Chapter 1 Communication: Essential Human Behavior 25you’re communicating on social networking sites like Facebook. Your “friends”
probably include those who are currently very close to you as well as those who
are distant (for example, former elementary school classmates). Even if you direct
your post to one friend in particular, all your friends can see it, so you might be
letting those distant relationships in on a private joke (or making them feel left
out).
Our communication is also shaped by our expectations and goals for the
relationship. Expectations and goals can be quite different. For example, high
school sweethearts may want their relationship to continue (a goal) but at the
same time anticipate that going to college in different states could lead to a
breakup (an expectation). Clearly, our expectations and goals differ according
to each relationship. They change during the course of both short conversations
and over the life span of a relationship.
The Situational Context
The situational context is represented by the middle sphere in the competent
communication model and includes the social environment (a loud, boister-
ous party versus an intimate dinner for two), the physical place (at home in
the kitchen versus at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport), specific events
and situations (a wedding versus a funeral), and even a specific mediated place
(a private message versus a tweet). The situational context also includes where
you live and work, your home or office decorations, the time of day or night,
and the current events in the particular environment at the time (Mease &
Terry, 2012).
For example, Kevin gets home from work and asks Rhiannon what’s for
dinner. If she shrieks, Kevin might conclude that she is mad at him, but if he
considers the situational context, he might reinterpret her response. He might
notice that his wife is still in her suit, meaning she just got home from a long
day at work. He might notice that the kitchen sink is clogged, the dog has gotten
sick on the living room rug, and the clean laundry is still sitting, unfolded, on
the couch. By considering the situation, Kevin may calmly ask Rhiannon about
these situational factors rather than get defensive and start an argument.
What relational, situational,
and cultural contexts are
influencing you as you read
this book? Consider your
gender, ethnicity, academic
or socioeconomic back-
ground, and other factors.
Have you studied commu-
nication or speech before?
Have you taken a course
with this professor before?
What expectations and
goals do you have for this
book and this course?AND YOU?
WHEN IT COMES to
interacting with parents
and older relatives, different
cultures teach different
values. (left) Purestock/Getty Images;
(right) © Bonnie Kami/PhotoEdit