Running head: Ethical Credo 1

Ethical Credo Susannah Saylor Wheaton College

Introduction

Running head: Ethical Credo 2 Communication is inevitable. Whether it is talking to a close friend flirting !ith a cute guy at a "arty or "ersuading yourself to lose some !eight before s"ring break it is communicating a message to someone. #he "ervasiveness of communication demonstrates the significance in fully understanding and learning to "ractice it effectively. #ruth is the cru$ of communication !ith honesty and res"ect being its "illars. It is essential to "assionately advocate one%s o"inion !hile critically and humbly listening to dissent in every facet of life: daily routines Christian faith human relationshi"s &ustice and global messages. Communication and the Conduct of Everyday 'ife ( rule to live by regarding the regularity of communication each day is as follo!s: there must be a mutual understanding through honesty and res"ect. In order to communicate effectively so fre)uently it is essential for individuals to com"rehend an *other+oriented, "ers"ective in communication. -utual understanding comes !ith an individuali.ation in "roviding a message to a "articular "erson. In other !ords a sensitivity and res"ect to the core of an individual%s "ersona. Communication theory "ro"oses a method to accom"lish such an individuali.ation in /elia0s *"erson centered messaging,. Constructing a tailor made message for a s"ecific individual and conte$t demonstrates res"ect for the other through a rhetorical sensitivity 12riffin 23124. 5erson centered messaging reflects the communicator%s ability to antici"ate res"onse and ad&ust a""ro"riately. Effective communication on a daily basis should reflect this chameleon like fle$ibility in s"reading a message in the most "roductive !ay according to an individual%s uni)ue style and set of beliefs. 6onesty in daily communication highlights a foundation block of the field: truth. 5hiloso"hers since (ristotle have suggested that truth is a cornerstone to all human interaction. Communication res"ects and e$"resses the truth at all times. 7ant mentions that *truth telling is essential in order to res"ect autonomy of each

Running head: Ethical Credo 8 individual, 1Surbone 9 :!itter 1;;<4. Creating individuali.ed messages to another "erson is an attem"t to enlighten a truth u"on him or her. Communication and the Christian =aith ( core rule to Christian communication is the ability to advocate one%s beliefs !hile critically listening to dissent from another. Communicating the intricacies of one%s faith to atheists in the contem"orary culture can seem to be an insurmountable challenge. (dvocating a stance brings out great "assion and at times the unruly sides of humans. #he theologian St. (ugustine !rites in his City of 2od of humans as a *mean bet!een angels and beasts, 1>ettenson 9 -eara 1;<24. St. (ugustine discusses the nature of humanity to have the bodies of beasts but the rational minds of angels. #o reflect the image of 2od humans "ossess such com"le$ and rational minds to s"read the truth in the gos"el ho!ever animalistic instincts reveal "assions that remain hard to tame. Christian communication comes !ith the balance bet!een the t!o. 5assionate rational advocacy of the Word !ith humility++the greatest virtue according to St. (ugustine. #he "ractice of humility only comes !ith challenge and contradiction. Evangelist /!ight '. -oody once said *character is !ho you are in the dark., Immersion to e$otic areas filled !ith the marginali.ed masses challenge human nature to tame the "assion and advocate the gos"el !ith humility. 'istening to the contradictions leaves the other feeling res"ected and allo!s for a more effective form of communication. Without strife there !ould be no gro!th. In the field of Conflict Resolution there is an em"hasis on building a *golden bridge, in negotiating "eaceful relations++es"ecially regarding discussions of contradictions 1?ry 1;;14. @ust as @esus demonstrated generosity to the marginali.ed so should humans in o"ening avenues of communication for develo"ment of faith 1Carter 1;;A4. Critical

Running head: Ethical Credo B listening is the key to taming "assions and e$"ressing humility in communication that is markedly Christian. Communication and the Strength of 6uman Relationshi"s Sharing one%s o!n e$"eriences to "rovide insight !hile res"ecting the "rivacy in a "ersonal decision enhances relational communication. >erger%s ?ncertainty Reduction #heory highlights "ractical !ays in initially connecting !ith someone through increased nonverbal !armth verbal out"ut and shared net!orks 12riffin 23124. #hese visual cues allo! for an established relationshi" !ith someone else that has the "otential to lead to a sharing of "ersonal insight such as the gos"el. (ltman and #aylor%s Social 5enetration #heory describes the "rocess of develo"ment in relationshi"s after that initial connection as they "roceed from su"erficial to intimate through self+disclosure 12riffin 23124. #he im"ortant elements in Social 5enetration come !ith sharing one%s thoughts intimately 1de"th4 and broadly 1breadth4. Sharing elements of one%s life over a variety of to"ics at a "rofound level serves to dee"en the relationshi" and allo!s for in"ut on "ersonal decisions. >a$ter and -ontgomery%s Relational /ialectics illuminates that *aha, moment by saying that relationshi"s are messy. ?nderstanding the "ull bet!een connectionCautonomy certaintyCuncertainty and o"ennessCclosedness enhances the de"th of relational communication 12riffin 23124. 5etronio%s Communication of 5rivacy -anagement #heory is the cru$ of this relational credo. It all hinges on the universal truth that asserts all "eo"le believe they o!n and have a right to control information. Dnce a "erson "roceeds to share any intimate information the foreigner becomes a *co+o!ner,. #he "air must then negotiate mutually agreeable "rivacy rules to avoid boundary turbulence 12riffin 23124. /iscussing "rivacy rules is sensitive at times and involves careful consideration regarding gender and culture. International Relations suggests vastly different customs and traditions involving social

Running head: Ethical Credo E niceties that e$ist in governments. Collectivistic and individualistic cultures naturally conflict regarding core values. Saving face and "reventing a loss of face are an issue and are dee"ly intert!ined in managing "rivacy rules. Individualistic cultures are often more stringent in their intimate details in order to maintain a re"utation and advocate for themselves 1=riedman 1;;;4. Conversely collectivistic cultures "ut others as a "riority and might divulge information for the good of the grou". 2ender also is a ma&or consideration in navigating "rivacy boundaries. -asculine and feminine forms of communication differ e$"onentially !ith the former s"eaking largely in "ublic forums and the latter s"eaking largely in "rivate forums. -iscommunication occurs often if something is discussed behind closed doors due to *fu..y boundaries, in "rivacy rules and see"s into the "ublic arena !ithout any notification 12riffin 23124. Communication and the 5ursuit of 5eace @ustice and a /emocratic Society #he attainment of "eace and &ustice is a lifetime "ursuit. Em"o!ering those voices of a marginali.ed is not an easy task. Conflict ensues and the original goal seems to be forgotten. Communication is essential in achieving unity and hearing the o"inions of those in the shado!s. Issues in gender demonstrate the struggles of !omen over the years to achieve e)ual status to their male counter"arts. (cting as negative "edagogy many of their more radical movements "roved to be detrimental and almost counterintuitive to their message 1Wood 23124. >ra burning movements and cro!ning shee" as *-iss (merica, dre! attention a!ay from the commerciali.ation of beauty and male chauvinism 1their intended message4 to!ards emotional ugly !omen failing to "rove a "oint 1/o! 23384. 'earning to !ork !ithin cultural and social constructs !ithout sensationali.ing the message communicates "eace in a "roductive !ay. 6arding and Wood%s Stand"oint #heory em"o!ers others to s"eak u" and voice their o!n o"inion as a marginali.ed "eo"le 12riffin 23124. #he theorists "osit that individuals on the

Running head: Ethical Credo F margin of society are unable to hold a dominate vie! and therefore attain a more realistic vie! of the !orld . 7ramerae%s -uted 2rou" #heory s"eaks to !omen s"ecifically as a marginali.ed grou" regarding the "ursuit of &ustice. Claiming that men are the gatekee"ers of language "ur"osely e$cluding !omen in the "ublic arena 7ramarae encourages !omen to !ork through their o!n means++net!orking++to create an im"act on society 12riffin 23124. #he "ursuit of &ustice does not come in one si.e. Communication in the "ursuit of "eace &ustice and democracy comes in the form of em"o!ering the marginali.ed. Communication and the D""ortunities of 2lobal -essages Culture has a significant im"act on the intended message !hether it%s "olitics education or communication. (da"ting to various cultures !hen "roviding a message is crucial for greater influence and res"ect. Studying 6is"anics in the ?nited States has brought to light the stark contrasts bet!een collectivistic and individualistic cultures regarding global messages. #he former em"hasi.es an *other+oriented, "ers"ective !ith various face+saving techni)ues++ "rioriti.ing the grou" before the individual. #he latter em"hasi.es inde"endence and self+ sufficiency !ith techni)ues meant to "revent losing face therefore "rioriti.ing the individual before the grou". In communicating global messages that transcend across cultural conte$ts it is essential to understand the nuances of a s"ecific nation. #hese conte$tual elements arise in a number of scenarios one being a classroom. Educating (merican boys and girls is a com"lete different e$"erience than teaching Gietnamese boys and girls. #he former is largely outs"oken and gregarious !hile the latter is reserved and gentle. ?nderstanding cues from the core values in a culture can hel" in communicating a message to a s"ecific audience. Communication (ccommodation #heory s"eaks to the methods of conversing interculturally. When t!o different nations combine many times they accommodate each other in order to gain a""roval. #he

Running head: Ethical Credo < Gietnamese children might attem"t to be louder !hile the (merican children might try to be more sensitive. Conversely if one culture intentionally tries to maintain their o!n customs almost to an e$treme it has the o""osite effect++disa""roval. Reading into an intercultural situation in the methods of communicating can hel" s"read a global message effectively.

References >ettenson 6. 9 -eara @.@. 11;<24. #he City of 2od: concerning against the "agans. 'ondon: #he "enguin books. Carter S. '. 11;;A4. Civility: manners morals and the eti)uette of democracy. He! Iork: >asic >ooks.

Running head: Ethical Credo A /o! >. @. 123384. =eminism miss america and media mythology. Rhetoric and 5ublic (ffairs F114 12<+1F3. =riedman #. '. 11;;;4. #he 'e$us and the olive tree. He! Iork: =arrar Straus 2irou$. 2riffin E.(. 123124. ( first look at communication theory 1A. ed.4. He! Iork: -c2ra!+6ill. Surbone (. 9 :!itter -. 11;;<4. Communication !ith the cancer "atient: information and truth. He! Iork: He! Iork (cademy of Sciences. ?ry W. 11;;14. 2etting "ast no: negotiating !ith difficult "eo"le. He! Iork: >antam >ooks. Wood @.#. 123124. 2endered lives: communication gender and culture. >elmont Calif.: Wads!orth 5ub.