Communication Theory 351

Hi! I am a student at California State University Northridge and I will be posting some content in regards to the theories explained in my class. Enjoy!

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Trait Theory

Trait theory is the most interesting theory that I have had a chance to learn about because of the traits and characteristics that people fall into. Trait theory has a five factor model it includes: Neuroticism, Extroversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. These traits are interesting because they could constitute a variety of different personalities. I personally would label myself as an extroverted person, but there are other people that would classify  me as neurotic person because of the level of anxiety that I have over various amounts of topics. It is interesting to learn about characteristics that people have that they might not be aware of. This makes me think of the personality online quizzes that are available and how many times I have taken them and almost all the same characteristics are revealed to me. I believe that it is SUPER important for everyone to be self-aware of who they are and take into consideration how your personality type might clash with another person. This also started to make me think that maybe companies should have personality tests given to their employees in order to become familiar with who they are and how their personality types might be affecting their work ethic. It would be a good idea to normalize the concept that these personality traits evidently showcase who that individual is and how hard it can actually be to change who you really are. 

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Groupthink

Groupthink is the “mode of thinking that people engage in when deeply involved in a cohesive group”. This theory is generally associated with small group communication, and can be very detrimental to groups if not acknowledged accordingly. Group think is most susceptible to task oriented groups because of the common goal that they are all attempting to reach. Having taken Small Group Communication I am very aware of how groups are generally only interested in reaching the end goal with no structure or cooperation. Being a communication major, it is almost inevitable that I am going to be put in a group one class or another. It can be difficult to work in a group because there are people within the group that may be too lazy, or the person in the group that thinks they are the only one in charge. I think that groupthink can be avoided if every individual in the group voices their opinion or ideas in order to contribute accordingly. I have definitely been a victim of groupthink because of the lack of instructions and the lack of motivation on the project that was being assigned. At the time it just seemed easier to let someone else in the group decide than to have to do any work. This ideal for me shortly changed because I realized that I was leaving the future of my grade in someone else’s hands.  

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Social Penetration Theory

Social Penetration Theory was developed by Altman Taylor in the 1970s as part of the socio psychological tradition. This theory refers to the open interpersonal interaction that we have within our current relationships. As discussed in the readings, there are four stages of relationship development. The stages are: Orientation, Exploratory Exchange, Affective Exchange, and Stable Exchange. Each of these stages are paths to a strong relationship and are essential to maintain a healthy relationship. This theory is relatable to a lot of the dysfunctional relationships that have come about in my life. I think back to when I got hired at my current job and I quickly learned that my manager was VERY open and will tell me her deepest darkest secrets within hours of meeting me. At the time this was very confusing to me because I did not understand why someone was so open with someone that they had just met. From learning about this theory, I now know that my manager was attempting to skip all the necessary paths to lead to a “stable exchange”. This theory has also opened my eyes to people that can be very private. This theory shows me that there are people that may have different boundaries and may have a different approach at building friendships.