II. Terms

In your essays for this course it is very important to use the terminology of communication science. Therefore, take time to learn the terms and their meanings in each chapter. In the face-to-face version of this course, various interactive techniques will be used to test your knowledge of the major terms. In the online version of the class you will review the terms independently. Make sure you use the terms referred to below in your essays.

Agreeableness Anger Blended emotions Degree of neuroticism Display rules Ellis 5-Step Model Emotional intelligence Emotional management Emotions Extraversion

Feelings Grief Moods Passion Prevention of emotions Primary emotions Reappraisal of emotions Suppression of emotions Venting of emotions

III. Names

It is very important to remember the names of scholars who contributed to communication theory. Your essays will sound more professional if you make reference to the people mentioned in this brochure. In the face-to-face version of this course, and in the audio lectures that accompany the online version of this course the names of these scholars will be routinely used to refer to various concepts. Study the names of communication scholars and try to remember their contribution to the science.

Argyle, Michael Berkowitz, Len Berscheid, Ellen Burleson, Brant Cacioppo, John T. Ekman, Paul

Ellis, Albert Gross, James Harmon-Jones, Eddie Plutchik, Robert Suler, John Tavris, Carol

IV. Recap Questions

Use the recap questions to see if you remember the main concepts discussed in the chapter. In the face-to-face version of this course recap questions will be asked at various points as we make connection between different concepts. In the online version of this course use the recap questions to check if you remember all the concepts discussed in the chapter.

1. Give a definition of emotions.

2. What are the five key features of emotions?

3. What is the difference between emotions, feelings and moods?

4. What are the primary emotions?

5. How do gender, culture and personality shape emotions?

6. What is the Ellis 5-step Model?

7. What are emotion management options?

8. How do you prevent emotions?

9. How do you reappraise emotions?

10. How are emotions expressed online?

11. What is anger?

12. How do we manage anger?

13. What is passion and how do we manage it?

14. What is grief and how do we manage it?

V. Self-Reflection Items

There are a total of eight self-reflection items (SRIs) in each chapter. For the online and face-to-face versions of the class alike, choose THREE items to discuss.

1. Communication Diary: Choose one of SRI to discuss privately with your teacher. Answer all the questions in the SRI. Refer to at least THREE concepts in the chapter in THREE good paragraphs, then summarize in the fourth paragraph. (20 points).

2. Communication Board Posting: Choose one of the SRIs to discuss openly with your fellow students. Follow the same rules as for CD1 but in the end ask ONE question of your fellow class-mates, a word of advice. (20 points).

3. Communication Board Comment: Write one good paragraph in response to the question posed by your classmate in pairs as assigned by the teacher (10 points).

1. Recall an event in a close relationship that caused you to feel an intense emotion. Consider the physical and mental sensations you experienced. If you had to put your emotional experience into words, how would you describe it?

2. With whom do you share your emotional experiences? Does such sharing always have a positive impact on your relationships, or does it cause problems at times? What ethical boundaries govern emotion sharing?

3. What emotions did you feel when you first heard about the 9/11 attacks? With whom did you share these emotions? How did your gender, personality, and cultural background shape your reaction and your communication of this reaction to others?

4. What display rules did you learn growing up? How have these rules shaped your communication? Have you ever caused offense by expressing emotion in a way that violates these rules? If so, what lesson did you learn about the relationship between display rules and effective interpersonal communication?

5. Consider your own use of suppression and venting.

What leads you to choose one or the other strategy? Are there limits to how often you vent or how long you suppress? What ethical considerations arise related to each strategy?

6. Recall an online encounter in which you inappropriately expressed emotion. How did lack of empathy shape your behavior? Would you have communicated the same way face-to-face? What does this tell you about the relationship between feedback, empathy, and emotional

expression?

7. How has passion changed over time in your romantic relationships? Have these changes influenced your communication toward your partners? Is passion a necessary component of romance, or is it possible to have a romantic relationship without frequent passion?

8. Recall an encounter in which you tried to communicate supportively with a person who was grieving but your efforts only made matters worse. What aspect of your communication made it ineffective? Now consider instances in which you successfully comforted someone. How was your communication different?