Environmental Influences on the Process

Prepared by: Karla Maolen Visbal

Background

Physical Environment The Situation Situational Norms and Rules

Psychological Environment Privacy Temporality Interaction potential of the Environment

Physical Environment

Physical Setting

The environment in which interaction occurs influences the communication taking place.

The physical setting defines what is proper.

It also becomes a guide in interpreting messages.

Physical Setting

The Physical Setting is important in our communication because: Appropriate behavior in a particular

setting differs across cultures In communicating with strangers, the

strangers are in an unfamiliar setting

Geography and Climate

Environment is an important conditioner of culture

Subsistence and sustainability for food production

Architecture and Landscape

When architecture and landscape is combined with geography and climate, it creates a stage for the human players.

The way our houses and buildings are designed and constructed is influenced by cultures in which they are built

Traditional Japanese Home

Very minimal furniture

Shoji and Tatami

Multipurpose rooms

bathroom and toilet SHOULD be different/separated

Arab Home

Arabs tend to entertain guests in their homes, displaying heirlooms, souvenirs and the best furnishings.

German Home

German homes are surrounded by hedges and fences to ensure privacy

Large furniture and foyer/entryway to ensure that other parts of the house is not exposed

The Situation

The Situation

Situation

Scene

Setting Purpose

Scene

Setting Involves the locale of our interaction, the

time of our interaction and the bystanders who observe our interaction.

Who is present (bystanders) in situations also influences our communication.

Scene

Purpose Our interaction with others is based on the

types of activities in which we are engaged and the subject matter being discussed.

SCRIPT: A coherent sequence of events expected by an individual involving him or her, either a participant or an observer.

The Situation

Situation

Scene

Setting

Purpose

Participants

Individual

Relationship

Interpersonal Roles

Participants

Individual Participants Stable characteristics (personalities,

physical appearances and interests) influence how they respond and how we respond to them in specific situations.

Temporary characteristics (speech patterns, moods and emotions) also influence our interaction in a specific situation.

Participants

Stigmatization involves discounting strangers because they are different.

Interpersonal Intergroup

Participants

Relationship between participants Interpersonal relations, the role of an

individuals are filling and the ways individuals are categorized affect the way people behave in situations.

We tend to choose people who are similar to us.

Situational Norms and Rules

Norms

1. Collective evaluation of behaviors2. Collective expectations of what behavior

is acceptable3. Particular reactions to behavior (e.g.

sanctions)

Socially shared guidelines for expected and accepted behavior

Rules

Developed for reasons of expediency because they allow people to coordinate their activities more easily

Both norms and rules are culture-bound

Psychological Environment

Privacy

Closely intertwined with our concept of environment Desired privacy Achieved privacy

Temporality

Cultures develop temporal patterns which define when it is appropriate to do certain things Monochronic time Polychronic time

Interaction Potential

Potential the environment provides for interacting with strangers

Group memberships provide structural constraints in the establishment of intergroup relationships (Blau & Schwartz, 1984)

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