According to Trenholdm, "One of Campbell's most modern ideas concerned the relationship between speaker and audience. He believed that receivers were active participants in the persuasion process and that the effective communicator studied the inner workings or "faculties," of the human mind" (pg. 11)
In an interpersonal communication class I took last spring, the book we used talked a lot about being an "other-oriented" communicator. I think this is a very important concept because people interpret messages according to their beliefs, values, culture etc. and it is crucial for the sender of the message to take their listeners point of view into account in order to formulate their message in a way that will make the meaning of their message transmit successfully.
Therefore, if we can do as Campbell advises and study the "inner workings" of the receivers mind, we will be better communicators than if we only tailor our messages according to our own personal experiences and motivations.
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I agree that if we could understand the "inner workings" of the receivers mind than we could all communicate much better. But to understand the inner workings of the receivers mind would mean that we would have to know everything about the receiver. Because everything that the receiver has gone through in their life is what shapes their ability to understand messages. I know that there is just no way we can know everything about our listeners in order to be effective speakers. However, I think we can attempt to be more understanding of others so that we may have a greater chance of hitting home with the receiver.
ReplyDeleteHi Commeleon! Do you think that folks in our society focus on being "other oriented"? If so, in what ways? If not, why do you think that is? :)
ReplyDeleteHey Professor of the Blog! umm I think it depends on what the message is. I know if I'm trying to get someone to do something for me or to make a sell at work I'm a lot more other oriented than I typically am in other situations... which probably isn't the best way to communicate but I think it's harder to be other oriented when communicating and so people try to avoid it unless necessary. What do you think?
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