People are social beings, so communication for them is an important process that includes the exchange of information. But communication is not only a conversation between two or more interlocutors: in fact, all creatures enter into communication, but only in a person the process of transmitting information has a different typology, uses various means and changes depending on the situation.
Characteristic of communication
Communication can have different characteristics and differ depending on who is talking. So, everyday communication differs from corporate, and male - from female. The communication process can be verbal and non-verbal. After all, not only words convey information. Looks, touches, actions, steps - all this is communication that a person resorts 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, we can say the following:
Communication is a complex multi-level process of establishing a dialogue between people, includingexchange of information, perception and understanding of the opponent. Simply put, it is a connection between people, during which psychological contact occurs
Highlights
Two or more people take part in the process of information transfer. The one who speaks is called the communicator, and the one who listens is called the recipient. In addition, there are several aspects to communication:
- Content. The nature of the transmitted message can be very diverse. For example, opponent perception, interaction, mutual influence, activity management, etc.
- The purpose of communication. What a person makes contact for.
- Method of transferring information. That is, the methods of communication can be words, gestures, correspondence, the exchange of voice or video messages. Lots of options.
Another separate aspect is the competence in communication. This is a very insidious concept, because successful communication consists of many elements, and their list can change from situation to situation, so one can speak of competence only in relation to one skill. But the ability to listen in all communication skills takes an honorable first place.
Communication functions
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 - transmission, exchangeinformation.
- Cognitive - understanding information based on imagination and fantasy.
- Emotive - 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 process of communication performs only four functions:
- Instrumental. The process of communication is a social mechanism for the transfer of information that is necessary to perform the necessary actions.
- Syndicative. The process of communication brings people together.
- Self-expression. Communication helps to improve mutual understanding in a psychological context.
- Broadcasting. Transfer of assessments 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 the understanding of what was said. In this matter, a person should be able to distinguish good information from bad. In the ethics and psychology of communication, speech is a way of suggestion, suggestion. There are three types of countersuggestion in the process of communication: 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. By avoiding communication, an individual may simply not show up for a meeting.
It is also human nature to sharecommunicators on authoritative and not. Having designated the circle of authorities, the individual listens only to their words, ignoring the rest. A person can also protect himself from dangerous information by portraying a complete misunderstanding of the transmitted message.
Getting attention
In the process of communication, people often encounter communication barriers. It is important for each individual to be listened to and heard, therefore it is extremely necessary to keep the attention of recipients. The first thing a person faces in the process of communication is the problem of attracting attention. You can solve it using the following communication techniques:
- "Neutral phrase". A person can say a phrase that has nothing to do with the main topic of the conversation, but is valuable for those present.
- "Attraction". The speaker should pronounce the phrase very quietly and incomprehensibly, this will make others listen to his words.
- "Eye contact". If you look closely at a person, then his attention will be completely 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 quickly enter into a conversation, so you need to learn how to "isolate" the interlocutor from these factors.
Interactive and perceptual side of communication
Entering the process of communication, it is important to understand what position those present take in relation to each other. Psychologist E. Bern said that when making contact, a person is in one of the basic states: a child, a parent or an adult. The "baby" stateis determined by such qualities as increased emotionality, playfulness, mobility, that is, the whole range of attitudes developed since childhood is manifested. "Adult" pays attention to the real reality, so he carefully listens to his partner. "Parents" are usually critical, condescending and arrogant, this is a special state of the EGO, with which nothing can be done. Therefore, the choice of communication method and its success depend on who takes part in the conversation and how their EGO matches each other.
The perceptual side of the question makes you think about the process of perceiving each other and establishing mutual understanding. It is not for nothing that people say that "they are met by clothes." Research has shown that people tend to view an attractive person as smarter, more interesting, and more resourceful, while a unkempt individual is generally underestimated. Such an error in the perception of the interlocutor is called the attractiveness factor. Depending on who the communicator finds attractive, his style of communication 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 conducting a conversation, but also a psychological focus on your opponent. Simply put, in the culture of communication there should be such a thing as empathy - the ability to put yourself in the place of another and look at the situation from his point of view.
Means of communication
Of courseThe main means of communication is language - a special system of signs. Signs are material objects. Some content is embedded in them, which acts as their meaning. People learn to talk by assimilating these sign meanings. This is the language of communication. All signs can be divided into two large groups: intentional (specially created to convey information), non-intentional (give out information unintentionally). Usually non-intentional include emotions, accent, facial expressions and gestures that speak about the person himself.
Communication lessons often emphasize the need to learn to know the other person. To do this, use the mechanisms of identification, empathy and reflection. The easiest way to understand the interlocutor is identification, that is, likening oneself to him. When communicating, 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 - the 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 influence the recipient. The main types of influence include the following communication styles:
- Contagion is the unconscious transfer of one's emotional state to another.
- Suggestion is a directed influence on an individual in order to take a different point of view.
- Persuasion - unlike suggestion, this impact is backed up by weighty arguments.
- Imitation - the communicator reproducestraits of the recipient's behavior, most often copies his posture and gestures. On a subconscious level, this behavior creates trust.
Types of communication
In psychology, there are various types of communication. On the one hand, they are divided according to the situation in which the interlocutors are. So, they define direct and indirect communication, group and intergroup communication, interpersonal, therapeutic, mass, criminogenic, intimate, trusting, conflict, personal, business. On the other hand, communication types are defined like this:
- "Contact of masks" - formal communication, in which there is no intention to understand the opponent. During contact, the standard “masks” of modesty, politeness, indifference, etc. are used. That is, the whole range of actions is used to hide true emotions.
- Primitive communication - in the process of interaction, a person is evaluated in terms of need or uselessness. If an individual is considered “necessary”, then they will begin to actively conduct a conversation with him, otherwise they will be ignored.
- Formal communication - this type of communication is completely regulated. Here you do not need to know the identity of the interlocutor, because all communication is based around his social status.
- Business communication - here a person as a person, although they pay attention, but still the matter is above all.
- Spiritual communication is communication between people who know each other well, can anticipate the reactions of the interlocutor, 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 this process, people say what they are supposed to say 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.
Communication ethics
The process of communication in different circles is built differently. In an informal setting, people communicate the way they want, without really thinking about the purity and literacy of speech. For example, during communication with peers, jargon can be heard that only they understand.
In some circles, communication is regulated by a set of norms and rules, which are called the ethics of communication. This is the moral, moral and ethical side of communication, which includes the art of conversation, when special techniques are used in the communication process. Simply put, this is a set of rules that will help you show your best side in the right environment, explaining what you can and cannot do.
Ethics is directly related to the concept of communication culture. Cultural conversation allows you to show your education, non-engagement, good breeding. Particular attention in this matter is paid to the culture of speech and the ability to listen. Thanks to cultural communication, you can immediately identify a highly developed person. After all, with someone who has a meager vocabulary and in each sentence there are several parasitic words, and so everything is clear.
Communication Rules
Meaning of communicationmanifests itself in the ability to exchange ideas, information, emotions and form an idea about oneself. Success in this area can be achieved by following 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 be responsible for your words, to fulfill the promised tasks on time. After all, communication is not only a short-term “ping-pong in words”, but a systematic and purposeful creation of a favorable image. Agree, no one will listen to the "chatterbox" who never answers for his words.
Secondly, excessive talkativeness spoils the image. A person must distinguish not only bad and good information, but public and confidential. It takes a minimum of tact to understand which messages can be endlessly passed on by word of mouth, and which are best buried in the back of memory.
Third, you need to be friendly. Politeness, good manners and a positive attitude have not been canceled in the 21st century. These qualities have interlocutors to the person, and communication becomes more open. If the communicator shows excessive emotionality or secrecy, he will only alienate the interlocutors from himself. Psychologists have long noticed that if people are watching an argument, they are likely to take the side of the one who is more calm. No wonder they say that there is strength in peace. There is only one conclusion: if you kindly provide information and politely answer questions, then you will not have to make additionalefforts to convince others that you are right, and this is often the main goal 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, you can make any situation mutually beneficial. The results of the efforts made will be greatly improved if the individual learns to harmonize his desires with the needs of others.
In communication, both parties have a very complex influence on each other, so you often have to resort to methods of persuasion, suggestion and coercion. You can most rationally and loyally convince a person that you are right if you give weighty arguments and, based on them, provide logical conclusions, and on the basis of 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 stick to his own mind.
In the process of suggestion, the interlocutor takes the information on faith, and how effective it is, shows the time and quality of the information. Believing in another fable, a person will simply be disappointed in people and will never change his point of view, even if important things depend on it.
The method of coercion is considered the most ineffective, which forces a person to act contrary to his desires. Ultimately, the interlocutor will still act in his own way, changing the decision at the lastmoment.
Although a person takes part in the communication process every day, he will still encounter 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 world around them by about 30%. Each of us has his own way of looking at the world, has his own system of values. Therefore, very often in a conversation, the same words can cause controversy, as people perceive them "from their own 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.
