Communication 480



Communication 304

Interpersonal Communication

Fall, 2011, 11 AM to 12:30 PM

Tuesdays and Thursdays, G34

Michael J. Cody, 326C Annenberg Scott Sanders, G6 Annenberg (West wing)

Office hours: Th 2-3:30 (or appt.) Office Hours: T, Th 10:15-11:00, 1:00-2:00

310-376-8565 (h) Scott.Sanders.USC@ 

Final examination scheduled: Tuesday, December 13, 8 AM – 10 AM

Course Materials

Required Texts:

● Guerrero, L.K., Anderson, P.A., & Afifi, W. (2011). Close Encounters: Communication in Relationships (P). Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks CA. ISBN: 9781412977371

● Additional readings will be made available via blackboard.

Optional popular bestselling books (Theses will be made available based on interest.):

● Strauss, N. (2005). The game: Penetrating the secret society of pickup artists. NY: HarperCollins Publisher. [Also see “Speed Seduction” documents on Blackboard.]

● Fein, E. & Schneider, S. (1995 – original publication of “The Rules”). I have copies of All the Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right. New York: Warner books/Grand Central Publishing.

● Gray, John (1992). Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex [Paperback]. New York: HarperCollins. People loved it, hated it and the author really is not an expert. But he sold many copies and made a lot of money giving “advice.”

Here are a few web resources you may want to check out on your own, although we will visit these in class later:

● Know your flirting style: Here is the study:

We will be discussing flirting styles in several chapters, starting with Chapter 3.

● Beautiful faces (in the “West” [Europe, USA, etc.]): Especially important: Symmetry, “Babyface,” Characteristics of beautiful faces, social presence

● If you are interested in “attraction,” watch The Science of Sex Appeal, which aired on the Discovery Channel two years ago. We will watch 1 hour of it later in the semester (September 8). We have two copies of the program, which we can loan out. It is also available for instant streaming on Netflix if you have a subscription.

● Narcissistic personalities are on the rise. We discuss narcissistic personalities in Chapter 3. Here is a classic Narcissistic Voice Message:

● You have seen this, right? [Yellow Fever] If not, you should view. Inter racial or inter cultural dating is a topic of considerable interest today:

Course Objectives

This course deals with communication in interpersonal relationships, including friendships (same sex and opposite sex), dating and romantic relationships, maintaining long-term relationships, and, finally, the decay and termination of relationships. Students enrolled in this course should understand communication processes underlying self-presentation, relational maintenance and achieving instrumental goals, explanations for why people behave the way they do and, ideally, improve their own skills.

The topics we will discuss include friendship formation, self-disclosure, relational growth, escalation, decay, self-presentation, maintenance of friendships, face-to-face influence, conflict styles and/or conflict, online relationships, family influences in studying communication patterns [called “attachment styles”], the effects of divorce (as a “stressor” or “disrupter”), “blended” families, interracial dating, intercultural relationships, and “social support” derived from intimate relationships, family members and even strangers.

The instructors will provide a broad-based exposure to research and theory in the area of interpersonal communication, providing examples along the way (one exemplary study each lecture, some videos, etc.). Second, the instructors will advise and assist students in their paper projects and for the production/group projects (described below). In this class, we want you to understand theories and communication processes draw conclusions that are based on research findings, and apply the theory and research to practical examples.

Grading

Test 1 (multiple choice, true/false) 25% of grade (October 6)

Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 + lecture content

Test 2 (multiple choice, true/false) 25% of grade (December 13, day of the Final examination) Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12,

13, half of 14 and 15 + Questions from group presentations

Individual Term Paper (“classic” term paper) 25% of grade (Due midnight Thursday, November 4. Submit it digitally (Word file) to cody@usc.edu

Group project/presentation 25% of grade (Groups will make a presentation to the class on diverse topics of their choosing; on old style flirting (face to face), long distance relationships, “narcissistic personalities, Online dating sites (comparing self-presentation), “player’s culture” (picking up women, etc.), and other interpersonal topics.

So, the important deadlines are, in order, October 6 (test 1), November 4 (Individual Term paper), November 22, November 29, December 1 (Group Presentations), and December 13 (Test 2)

Our goal is to cover much of the text in class earlier in the semester. We recommend that you select a topic of interest to you for the “individual term paper,” and to start researching the topic. Inform Professor Cody of your topic (or topics) and he can advise on resource material.

After Test 1 is completed, we will group individuals together who are focusing on similar topics (“player culture,” flirting, self-presentation, coping with long distance relationships, etc.); and some class time will be devoted to work group later in October and November (see Schedule below).

We anticipate 6 to 8 groups will present a film, a website, some type of mini-lecture to educate us on the topic of their choosing.

RE: Player culture. I recommend that you do NOT give any credit card information to the Ross Jeffries’ Speed Seduction website…..

The “Individual Term Paper” [Due midnight November 4]

Select a topic by the day of test 1 and talk with Professor Cody about resource materials.

Most students enrolled in this class have a specific interest in interpersonal communication, whether it is maintaining long distance relationships, meeting new people (self-disclosure), flirting successfully, maintaining opposite sex friendships (i.e., platonic relationships), self-presentation on facebook, understanding or coping with infidelity, relational breakups, or far more.

We would like for you to select a specific topic and review the published literature on the topic. The end goal of doing so is to write a comprehensive summary of research on the topic as part of your mastery of interpersonal communication. This individual paper is a “review of the literature” found in studies published in the Communication, Psychology, Sociology or Family Relations fields. The paper you write should be of high enough quality to submit as a writing sample, along with your application, to an MA or Graduate program.

Some term paper topics from recent semesters include:

Attachment styles Personalities (Machiavellians, Narcissism, etc.)

Friendship formation Mate selection

Same sex and opposite sex friendships Relational maintenance (business, friends, lovers)

Flirting, success and mistakes Self presentation and employment interviews

Controlling intimacy Escalating relationships

Disengaging from relationships Maintaining relationships (sharing tasks, etc.)

Self-disclosure Politeness theory

Conflict escalation and control Forgiveness (seeking and receiving)

Conflict coping styles Forms of “love”

Accounts (and forgiveness) Stereotypes and their impact

Friendships over the life span Online friendships

Long distance relationships Online self-presentation

Accuracy of self-presentation Self-presentation and employment interviews

Humor in dating, work Infidelity

Select one topic that is of interest to you, and do the following:

1) Research the interpersonal area of your choice using library databases; PsychInfo, Proquest, and Google Scholar, etc. NOTE: Use the citations in the text book. There will also be some folders on “impression management,” “attachment,” etc. uploaded on Blackboard.

2) Identify 12 to 20 primary academic sources you will use in your paper/project, obtain those papers and read them. The number of sources varies by topic area, how many books are cited, book chapters, articles and online websites. Usually books and book chapters are more informative.

3) Write a paper following APA guidelines.

Papers are graded on how well you followed the steps above, and by demonstrating that you have learned to research primary sources, read publications and synthesize the main findings, write a well-written coherent paper in APA format, and incorporate your findings into a line of research.

The paper you write will include

1) A cover page [page 1]. There should be a header in the right top corner of each page, i.e., “Long distance dating, 1”

2) An Introduction. This is often a one or two paragraph discussing the problem, its significance, and usually a preview of the study.

3) Body. The literature reviewed should be 12 to 20 studies, usually organized chronologically (dating, decay, breaking up, aftermath) or grouped on the basis of content areas (i.e., “types of love,” “personality types,” etc.).

4) A Summary and Conclusion section contains one paragraph in which you overview the goals of the paper. There may be a paragraph discussing any unusual findings.

This is an academic paper, but you can express your opinions in the conclusion and in the introduction. You should demonstrate reasonable comprehensiveness in your review. You should demonstrate that you can integrate together results from different studies on the topic; noting the common findings and why there may be disagreements. However, a major part of the grade is on how well it is written and organized. Usually, papers are organized chronologically (older to newer studies).

Typical papers are 10 to 14 pages in length—starting with the cover page as page one and references at the end. That is: Cover page (page 1), text is 9 to 12 pages and references are one or two pages. The instructors have copies of papers previously written for this course.

Professor Cody has many examples of these papers; some are brought to class for you to view.

Due: Midnight November 4th (Friday). Each student can re-write the paper to increase its quality and grade. Of course you can discuss drafts with the instructors throughout the semester as well as turn in the paper early.

Group Project

Group Project/Presentation. Developing wiki pages, a useful web site, or creating a movie.

After test 1 (first week of October), students will select topics of the “individual term paper” and individuals sharing similar interests will be allowed to work together to create a collaborative project such as a movie, a useful web site, etc.

We will NOT, however, assign you to groups. Sometime in October you can select the group you wish to work in for the last half of the semester. Also, although usually groups are 3 to 7 people, we impose no limit on group size.

Groups will work in class (and outside of class time if needed) to create a movie, a website or a wiki page for their chapter or content area (Long Distance Relationships, Coping with Breakups, etc.). Feel free to use or paraphrase sections from the text book (cite the book), and references when creating the mini-lecture.

Groups will later present 10 minute “mini-lectures” to the class in November and early December. In the past we have uploaded films or taped interviews on Youtube (We have an USCInterpersonal Channel which is presumably secured; which is empty at the moment).

Grade of “A:” the creation of pages bridging theory and research (from text) with exemplary cases from diverse media clearly illustrating communication principles.

Below is a list of what groups have done recently in this class. In one recent semester, students focused on The Game and Speed Seduction. Groups completed short movies on the following topics:

Negs and Praises (how “players” mix up praising a person and using negative statements to keep others off balance and try to lower a women’s self esteem – and to solicit a defensive reaction)

Neutralizing the boyfriend claim

Physical setting of the approach

“The Rules” versus “The Game”

Pick-up lines

Isolating the woman

Approaching the woman

Appealing to women’s emotions

In another recent semester groups focused on “Strategic Self-Presentation,” and the groups included:

Facebook Self-presentations

Grooming and maintaining sports figures public images

Maintaining parasocial interactions with fans on sports talk shows

Flirting (old fashion face to face flirting)

Self-presentations on dating web sites

Long Distance Relationships

Tarnished images of Narcissistic Celebrities

Schedule

Day 1, August 23 Introductions, overview. What we have placed on Blackboard.

Day 2, August 25 Read Chapter 1: Conceptualizing Relational Communication.

Day 3, August 30 Read Chapter 2: Communicating Identity (The social self)

Read these as well (see Blackboard folder called “Self-presentation,” the two are named “MarryMe” and “WhatKindofMother”):

Collett, J.L. (2005). What kind of mother am I? Impression management and the social construction of motherhood. Symbolic interaction, 28(3), 327-347.

Vannini, P. (2004). Will You Marry Me? Spectacle and Consumption in the Ritual

of Marriage Proposals. Journal of Popular Culture. 38(1), 169 – 185.

Day 4, September 1 Finish Chapter 2: Politeness theory, Accounts, Forgiveness, “Crisis Management.”

Day 5, September 6 Read Chapter 3: Drawing People Together (Forces of Social Attraction). Today in class: similarity and liking

Day 6, September 8 Finish Chapter 3: Day 2 Watch and discuss, Science of Sex Appeal

[Note: we are skipping chapter 4, on “uncertainty”]

Day 7, September 13 Read Chapter 5: Getting Closer (Initiating and Intensifying Relationships). Today in class: Early stages, first dates, etc.

Day 8, September 15 Finish Chapter 5: Today in class: getting more serious

Day 9, September 20 Read Chapter 6: Communicating Closeness (Affection, Immediacy, and Social Support

Day 10, September 22 Read Chapter 7: Making a Love Connection (styles of love and attachment). Today in class: Love

Day 11, September 27 Finish Chapter 7, Today in class: Attachment

Day 12, September 29 Read Chapter 8: Communicating Sexually: The Closest Physical Encounter.

Day 13, October 4 Review for Test 1–[Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Day 14, October 6 Test 1 (no lecture follows)

Day 15, October 11 Read Chapter 9: Staying Close (Maintaining Relationships)

Day 16, October 13 Finish chapter 9, Groups can meet in class

Day 17, October 18 Read Chapter 10: Exchanging Rewards and Costs

(Interdependence and Equity in relationships)

People break up “seasonally” (tell you more later, usually the “least interest” partner does so):



Day 18, October 20 Finish Chapter 10, Groups can meet in class

Day 19. October 25 Read Chapter 11: Influencing each other (Dominance and Power Plays in Relationships)

Day 20, October 27 Finish Chapter 11, Groups can meet in class

Day 21, November 1 Read Chapter 12: Getting Too Close for Comfort (Privacy and Secrets in Relationships)

Day 22, November 3 Finish Chapter 12, Groups can meet in class

Friday November 4 Individual Term paper is e-mailed to cody@usc.edu

WATCH OUT: November is a popular month for Breaking Up relationships….

Day 23, November 8 Read Chapter 13: Hurting the Ones you Love: Relational Transgressions

Day 24, November 10 Finish Chapter 13, Groups can meet in class

Day 25, November 15 Read Chapter 14 (on Conflict, pages 342 – 356) and Read Chapter 15: Ending Relationships (Disengagement and Termination)

Day 26, November 17 Finish Chapter 15, Groups can meet in class

Day 27, November 22 Group Representations begin

November 24 is Thanksgiving

Day 28, November 29 Group Presentations continue

Day 29, December 1 Final Group Presentations, and Review for test 2

Test 2: December 13, 8 AM

_______________________________________________________________________________

Students requesting academic accommodations based on a disability are required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP when adequate documentation is filed. Please be sure the letter is delivered to the instructors as early in the semester as possible. DSP is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. The office is in Student Union 301 and their phone number is 213-740-0776.

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