How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it) - Katherine Hampsten

00:04:33
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCfzeONu3Mo

Summary

TLDRThe content delves into miscommunication, explaining how even in face-to-face interactions, messages can be misunderstood due to the complex nature of human communication. Traditional models like the transmission model fail to capture this complexity. The transactional model provides a better understanding by viewing communication as a collaborative creation of meaning, akin to a game of catch where each participant reshapes the shared message through their unique perceptual filters. Factors such as past experiences and emotional states influence how messages are received. To improve communication, it is suggested to actively listen, take into account nonverbal cues, ensure mutual understanding, and be aware of one's subjective filters. By applying these practices, clearer and more effective communication can be achieved.

Takeaways

  • 🔄 Communication is a dynamic, transactional process.
  • 🔍 Recognize active listening vs passive hearing.
  • 👂 Listen with eyes, ears, and gut.
  • 🤝 Communication is a two-way street; be open.
  • 🧠 Perceptual filters shape communication.
  • 🎭 Nonverbal cues are crucial to understanding.
  • 🗣️ Feedback shapes communication.
  • 📚 Experience and background influence perception.
  • 🌐 Shared dialogue fosters common understanding.
  • 🙌 Improving communication enhances relationships.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:04:33

    Miscommunication often arises when discussing problems or ideas, leading to confusion and misunderstandings even in face-to-face interactions. Recognizing communication's complexity is vital. The transmission model, where messages are sent directly between people, falls short. Instead, the transactional model better captures the feedback process and shared meaning creation in communication. This model considers subjective interpretations based on various personal factors. Effective communication involves active listening, understanding nonverbal cues, and acknowledging perceptual filters. It's essential to engage, be open, and avoid assuming personal views as absolute truths to foster clear communication.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is miscommunication?

    Miscommunication is when messages are misinterpreted or misunderstood, leading to confusion or conflict.

  • What are the types of communication models mentioned?

    The transmission model and the transactional model.

  • What is the transmission model of communication?

    It views communication as a direct message from one person to another, like tossing a ball.

  • What is the transactional model of communication?

    It considers communication as a dynamic process where feedback creates shared meaning.

  • Why is communication complicated even when face-to-face?

    Because we interpret messages through personal perceptual filters influenced by factors like culture and experience.

  • How does the transactional model view communication?

    As a game of catch where messages are reshaped by each person's perceptions.

  • How can emotion affect communication?

    It can cloud understanding and lead to misinterpretation of messages.

  • What is active listening?

    Engaging actively with verbal and nonverbal feedback to adjust your message for better understanding.

  • Why is it important to understand others when communicating?

    Communication is a two-way street; understanding others helps create shared dialogue.

  • How can one improve their communication skills?

    By actively listening, considering nonverbal cues, understanding others, and recognizing personal perceptual filters.

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  • 00:00:06
    Have you ever talked with a friend about a problem only to realize
  • 00:00:09
    that he just doesn't seem to grasp why the issue is so important to you?
  • 00:00:14
    Have you ever presented an idea to a group and it's met with utter confusion?
  • 00:00:18
    Or maybe you've been in an argument
  • 00:00:20
    when the other person suddenly accuses you
  • 00:00:22
    of not listening to what they're saying at all?
  • 00:00:26
    What's going on here?
  • 00:00:27
    The answer is miscommunication,
  • 00:00:30
    and in some form or another,
  • 00:00:31
    we've all experienced it.
  • 00:00:33
    It can lead to confusion,
  • 00:00:34
    animosity,
  • 00:00:35
    misunderstanding,
  • 00:00:36
    or even crashing a multimillion dollar probe into the surface of Mars.
  • 00:00:41
    The fact is even when face-to-face with another person,
  • 00:00:44
    in the very same room,
  • 00:00:46
    and speaking the same language,
  • 00:00:48
    human communication is incredibly complex.
  • 00:00:51
    But the good news is that a basic understanding
  • 00:00:54
    of what happens when we communicate
  • 00:00:56
    can help us prevent miscommunication.
  • 00:00:59
    For decades, researchers have asked, "What happens when we communicate?"
  • 00:01:04
    One interpretation, called the transmission model,
  • 00:01:06
    views communication as a message that moves directly from one person to another,
  • 00:01:11
    similar to someone tossing a ball and walking away.
  • 00:01:15
    But in reality,
  • 00:01:16
    this simplistic model doesn't account for communication's complexity.
  • 00:01:20
    Enter the transactional model,
  • 00:01:22
    which acknowledges the many added challenges of communicating.
  • 00:01:26
    With this model, it's more accurate to think of communication between people
  • 00:01:30
    as a game of catch.
  • 00:01:32
    As we communicate our message, we receive feedback from the other party.
  • 00:01:36
    Through the transaction, we create meaning together.
  • 00:01:39
    But from this exchange, further complications arise.
  • 00:01:43
    It's not like the Star Trek universe,
  • 00:01:45
    where some characters can Vulcan mind meld,
  • 00:01:47
    fully sharing thoughts and feelings.
  • 00:01:49
    As humans, we can't help but send and receive messages
  • 00:01:52
    through our own subjective lenses.
  • 00:01:55
    When communicating, one person expresses her interpretation of a message,
  • 00:01:59
    and the person she's communicating with
  • 00:02:01
    hears his own interpretation of that message.
  • 00:02:04
    Our perceptual filters continually shift meanings and interpretations.
  • 00:02:09
    Remember that game of catch?
  • 00:02:11
    Imagine it with a lump of clay.
  • 00:02:13
    As each person touches it,
  • 00:02:15
    they shape it to fit their own unique perceptions
  • 00:02:18
    based on any number of variables,
  • 00:02:20
    like knowledge or past experience, age, race, gender,
  • 00:02:25
    ethnicity, religion, or family background.
  • 00:02:28
    Simultaneously, every person interprets the message they receive
  • 00:02:32
    based on their relationship with the other person,
  • 00:02:35
    and their unique understanding
  • 00:02:36
    of the semantics and connotations of the exact words being used.
  • 00:02:41
    They could also be distracted by other stimuli,
  • 00:02:44
    such as traffic
  • 00:02:45
    or a growling stomach.
  • 00:02:47
    Even emotion might cloud their understanding,
  • 00:02:49
    and by adding more people into a conversation,
  • 00:02:52
    each with their own subjectivities,
  • 00:02:54
    the complexity of communication grows exponentially.
  • 00:02:58
    So as the lump of clay goes back and forth from one person to another,
  • 00:03:02
    reworked, reshaped, and always changing,
  • 00:03:06
    it's no wonder our messages sometimes turn into a mush of miscommunication.
  • 00:03:11
    But, luckily, there are some simple practices
  • 00:03:13
    that can help us all navigate our daily interactions for better communication.
  • 00:03:18
    One:
  • 00:03:19
    recognize that passive hearing and active listening are not the same.
  • 00:03:24
    Engage actively with the verbal and nonverbal feedback of others,
  • 00:03:28
    and adjust your message to facilitate greater understanding.
  • 00:03:32
    Two:
  • 00:03:33
    listen with your eyes and ears, as well as with your gut.
  • 00:03:37
    Remember that communication is more than just words.
  • 00:03:40
    Three:
  • 00:03:41
    take time to understand as you try to be understood.
  • 00:03:45
    In the rush to express ourselves,
  • 00:03:47
    it's easy to forget that communication is a two-way street.
  • 00:03:50
    Be open to what the other person might say.
  • 00:03:52
    And finally, four:
  • 00:03:54
    Be aware of your personal perceptual filters.
  • 00:03:57
    Elements of your experience,
  • 00:03:59
    including your culture, community, and family,
  • 00:04:01
    influence how you see the world.
  • 00:04:04
    Say, "This is how I see the problem, but how do you see it?"
  • 00:04:07
    Don't assume that your perception is the objective truth.
  • 00:04:11
    That'll help you work toward sharing a dialogue with others
  • 00:04:14
    to reach a common understanding together.
Tags
  • communication
  • miscommunication
  • transactional model
  • active listening
  • perceptual filters
  • feedback
  • understanding
  • nonverbal cues
  • subjectivity
  • dialogue