Assignment:
As individuals, we seek out others to communicate with to fulfill basic needs and interpersonal purposes. But when we do not have the opportunity to fulfill these needs, we crave to communicate even more. Communication contexts have morphed to include not only face-to-face interactions, but online social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. These sites, as well as emailing or texting, may have changed the definition of interpersonal communication with messaging and collective chats becoming more commonplace. But are these mediated forms of communication fulfilling our basic needs and interpersonal purposes?
Part I. Answer the following questions in paragraph form. You may want to offer a personal example to describe your ideas:
1. How can social network sites, emailing, or texting be used to fulfill (or not fulfill) the needs of interpersonal communication?
2. Do you think we interact through social network sites, emailing or texting in ways different than in face-to-face communication? How? Why?
3. Have you ever experienced problems encoding or decoding online messages such as on Facebook or over email? What can you do to reduce the ambiguity of computer-mediated messages?
4. Watch the Sherry Turkle TED Talk and respond to the following question: How can social networking sites, emailing, or texting be used in both positive and negative ways to enhance as well as harm interpersonal relationships?
Part II. Communication and relationships meet many of our basic needs. How do healthy and fulfilling relationships meet our mental, emotional and physical health needs?
The replies to at least two fellow classmates are crucial to engaging in a meaningful dialogue. Please dig in, be creative and interact with your classmates by offering your thoughts and application of the ideas presented in the chapter reading. Also, be sure to answer any questions your classmates or your instructor ask on your thread. Last, don't forget to have fun! This assignment is meant to encourage learning by applying class material in a fun, interactive format.