Glossary

Group member who argues against most of the ideas and proposals discussed in the group.

Group roles that contribute directly to the group’s completion of a task or achievement of its goal or purpose.

The system of beliefs and practices that produces a physical and mental standard that is projected as normal for a human being and labels deviations from it as abnormal, resulting in unequal treatment and access to resources

A function of vocalics in that vocalic cues allow us to emphasize particular parts of a message, which helps determine meaning; for example, “She is my friend” or “She is my friend”

Distinct styles of pronunciation

Leaders who strive for excellence and set challenging goals, constantly seeking improvement and exhibiting confidence that group members can meet their high expectations

Listeners concerned about the emotional states of others and listen with the purpose of offering support in interpersonal relationships

The process of pairing outwardly visible positive listening behaviors with positive cognitive listening practices

Listening that occurs when a listener becomes actively and emotionally involved in an interaction in such a way that it is conscious on the part of the listener and perceived by the speaker

Touching behaviors and movements that indicate internal states typically related to arousal or anxiety; for example, clicking pens, shaking legs, etc.

Related communication structures that come one after the other (adjacent to each other) in an interaction; turn-taking units of speech; for example, questions are followed by answers, compliments are followed by a thank you, etc.

The stage of group development that occurs when a group dissolves because it has completed its purpose or goal, membership is declining and support for the group no longer exists, or it is dissolved because of some other internal or external cause

Language used to express a person’s feelings and create similar feelings in another person

A bad listening practice in which people pay attention in order to attack something that a speaker says

Unproductive role in which someone exhibits negative behaviors such as contradicting ideas, attacking others, competing at the expense of the group, and being outspoken to the point of distraction

A personality trait that refers to a person’s level of trustworthiness and friendliness

A person who skirts their responsibilities by claiming ignorance when they actually understand or intentionally perform poorly on a task so that other group members question their intellectual abilities to handle other tasks

Swearing used to manage stress and tension

Objects and possessions that surround us such as clothes, jewelry and space decorations

Personal, social or cultural identities that are placed on us by others

The tendency to perceive others as similar to us

The fourth stage of coming apart; people signal that they want to close down lines of communication; often includes physical avoidance

Personal, social or cultural identities that we claim for ourselves

Verbal and nonverbal signals we send while someone is talking; consists of verbal cues like “uh-huh”, and/or nonverbal cues like direct eye contact and learning forward

An unproductive role that intentionally or unintentionally keeps things from getting done in the group

The final stage of coming together; includes a public ritual that announces a formal commitment such as weddings, commitment ceremonies, and civil unions

That which is of material, social, or cultural value, forming the foundation of social life and dictating one's position within the social order

Methods by which encoded messages are sent to receivers for decoding; most messages are sent through visual and/or auditory channels

The study of how time affects communication; includes how different time cycles affects communication and the differences between people who are past or future oriented, etc.

The second stage of coming apart; communication decreases and certain areas of subjects become restricted as individuals verbally close themselves off from each other

Working to make a difference in our communities by improving the quality of life of community members; raising awareness about social, cultural, or political issues; or participating in a wide variety of political and nonpolitical processes

Different cultural identities people experience layered together to create a complex identity

Changing from one way of speaking to another between or within interactions; for example, a computer scientist may change language use when talking to coworkers as opposed to family members

Cultural agreed on and ever-changing systems of symbols that help us organize, understand, and generate meaning

Power that comes from the ability of a group member to provide a negative incentive; for example, “vote for me, or else…”

The ability to continually supplement and revise existing knowledge to create new categories rather than forcing new knowledge into old categories

A society that values collective achievements more than individual successes

placing importance on the needs and goals of the group, family, community or nation

Utterances that convey a speaker’s commitment to a certain course of action; for example, “I guarantee” or “I pledge.”

The process of generating meaning by sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal symbols and signs that are influenced by multiple contexts

A theory that explores why and how people modify their communication to fit situational, social, cultural, and relational contexts

The knowledge of effective and appropriate communication patterns and the ability to use and adapt that knowledge in various contexts

A function of vocalics in that vocalic cues elaborate on or modify verbal and nonverbal meaning; for example, using pitch and volume to say “I love pickles” would add context to the meaning of the sentence, such as the degree to which the person loves pickles or the use of sarcasm

Communication aimed at getting people to do something or act in a particular way

an expressed struggle between interdependent parties over goals which they perceive as incompatible or resources which they perceive to be insufficient

conflicts that occur when people erroneously interpret each other’s actions or emotions

conflicts that arise when people differ over how to reach goals or pursue values which they share

conflicts that relate to questions about what choices to make in a given situation; rest on differing view of the facts

conflicts in which various parties either hold totally different values or rank the same values in a significantly different order

Definitions that are based on emotion- or experience-based associations people have with a word or ideas associated with the word

A personality trait that refers to a person’s level of self-organization and motivation

Competent communication that occurs when you know you are communicating well in the moment

Incompetent communication that occurs when you know what you should be doing and realize that you are not doing it well

a decision-making method in which group members engage in discussion and reach a decision that all group members can support; does not mean that a decision is unanimous

A decision-making technique in which all members of a group must agree on the same decision

A sense of connectedness that occurs with personal media devices being “reachable” nearly all the time; can be comforting or anxiety producing

Cultural groups in which people stand closer together, engage in more eye contact, touch more frequently, and speak more loudly; for example, Italians greet each other with a kiss on the cheek and use hand motions and touching to regulate the flow of conversations

Statements that include missed or misleading expressions

Listeners who like to listen to complex information and evaluate the content of a message, often from multiple perspectives, before drawing conclusions

A function of vocalics in that vocalic cues may contradict other verbal or nonverbal signals; for example, a person could say, “I’m fine” in a quick short tone that indicates otherwise

A strategy used when people use communication to emphasize the similarities between their conversational partner and themselves

harmonious combination or interaction, as of functions or parts

Sending yourself messages containing advice about better listening

Asking yourself questions about the content in ways that focus your attention and reinforce the information.

Listening with the goal of analyzing or evaluating a message based on information presented verbal and information that can be inferred from context

A skewed way of viewing or talking about a group that is typically negative

Multiple cultural identities that influence our communication, such as race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class and ability

The components of self that are derived from involvement in social groups with which we are personally committed

Refers to the interplay between patterned behaviors learned from a cultural group and individual behaviors that may be variations on or counter to those of the larger culture

The ongoing negotiation of learned and patterned beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors; negotiated and dynamic

The non-related use of new media while on the job; seen as a problem in many organizations and workplaces

a structured argument in which participants speak for or against a pre-announced proposition

a decision-making method in which the group defers to the member who has the most expertise or experience or to someone outside the group with the authority to make decisions

The process of turning communication into thoughts

communication behavior which occurs when an individual perceives threat or anticipates threat in the group

an abbreviated version of the preparation outline

Definitions that are accepted by the language group as a whole; the dictionary definition of a word

a component of a problem characterized by a drive to improve the undesirable situation, even though the idea may be vague

A group member who verbalizes alternative perspectives, helping the group to consider another side to an issue.

A relationship between two opposing concepts that constantly push and pull one another

Versions of languages that have distinct words, grammar, and pronunciation

Dualistic ways of thinking that highlight opposites, reducing the ability to see gradations that exist in between concepts; for example, good/evil, right/wrong, male/female, etc.

A dialectic that focuses on how we are simultaneously similar to and different from others

The first stage of coming apart; occurs when individual differences drive a wedge in the relationship; the reverse of integrating as we and our reverts back to I and my

The unequal access to technology and related skills that exists in much of the world

Leaders who help provide psychological structure for their group members by clearly communicating expectations, keeping a schedule and agenda, providing specific guidance as group members work toward the completion of their task, and taking the lead on setting and communicating group rules and procedures

Utterances that try to get another person to do something

A focused and instrumental type of listening that is primarily physiological; occurs mostly at the receiving stage of the listening process

The ability to talk about events that are removed in space or time from a speaker and situation

Connecting the cause of disclosure to an individual’s personality; for example, if a coworker discloses that she thinks the new boss was promoted because of favoritism instead of merit, you might make a dispositional attribution by thinking that the comment was inappropriate; if the personality trait to which you attribute the disclosure is positive, then your reaction to the disclosure is likely to be positive

A strategy used when people use communication to emphasize the difference between their conversational partner and themselves

Identities that historically have had and currently have more resources and influence in society

Unproductive role in which a person is chronically submissive to the point that it hurts the group’s progress

A network of people with whom users may not feel obligated to explicitly interact but may find comfort in knowing the connections exist

That which goes without saying or is commonly accepted

An unsupportive message that occurs when people use negative past experiences as a tactic for not discussing a current situation

A bad listening practice that involves a calculated and planned attempt to secretly listen to a conversation, which is a violation of the speakers’ privacy

Gestures that have a specific agreed upon meaning; for example, a hitchhiker’s raised thumb which in the US would mean, “I need a ride.”

Listening that occurs when we try to understand or experience what a speaker is thinking or feeling; the most challenging form of listening

The process of turning thoughts into communication

Any physical noise present in a communication encounter

a cause of social loafing that occurs when group members believe others are not putting forth as much effort, so they lessen their efforts in the group so their contribution is more equitable; they believe that others in the group are slacking

Auxiliary language that was intended to serve as a common international language; means “hopeful”; developed to promote mutual understanding, more effective diplomacy and peaceful coexistence

To over-focus on similarities or reduce/overlook important variations within a group

The tendency to view your own culture as superior to other cultures

A task-related role that functions to keep the group on track toward completing its task by managing the agenda and setting and assessing goals in order to monitor the group’s progress

The second stage of relationship development; people exchange information and often move from strangers to acquaintances; involves small talk and scripted language

Power that comes from knowledge, skill, or expertise that a group member possesses and other group members do not

Explanations of behavior that occur by connecting the cause of behaviors to situational factors

A personality trait that refers to a person’s interest in interacting with others; high extraversion suggests that a person is very interested in interaction with others

Being motivated to do something to receive a reward or to avoid punishment

Verifiable conclusions based on direct observation or group consensus

Messages sent in response to other messages

A distinct social environment with its own rules, knowledge, and forms of capital

The first stage of group development characterized by members; begins to reduce uncertainty associated with new relationships and/or tasks through initial interactions that lay the foundation for later group dynamics; primary tension is prevalent in this stage

a group presentation characterized by one or more experts being questioned by a panel of other experts, journalists and/or the audience

The tendency to explain others’ behaviors using internal rather than external attributions

A task role that manages the flow of conversation in a group in order to achieve an appropriate balance so that all group members get to participate in a meaningful way

An identity based on internalized cultural notions of masculinity and femininity that is constructed through communication and interaction

The group of people born 2013-2025 and currently coming of age. This is the first generation born to parents who grew up fluent with technology such as the internet, cell phones, tablets, social media, etc. This is the most racially diverse and technologically adept U.S. generation so far

The group of people born in the US between 1965 and 1981; the first generation to see technology (cell phones, Internet) make its way into classrooms and daily life; have a greater appreciation for and understanding of diversity

The group of people born in the US between 1982 and 2000; also called millennials; have never experienced a time without technology such as computers and cell phones

Born between 2000 and 2012, are sometimes called iGen. This generation came of age alongside social media. They were the first population to have to cope with cyberbullying and other pervasive internet issues. This generation also faced more school violence and concerns over climate crisis than past generations

An unsupportive message that is judgmental or a sweeping generalization

All parts of the world being brought together due to technologies that make travel and communication more accessible and convenient

The rules that govern how words are used to make phrases and sentences

Refers to the relatively enduring tone and quality of group interaction that is experienced similarly by group members; group morale; created through participation, confirming relationships, positive feedback, equity, motivation, clear and accepted roles

The commitment of members to the purpose of the group and the degree of attraction among individuals in the group

Communication among three or more people interacting to achieve a shared goal; often task-focused, more intentional and formal than interpersonal communication

a characteristic of a problem that occurs based on the level of the group’s familiarity with a problem; high familiarity with a problem leads to easier problem-solving; unfamiliar problems require groups to do background research on what similar groups have done and may also require the group to bring in outside experts

Verbalized references to events outside the “here and now” of the group, including references to the group’s past, predictions for the future, or other communication about people or events outside the group

a characteristic of a problem that occurs when group members are interested in the problem and they become more engaged with the problem-solving process and invested in finding a quality solution

The tendency for a group to make a decision that is more extreme, either riskier or more cautious, than the actual preferences of the individual group members

The process of teaching and learning the norms, rules, and expectations associated with group interaction and group member behaviors

A negative group phenomenon characterized by a lack of critical evaluation of proposed ideas or courses of action that results from high levels of cohesion and/or high conformity pressures

the imaginary bag we all carry into which we place unresolved conflicts of grievances over time; leads to frustration and influences how we interpret actions

A sense of social propriety that allows for the successful navigation of social environments

A perception that occurs when initial positive perception leads us to view later interactions as positive

The study of communication by touch

A maintenance role played by group members who help manage the various types of group conflict that emerge during group communication

The domination of a culturally diverse society by the ruling class which manipulates the culture of that society--its beliefs, explanations, perceptions, values, and so forth--so that the imposed, ruling-class worldview becomes the accepted cultural norm

A style of communication in which much of the meaning generated in an interaction comes from nonverbal and contextual cues rather than verbal communication; for example, East Asian and Latin American cultures use a high context communication style

A dialectic that reminds us to understand that while current cultural conditions are important and that our actions will inevitably affect our future, those conditions are nor without a history; holds that we always view history through the lens of the present

A perception that occurs when initial negative perceptions lead us to view later interactions as negative

A skill that presents information by using concrete and descriptive language and owning emotions and thoughts; includes a description of behavior, an owned feeling statement and the reason for the feeling; for example, “When you come home late, I feel frustrated and worried because I don’t know where you’ve been.”

The need to present ourselves to others and be thought of in particular and desired ways

A type of domination that makes it seem natural and normal to many that people or certain groups will always have power over others

Gestures used to illustrate the verbal message they accompany; for example, using hand gestures to indicate the size or shape of an object

Verbal and nonverbal behaviors the lessen real or perceived physical and psychological distance between communicators; includes smiling, nodding, eye contact, and occasional social, polite, or professional touch

A theory that suggests we generalize a person’s overall personality from the traits we can perceive

A society that values competition and individual achievement more than collective accomplishments

placing importance on individual freedom and personal independence

The misperception of an inference as an observation

Conclusions based on thoughts or speculation, but not direct observation

Power that comes from a person’s ability to access information that comes through informal channels and well-established social and professional networks

A task role that includes sharing information with the rest of the group; more evenly shared than other roles because all group members share new ideas, initiate discussion of new topics and contribute their own relevant knowledge and experiences

A task role that includes asking for more information, elaboration, or clarification on items relevant to the group’s task

Listening with the goal of comprehending and retaining information

The first state of relationship development; involves people sizing up each other and trying to present themselves favorably; shortest stage, usually 5-10 seconds

A disruptive role characterized by behavior of a person who wants to know that s/he is valued by the group and seeks recognitions that is often not task related

Needs that help us get things done in our day-to-day lives and achieve short- and long-term goals

The fourth stage of relationship development; two people’s identities and personalities merge, and a sense of interdependence develops; most evident in romantic relationships; partners are treated as if they were one person

A philosophy that encourages students to reflect on how the content they are learning connects to other classes they have taken or are taking, their professional goals, and their civic responsibilities

The third stage of relationship development; involves people indicating that they would like to be or are more open to being intimate

A model that describes communication as a process in which participants alternate positions as sender and receiver and generate meaning by sending messages and receiving feedback within physical and psychological contexts

Communication between people with differing cultural identities

The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in various cultural contexts

Sharing a common purpose and a common fate in a group because the members are reliant on one another

Explanations of behavior that occur by connecting the cause of behaviors to personal aspects such as personality traits

Identifying the relationship between sender and receiver as the cause of the disclosure; for example, if you attribute your coworker’s comments to the fact that you are best friends at work, you think your unique relationship caused the disclosure

Communication between people whose lives mutually influence one another; occurs in various contexts; builds, maintains and ends our relationships

Tension that emerges from conflict between individual members of the group; focuses on who should do what

The third part of the perception process in which we assign meaning to our experiences using mental structures known as schemata

A maintenance role that helps manage the diversity of a group by mediating intercultural conflict, articulating common ground between different people, and generally creating a climate where difference is seen as an opportunity rather than as something to be feared

A view which asks us to acknowledge that we each have multiple cultures and identities that intersect with each other

Communication with oneself using internal vocalization or reflective thinking; triggered by an internal or external stimulus

Being motivated to do something for the love of doing it or the resulting internal satisfaction

Specialized words used by a certain group or profession

A theory of self-disclosure that helps us understand what parts of ourselves are open, hidden, blind, and unknown

A disruptive role played a group member who consistently uses sarcasm, plays pranks, tells jokes, which distracts from the overall functioning of the group

Unsupportive accusatory messages that are usually generalized overstatements about another person that go beyond labeling, but still do not describe specific behavior in a productive way; for example, “You’re never going to be able to hold down a job.”

Expressions of approval or disapproval that are subjective and not verifiable

The study of hand, arm, body and face movements

a cause of social loafing that occurs in the absence of an individual evaluation structure imposed by the environment

A model used to illustrate how language can range from concrete to abstract

A group role that is associated with a high-status position and may be formally or informally recognized by group members

The complexity of beliefs, communication patterns, and behaviors that influence the functioning of a group and move toward the completion of its task

Power that flows from the officially recognized position, status, or title, of a group member

a cause of social loafing that occurs when group members feel they can hide in the crowd and avoid the consequences of not contributing

The learned process of receiving, interpreting, recalling, evaluating, and responding to verbal and nonverbal messages

Characteristics and norms of an organization and its members that contribute to expectations for and perceptions about listening

A mental storage capability to which stimuli in short-term memory can be transferred if they are connected to existing schema and in which information can be stored indefinitely

The view of self which is formed based on how we believe other people see us; a reflective process of perceiving self; forming self-concept through our interactions with others and their reactions to us

A style of communication in which much of the meaning generated in an interaction comes from the verbal communication used rather than nonverbal or contextual cues; for example, US Americans us a low-context communication style

Group roles that function to create and maintain social cohesion and fulfill the interpersonal needs of group members.

A decision-making technique in which a majority must agree before a decision is made

a decision-making method in which the decision is made by more than half of the group members agreeing

Public communication transmitted to many people through print, electronic, or digital media

A model that places disability as an individual and medical issue rather than a social and cultural issue

The process of intentionally separating intrusive or irrelevant thoughts that may distract you from listening.

The verbal or nonverbal content being conveyed from send to receiver

An implicit comparison of two things that are not alike and/or are not typically associated

A state of self- and other-monitoring that informs later reflection on communication interactions

A decision-making technique in which a designated authority or expert has final say over a decision and may or may not consider the input of other group members

The subconscious practice of using nonverbal cues in a way that match those of others around us

Messages in which verbal and nonverbal signals contradict each other

Techniques that can aid in information recall; includes acronyms, rhymes, and visualizations; for example, setting the ABCs to music to memorize the alphabet or “i before e except after c” to remember spelling rules, etc.

Cultures where people tend to schedule their time rigidly and value punctuality

A group member who makes excessive verbal contributions, preventing equal participation by group members

The smallest unit of meaning in a language

The root of a person’s desire to foster intercultural relationships; can be intrinsic or extrinsic

A form of self-centered and self-absorbed listening in which listeners try to make the interaction about them

The best results will come not from prioritizing the individual or prioritizing the group but from choosing what is in the best interest of both the group and the individuals who comprise the group

a characteristic of a problem influenced by the number of people the decision will affect and how much “buy-in” from others the group needs for their solution to be successfully implemented

An unsupportive message that holds a person up to a supposed standard or characteristics of another person that can lead to feelings of inferiority or resentment

Newly coined or used words just brought into linguistic existence

A personality trait that refers to a person’s level of negative thoughts regarding him/her/themselves

Anything that interferes with a message being sent between participants in a communication encounter

A technique that guides decision making through a four-step process that includes idea generation and evaluation and seeks to elicit equal contributions from all group members

a cause of social loafing that occurs when a group does not develop social cohesion and members do not feel a sense of obligation to each other

Cultural groups in which people stand farther apart while talking, make less eye contact, and touch less during regular interactions; for example, in Japan, bowing is preferred over shaking hands as a nonverbal greeting

Identities that historically have had and currently have less resources and influence in society

Consistency among different nonverbal expressions within a cluster

Nonverbal behaviors that occur as we try to control the cognitive and physical changes that happen during states of cognitive and physical arousal; for example, someone may claim they are not embarrassed, yet they cannot control their face turning red as a result of being embarrassed

The stage of group development in which the practices and expectations of the group are solidified, which leads to more stability, productivity, and cohesion within the group

Social conventions that we pick up on through observation, practice, and trial and error.

a characteristic of a problem characterized by multiple ways to solve a problem or complete a task

a component of a problem that occurs when barriers deter the group’s ability to address the problem, such as limited funding, resources, personnel, time or information

The study of eye behaviors on communication, especially eye contact; sometimes considered a subset of kinesics

A personality trait that refers to a person’s willingness to consider new ideas and perspectives

The second part of the perception process in which we sort and categorize information that we perceive based on innate and learned cognitive patterns; proximity, similarity, and difference are the three ways we sort things

a group presentation format that consists of a group of experts publicly discussing a topic among themselves

Vocalized, but not verbal, part of a spoken message such as rate, volume and pitch that add meaning to communication

Each member takes responsibility for preparing different parts or sections or is assigned a role (author, editor, leader). Writers work independently then parts put together and harmonized writing style

A responding behavior characterized by rephrasing another’s message into your own words; shows that you understand what was communicated

Expressions that are missing relevant information and can lead to misunderstanding and conflict

Senders and/or receivers of messages

Leaders who work to include group members in the decision-making process by soliciting and considering opinions and suggestions

A system of social structures and practices that maintains the values, priorities, and interests of men as a group

Listeners concerned about the emotional states of others and listen with the purpose of offering support in interpersonal relationships

The process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting information

A strategy to help us monitor our reactions to and perceptions about people and communication; a skill that helps avoid jumping to conclusions; helps verify the meaning of others’ ambiguous behaviors; includes 3 steps: 1) Description of behavior; 2) Two possible interpretations; and 3) A request for feedback

The stage of group development in which group members work relatively smoothly toward the completion of a task or achievement of a purpose

The components of self that are primarily intrapersonal and connected to our life experiences

Relationships that meet emotional, relational, and instrumental needs; intimate, close, and interdependent relationships such as those we have with best friends, partners, or immediate family

The connection between our personal patterns of and preferences for communicating and how various contexts influence the personal

A person’s general way of thinking, feeling, and behaving based on underlying motivations and impulses

The attribution of human qualities or characteristics of other living things to nonhuman objects or abstract concepts

The sounds of a language

Environmental factors in a communication encounter, such as size, layout, temperature, and lighting; accounted for in the interactional model

Needs that keep our bodies and minds functioning

Noise stemming from a physical illness, injury or bodily stress; for example, a broken leg, a headache, etc.

A tonal quality that helps convey meaning, regulate conversational flow, and communicate the intensity of a message

Cultures where people do not view time as a linear progression and tend to be more flexible with expected scheduling

A societal perception that feminism is irrelevant because its goals have been achieved

Negative feelings or attitudes toward people based on their identity or identities

a full-sentence outline of virtually everything the speaker intends to say; allows speakers to test the structure, logic, and persuasive appeals in the speech

Placing more value on the first information we receive about a person; leads to enduring first impressions

Long-lasting groups that are formed based on relationships and include significant others

Tension experienced when group members first come together; based on uncertainty that is a natural part of initial interactions; occurs in the forming stage of group development

A dialectic that captures the complex interrelation of unearned, systemic advantages and disadvantages that operate among our various identities

A question that guides that group as it generates possible solutions

A single sentence that summarizes the problem

a process that involves thoughts, discussions, actions, and decisions that occur from the first consideration of a problematic situation to its resolution

Conflict that emerges from disagreements or trouble with the mechanics of group operations; group members differ in their beliefs about how something should be done

Behaviors that present a person as a role model and make a person more likeable and attractive

The study of how space and distance influence communication

Behaving as if you’re paying attention to a speaker when you’re actually not

Mental and emotional factors in a communication encounter, such as stress, anxiety and emotions; accounted for in the interactional model

Noise stemming from our psychological states including moods and level of arousal; can facilitate or impede listening; for example, positive and negative emotions such as love or stress will influence our communication

Sender-focused form of communication in which one person is typically responsible for conveying information to an audience

The structuring of information in to a timeline to determine the cause (stimulus) and effect (response) of our communication interactions

a clear, agreed upon outcome for the presentation

A socially constructed category based on differences in appearance that has been used to create hierarchies that privilege some and disadvantage others

Form of distorted thinking through which we adapt, edit, or skew incoming information to fit our existing schemata

The team collaborates synchronously, negotiating content, reacting to proposed modifications, and making adjustments at the same time

Placing more value on the most recent impression we have of a person’s communication over earlier impressions

A task role that takes notes on the discussion and activities that occur during a group meeting; the only role essentially limited to one person at a time

Power that comes from the attractiveness, likeability, and charisma of the group member

a five-step process to aid in group problem solving; steps include defining the problem, analyzing the problem, generating possible solutions, evaluating solutions, and implementing and assessing the solution

A function of vocalics in that vocalic cues help regulate the flow of conversations; for example, falling pitch and slowing rate of speaking usually indicate the end of a speaking turn

The previous interpersonal history and type of relationship we have with a person

Needs that help us maintain social bonds and interpersonal relationships

Groups formed to promote interpersonal connections; focused on quality interactions that contribute to the well-being of group members

conflicts that involve people’s egos and sense of self-worth; often referred to as personality clashes

A function of vocalics in that vocalic cues reinforce other verbal and nonverbal cues; for example, saying “I’m not sure” with an uncertain tone

Our tendency to rehearse what we are going to say next while a speaker is still talking

Power that comes from a group member to provide a positive incentive as a compliance-gaining strategy

Speaking well and persuasively

refers to the tendency of individual productivity to decrease as the size of a group increases; individuals tend to exert less effort when they are in a group than they would as individuals

The degree to which something attracts our attention in a particular context

An unsupportive message that represents passive-aggressive behavior through which a person indirectly communicates negative feelings

Units of information, like a stored database, that we use to interpret new experiences

Groups that are characterized by less frequent face-to-face interactions, less emotional and relational communication, and more task-related communication than primary groups

Tension that emerges after groups have passed the forming stage of group development and begin to have conflict over member roles, differing ideas, and personality conflicts

The first part of the perception process in which we focus our attention on certain incoming sensory information

Our tendency to pay attention to the messages that benefit us in some way and filter others out

Roles that divert attention from the task to the group member exhibiting the behavior

The overall idea of who a person thinks they are.

A disruptive role played by a group member who tries to use group meetings as therapy sessions for issues not related to the group’s task

Purposeful disclosure of personal information to another person

An individual’s belief in his/her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments

Tendency to emphasize our desirable qualities relative to other people

Judgments and evaluations we make about our self-concept; can be positive or negative

Thought and action patterns in which a person’s false belief triggers a behavior that makes the initial false belief actually or seemingly come true

The process of strategically concealing or revealing personal information in order to influence others’ perceptions

Being aware of, and able to recount your thoughts and actions

Sending affirmative and positive messages to yourself

A perceptual error through which we attribute the cause of our successes to internal personal factors while attributing our failures to external factors beyond our control

Behaviors that present a person in a positive light; for example, as highly skilled, willing to challenge others, and someone not to be messed with

Noise that occurs in the encoding and decoding process when participants do not understand or have different meanings of a symbol

The study of the structure and meaning of words

Lead author produces an initial draft and the other participants propose and discuss modifications to it

Each writer is assigned and writes a portion of the document and then passes it to the next writer, with style harmonization required at the end of the process

A teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities

An identity based on biological characteristics, including external genitalia, internal sex organs, chromosomes and hormones

A person’s primary physical and emotional sexual attraction and activity

A mental storage capability that can retain stimuli for twenty seconds to one minute

A direct comparison of two things using the words like or as

Identifying the cause of a disclosure with the context or surroundings in which it takes place; for example, you may attribute your coworker’s disclosure to the fact that you agreed to go to lunch with her

New or adapted words that are specific to a group, content, and/or time period; regarded as less formal; represent people’s creative play with language

Interactions among three or more people who are connected through a common purpose, mutual influence, and a shared identity

The attraction and liking among group members

Developing a sense of self through comparing ourselves to other people

A view that argues the self is formed through our interactions with others and in relationship to social, cultural, and political contexts

The stated rules or unstated norms that guide communication

A relationship theory that focused on the costs and rewards in a given relationship; if costs outweigh the rewards, the relationship is more likely to end; if rewards outweigh the costs, the relationship is more likely to thrive

The components of self that are derived from involvement in social groups with which we are personally committed

the phenomenon that occurs when individuals exert less effort when working as a group than when working independently

A theory of self-disclosure that states as we get to know someone, we engage in a reciprocal process of self-disclosure that changes in breadth and depth and affects how a relationship develops; focuses on depth and breadth of shared information

Relationships that occasionally meet our needs and lack the closeness and interdependence of personal relationships

Swearing that creates social bonds or manages impressions (to seem cool or attractive)

A group member who is a reflective thinker and has good perception skills that he or she uses to analyze the group dynamics and climate and then initiate the appropriate role behaviors to maintain a positive climate.

The third stage of coming apart; the relationship may come to a standstill as individuals wait for the relationship to end; outward communication is avoided and internal communication becomes more frequent; for example, “There’s no need to bring this up again because I know how he’ll react.”

A dialectic that suggest culture and communication change over time yet often appear to be and are experienced as stable

Set beliefs that we develop about groups that are applied to individuals from that group

The stage of group development in which conflict emerges as people begin to perform their various roles, have their ideas heard, and negotiate where they fit in the group’s structure; secondary tension is prevalent in this stage

a cause of social loafing that occurs when team members perceive that a well-defined goal with several people working toward it doesn’t require them to work as hard

Conflict that focuses on group members’ differing beliefs, attitudes, values, or ideas related to the purpose or task of the group; focuses on the question of what should be done

A function of vocalics in that vocalic cues can take the place of other verbal of nonverbal cues; for example, saying “uh huh” instead of “I am listening and understand what you’re saying.”

A maintenance role characterized by communication behaviors that encourage other group members and provide emotional support as needed

Leaders who show concern for their followers’ needs and emotions

Messages communicated in an open, honest, and nonconfrontational way

Something that stands in for or represents something else. Letters are symbols we use to communicate

The sense of community or group consciousness that develops in a group through non-task-related communication such as stories and jokes

a group presentation format that involves a series of short speeches, usually informative, on various aspects of the same general topic

Potential for gains in performance or heightened quality of interactions when complementary members or member characteristics are added to existing ones; actions of the group exceed the sum of the actions of the individuals; 1+1 > 2

The study of sentence structure

The commitment of group members to the purpose and activities of the group

a characteristic of a problem characterized by a complex task that typically requires individual work outside of the group and frequent group meetings to share information

A person who has high group status because of maturity, problem-solving abilities, knowledge, and/or leadership experience and skills and functions to help the group complete its task

Groups formed to solve a problem, promote a cause, or generate ideas or information

Task-oriented groups in which members are especially loyal and dedicated to the task and other group members

A maintenance role usually played by someone who is naturally funny and sensitive to the personalities of the group and the dynamics of any given situation and who uses these qualities to manage the frustration level of the group

The last stage of coming apart; more of an event than a process; involves exchanges of typical communicative elements, possibly beginning with a summary message that recaps the relationship and provides a reason for the termination

An innate drive to take up and defend spaces

The group born in the US between 1946 and 1964; the largest and most predominant generation in the current workforce

The group born in the US between 1925 and 1942; the smallest generation in today’s workforce due to retirement or other reasons

An unsupportive message that threatens someone with violence or some other negative consequence; for example, “if you don’t stop that, you’re going to regret it.”

Nonverbal cues that communicate intimacy and signal the connection between two people

Listeners who are more concerned about time limits and timelines than they are with the content or senders of a message

Refers to an individual’s attitude about and level of comfort in uncertain situations

Describes communication as a process in which communicators generate social realities within social, relational, and cultural contexts; suggests that we are simultaneously senders and receivers; posits that communication helps to construct our realities

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression do not match the gender they were assigned at birth

A model that describes communication as a linear, one-way process in which a sender intentionally transmits a message to a receiver; sometimes referred to as the injection model

A model of communication that indicates the relationship among a thought, symbol, and referent and highlights the indirect relationship between the symbol and referent

the notion that all group members involved in making a decision agree on the same outcome or judgment

Competent communication that occurs when you just communicate successfully without straining to be competent

Incompetent communication that occurs when you are unaware that you are communicating in an incompetent manner

a component of a problem characterized by situations that are not desired by the group; if a condition is desirable, there is no problem

a cause of social loafing that occurs when individuals believe compensation has not been allotted equally among group members, so they will withdraw individual efforts

Negative roles in group communication that make it difficult for the group to make progress; include blocker, withdrawer, aggressor, and doormat

Messages that make others respond defensively; lead to feelings of separation and actual separation or dissolution of a relationship

Language that helps us communicate our observations, thoughts, feelings, and needs

Sounds that fill gaps speech between words

Groups that engage in virtual interaction through taking advantage of new technologies; meet exclusively or primarily online to achieve their purpose or goal

The study of paralangage, which includes vocal qualities such as pitch, volume, rate, vocal quality, and verbal fillers

Relevant types of expressions needed to most effectively communicate in a given situation, including what you see, what you think, and you feel, and what you need

An unproductive role in which a person mentally or physically removes themselves from group activities and only participates when forced