Interpersonal Communications Applied Summary Paper.
The first communication concept that I want to discuss on this paper is "perceptual schema". Adler & Towne (1999) describe this as the "framework that allow us to organize the raw data we have selected. Five types of schema help us classify ourselves and others (p.97)." The way we communicate with others is determined largely by the way we perceive others. One of the five constructs that Adler & Towne write about is psychological construct, that is, whether the other person is curious, nervous, shy, or anxious. Another construct in perception schema is classification of a person based upon their role, that is, is that person a doctor, lawyer, police person, salesperson. No doubt we immediately take into account the role a person plays socially and communicate in kind. So, if I were to speak with a lawyer I could use terms like onus or adjudicate. The other three constructs are just as important to determining perception and in turn communication.
In reference to application of this principle I have used it all my life intuitively and now after class I am able to elucidate. I have applied this most recently at work because at work I am able to meet new people every day. The latest example, I was at work and speaking with a person who was undocumented, I was able to understand their anxiousness and feelings of helplessness, both, psychological constructs. In my communication with them I was able to allay their fear of me, of The Salvation Army and of the case work process of asking for personal information.
I felt very aware of how I was relating to this person according to the perception process described in Adler & Towne. As I was relating to this person I perceived the person relating to me with increasing comfort and ease of communication. I believe that our communication was effective in that I was able to perceive his anxiety, not as an attempt to manipulate the system but as genuine apprehension.
