Communication Model of Social Work By Chelsea Brandt

Communication Model of Social Work By Chelsea Brandt Ariel Gelman Marlene Tamayo

Why Communication Theory is Important… �Relevant to Social Workers because our practice depends on our effectiveness to communicate with clients. �Social Worker must know how to skillfully communicate with the client to improve their communication skills in their everyday lives.

How is Communication Theory Used? �It focuses on identifying problematic issues in communication for clients. Once these issues are identified the Social Worker can help the client rediscover more effective ways of feeling, thinking, and behaving to successfully communicate and improve their relationships with other people. �Early Communication Theory developers (Watzlawick, Beavin, & Jackson, 1967) believed pragmatics were highly important for effective communication. � Pragmatics is how communication affects behavior.

The Axioms of Human Communication �“In the presence of another person one cannot communicate”. � One can reject, accept, or disqualify another’s communication. � Communications must be clear for there to be a mutual understanding of rejection or acceptance. � Disqualifications invalidate ones communication in the form of inconsistencies, contradictions, subject switches, incomplete sentences and literal interpretations of metaphors.

Axioms continued… �“In the presence of another person one cannot communicate”. � One can reject, accept, or disqualify another’s communication. � Communications must be clear for there to be a mutual understanding of rejection or acceptance. � Disqualifications invalidate ones communication in the form of inconsistencies, contradictions, subject switches, incomplete sentences and literal interpretations of metaphors.

�“The nature of a relationship is contingent upon the punctuation of the communicational sequences between the communicants”. � People break up the ongoing stream of communication to make sense of their meaning. It’s the “cause and effect” or “blame” in relationships. � Each person is convinced of the correctness of their view of reality. � Ex: People in an argument will focus on who started it and will argue to prove their point instead of communicating the actual issue.

�“People communicate digitally and analogically” � Digital communication consists of words. � Analogical communication consists of the communicator’s posture, gestures, facial expressions, voice inflections, sequence, rhythm and cadence of their words. �“All communicational interchanges are either symmetrical or complementary, depending on whether they are based on equality or difference” � Symmetrical communication in interpersonal relationships defines their relationships as equal. � Complementary communication in interpersonal relationships defines one person in a one-up position and the other in a one-down position � One-down person must accurately interpret the messages the one- up person is giving them.

Double-Bind Theory of Communication �Double-Bind was coined in 1956 � Defines a constraining interaction � This paradox was first described by: Gregory Bateson Don Jackson Jay Haley John Wekland �This type of behavior was first studied to justify the diagnosis of schizophrenia �The study showed that these tangles in communication were frequent patterns between and among families

Structure of Double-Bind Theory �Receptor �Conflicting messages �Opposite meanings �A positive response to one implicates a failed response to the other �Person will be wrong regardless of response

�Complexity in communication: 90 % of it is non-verbal �Communication consists of: �Meaning of words �Tone of voice �Body language �Relationship of these words and what was said in the past �Environment where these words were said This shows the importance in the way we convey messages

Importance of the Communication within the Social Work Practice �With Clients �With Colleagues �Within the Political System

Examples of Double-Bind �Example I � Mother and child � Words of love & nodding in disgust � Words vs body language � Child can't respond to the conflict �Example II � Mother buys son one blue shirt and one red shirt Day 1: Son wears the blue shirt Day 1: Mother tells him: "Don't you like the red shirt I bought you" Day 2: Son wears the red shirt Day 2: Mother tells him: "Don't you like the blue shirt I bought you" Day 3: Son wears one shirt in top of the other Day 3: Mother: "Son, you are driving me crazy“ �The child tries to find a compromise solution in order to satisfy both demands. Either decision will contrast the other.

Meta-Communication �“Communication about communication” �Early Contributors to Meta-Communication �Gregory Bateson (1972) �Paul Watzlawick, �Janet Beavin, �Don D. Jackson (1967) �Three Major Subcategories �Meta-Communication as a topic or domain of linguistic scientific studies �Meta-Communication as a means to invite interpretation �Relational Meta-Communication

Meta-communication as a Topic or Domain of Linguistics… �Also known as “metalinguistics” coined by Bateson �“Analytical processes within the context of linguistic science” (Branco, 2005) �Pertains to different levels of linguistics �Analyzes the rules, characteristics and principles of linguistics �Example:

Meta-Communication as a means to invite interpretation �Underlying messages, “between the lines” communication �Can be associated with lying , insinuations and criticisms (Branco, 2005) �A non-explicit form of communication �Example: �Wife: Honey, I’m sorry, I just remembered that we have to go shopping tomorrow very early in the morning, before the plumber arrives! (Blanco, 2005)

Relational Meta-Communication �Major emphasis on the relationship between people �Can overlap with the second subcategory because Relational includes ALL communication �This communication can include displays of affection and openness in a relationship �Example: �Holding hands �Discussing which bills to pay first �Making eye contact