Identify communication barriers in families.
Identification should include contextual factors that influence effective communication including, but not limited to,
- developmental levels of those communicating
- gender differences
- cultural differences
- differences associated with being in varying developmental stages
- physical setting and time of interaction
- mood or feelings
- levels of power (e.g., dominant, subordinate) held or perceived.
Identification should also include the following roadblocks to communication:
- Stereotyping or displaying prejudice
- Advising or lecturing
- Threatening, insulting, or attacking
- Using sarcasm
- Distracting
- Not paying attention
- Interrupting
Process/Skill Questions:
Thinking
- How do each of the contextual factors influence the quality of communication? Are some factors more influential than others?
- What ethical issues can influence the quality of communication?
- What factors influence communication with younger or older family members?
- What roles do spoken words and nonverbal gestures play in communication?
- How can threatening, insulting or attacking create a barrier to communication?
- What are the attributes of listening?
- What are some gender differences in communication?
- How can families overcome communication roadblocks?
Communication
- What values and beliefs affect communication skills?
- How can communication be enhanced when faced with each of the contextual factors?
- How can choosing the most appropriate time or setting for communication allow the receiver to obtain the information better?
- Why is interrupting a speaker a roadblock to communication?
- What are the different needs in communication based on various levels of power?
Leadership
- What actions can be taken to help others overcome barriers to communication?
- What behaviors associated with leadership might put up roadblocks to communication?
- How can leaders remove these roadblocks?
- How does the level of power held or perceived by sender and receiver affect communication?
- What work or school settings would allow us to learn better communication skills?
- How can a distracted receiver be perceived by the speaker?
Management
- How can technology become a roadblock to communication?
- How can technology help address some roadblock to communication?
- What techniques can help set the stage for effective communication with people of different ages or developmental levels?
- What criteria can help evaluate roadblocks to communication?
- What cultural differences may hinder communication?