Interpersonal/Small Group Communication

Every person needs to communicate with other people, but the barriers and subtleties of our interpersonal communications often go undetected. In this section of our blog, we look at the latest interpersonal communication studies and critical theories to develop a better understanding of how people communicate face-to-face and through new technologies like social networking websites and text messaging systems. We will also take a look at small group interactions to learn how our interpersonal skills change and adapt to different situations. By understanding our interpersonal skills, our group communicative skills and how these skills can develop in response to new technologies, we can look for ways to positively treat interpersonal disorders and how to change our interactions with other individuals.

Yes, You’re a Digital Liar [Video]

November 12, 2012 coms 0

Jeff Hancock thinks you’re a liar. But not in some awful you’re-a-terrible-person sort of way. The cognitive science and communication professor from Cornell simply thinks […]

How Scientists and Engineers Can Communicate Effectively with Non-Experts [Video]

October 17, 2012 coms 0

Jargon significantly slows down communication, and most people tend to tune out when they hear complex theories or research statistics. This is problematic when scientists and engineers need to explain their work to non-experts. Scientists use jargon for a reason–other words simply don’t fit–but if they cannot communicate clearly with non-scientists […]

Apple’s Secret Training Manual Reveals Genius Communication Tactics

September 2, 2012 coms 0

Tech blog Gizmodo has reportedly received a copy of the Apple Store’s closely guarded training manual, which introduces new employees (“Geniuses” in Apple parlance) to Apple’s empathetic customer service routines and policies. Apple has not confirmed that Gizmodo has a legitimate copy of the manual, however. The guide contains a list of “positive” and […]

Humans and Chimps Found to Communicate Similarly [Study]

August 28, 2012 coms 1

In a recent study, Stirling researcher Dr. Ana Roberts found that the chimpanzees used from 20-30 hand gestures as a means of communication. Roberts’ findings could reshape how we think about language evolution. “Chimpanzees use the gestures intentionally to elicit a desired response from other chimpanzees,” said Roberts.