluated from the point of view of necessity or uselessness. If the individual is deemed "necessary," then they will begin to actively engage in conversation, otherwise they will ignore it.
- Formal communication - this type of communication is fully regulated. Here you do not need to know the personality of the interlocutor, because all communication is based around his social status.
- Business communication - here, although people pay attention to a person as a person, it is still a matter above all else.
- Spiritual communication - communication between people who know each other well, can foresee the interlocutor’s reactions, take into account the interests and beliefs of their opponent.
- Manipulative communication - the main purpose of such communication is to benefit from the interlocutor.
- Secular communication - in a similar process, people say what is supposed to be said in such cases, and not what they really think. They can spend hours discussing the weather, high art or classical music, even if no one is interested in these topics.
Ethics of communication
The communication process in different circles is built in different ways. In an informal atmosphere, people communicate the way they want, without really thinking about the purity and literacy of speech. For example, during peer communication, jargon sounds that are understandable only to them may sound.
In some circles, communication is regulated by a set of rules and regulations, which are called communication ethics. This is the moral, ethical aspect of communication, which includes the art of talking when special techniques are used in the communication process. Simply put, this is a set of rules that will help to show your best side in an appropriate environment, explaining what can and cannot be done.
Ethics is directly related to the concept of communication culture. Cultural conversation allows you to show your education, lack of commitment, upbringing. Particular attention is paid to the culture of speech and listening skills. Thanks to cultural communication, you can immediately identify a highly developed person. After all, with someone who has a poor vocabulary and in each sentence there are several parasitic words, and so everything is clear.
Communication rules
The value of communication is manifested in the ability to exchange ideas, information, emotions and form a picture of yourself. Success in this area can be achieved if you follow the generally accepted rules of communication.
First, you need to pay attention to punctuality, without it it is difficult to build any relationship. It is very important to always answer for your words, fulfill the promised tasks on time. After all, communication is not only a short-term “ping-pong into words,” but a systematic and focused creation of a favorable image. You must admit that no one will listen to the “empty-handed” who is never responsible for his words.
Secondly, excessive talkativeness spoils the image. A person must distinguish not only bad and good information, but public and confidential. You need to have a minimal tact to understand which messages can be endlessly passed from mouth to mouth, and which are better to be buried tightly in the backyard of memory.
Thirdly, you need to be friendly. Politeness, good manners and a positive attitude have not been canceled in the 21st century. These qualities attract the interlocutors to the person, and communication becomes more open. If the communicator will show excessive emotionality or secrecy, he will only push away the interlocutors. Psychologists have long noticed that if people are watching the dispute, then they will surely take the side of the one who is more calm. No wonder they say that peace is power. There is only one conclusion: if you submit information kindly and politely answer questions, you don’t have to make additional efforts to convince others of your rightness, and this is often the main purpose of communication.
Mindfulness and other methods
The most important quality that a person must develop in himself for successful dialogue is the ability to listen. Only by learning to listen and delve into the problems of other people can any situation be made mutually beneficial. The results of the efforts will improve significantly if the individual learns to align his desires with the needs of others.
In communication, both sides have a very complex influence on each other, so often you have to resort to methods of persuasion, suggestion and coercion. The most rational and loyal way to convince a person of his innocence is possible if you give powerful arguments and on their basis provide logical conclusions, and based on the information received, the interlocutor can make an independent decision. As practice shows, this approach brings quite expected results. Only in rare cases does a person remain unconvinced.
In the process of suggestion, the interlocutor takes information on faith, and how effective it is, shows the time and quality of information. Having believed in another fiction, a person will simply be disappointed in people and will never change his point of view, even if important things depend on it.
The most ineffective is the method of coercion, which forces a person to act contrary to their desires. Ultimately, the interlocutor will still act in his own way, changing the decision at the last moment.
Although a person takes part in the communication process every day, he will still face problems. One of the psychologists once suggested that if you transplant the entire nervous system from one person to another, then each of them will recognize the surrounding world by about 30%. Each of us looks at the world in his own way, has his own system of values. Therefore, very often in a conversation the same words can cause disagreement, since people perceive them “from their bell tower”, which leads to conflicts. Therefore, you need to learn to look at the world through the eyes of the interlocutor, then in any conversation it will be possible to achieve mutual understanding.