Real Communication An Introduction

38 Part 1  Basic Communication Processes

Challenges with Schemas

and Perception

To send and receive messages that are effective and appropriate, you must be able

to process information in a way that not only makes sense to you but that also

is accurately perceived by others. Schemas can help you do all of this. However,

sometimes schemas can make you a less perceptive communicator; they may

cloud your judgment or cause you to rely on stereotypes (discussed later in this

chapter) or misinformation. Communication researchers note that schemas pres-

ent several challenges to competent communication.

c Mindlessness. Schemas may make you a less critical processor of informa-

tion by producing a state of mindlessness, during which you process

information passively. Mindlessness helps you handle some transactions

automatically; for example, you don’t have to consciously think about

how to place an order every time you go to a restaurant. But mindlessness

can create problems, too—including reduced cognitive activity (you have

fewer thoughts), inaccurate recall (you can’t remember simple things), and

uncritical evaluation (you don’t question wrong or incomplete information)

(Roloff, 1980). The remedy for mindlessness is to pay attention to your

schemas, a process called mindfulness. Mindfulness involves being aware

of yourself and tuning out distractions to focus; it has a variety of benefits

from higher test scores to reduced public speaking anxiety (Huston, 2010;

Jacobs, 2013).

c Selective perception. Whereas mindlessness is passive, selective perception—

that is, biased perception—constitutes active thought. If you listen

to testimony at a trial, you may notice that one witness will remem-

ber the exact time of the accident while another will describe the

color and make of the cars involved. They both saw the same acci-

dent but remembered different parts. Additionally, we often selectively

pay attention to the information that is consistent with our schemas.

In our speed-dating example, Adam hears what Irina says, how she says

Wants

to be the more

professionally

“successful” one

in the

relationship

Secretly

enjoys

romantic

comedies

Prefers to

be in a

committed

relationship

over dating

Admires

parents’

marriage as

model of

relationships

“Artsy”

girlfriend was

really

annoying

FIGURE 2.1
ADAM’S SCHEMA
ABOUT DATING AND
RELATIONSHIPSOur
schemas affect our communi-
cation and our relationships.
Here is Adam’s schema for
dating and relationships, rep-
resented as a box containing
pieces of information from
various sources in his life.

CONNECT

If you’ve ever found your-
self saying “Uh-huh” at the
wrong time because you
weren’t paying attention
during a conversation, you
know that listening and
mindlessness are a bad
combination. In Chapter 6,
you learn that competent
listening involves being an
active, rather than passive,
participant in your com-
munication situations and
requires you to make con-
scious choices to decode
messages.