How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it) - Katherine Hampsten
2,821,051 Views
98,157 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Have you ever talked with a friend about a problem, only to realize that he just doesn’t seem to grasp why the issue is so important to you? Have you ever presented an idea to a group, and it’s met with utter confusion? What’s going on here? Katherine Hampsten describes why miscommunication occurs so frequently, and how we can minimize frustration while expressing ourselves better.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
We tend to take communication for granted, but thinking about how, why, and what we communicate can enrich our daily lives. Human communication involves spoken and written language, nonverbal signs, and sounds or utterances. Even our use of time, silence, and artifacts communicate messages to others. In fact, some communication researchers argue that we cannot not communicate. Take a look at his book: Pragmatics of human communication to learn more. Under this perspective, communication is both intentional and unintentional. We create meaning from a variety of sources, mixing these cues into a total package of understanding.
At the heart of human communication is the question of how we create meaning. A basic consideration of this process asks what message is being communicated to whom. The transactional model helps us to visualize the many moving parts that comprise human interaction. This model demonstrates that communication is an ongoing process. We co-construct meaning together as we use feedback to exchange ideas.
An important part of this process is the willingness to listen to what is being communicated. Active listening is different than hearing, because listening requires effort to focus and understand. Listening is also different from agreeing with the message. It is particularly difficult to listen when we disagree with the message, because we tend to put up defensive walls that block the message from being received. When we listen, we pay attention not only to the words spoken, but also to the other person’s tone of voice, facial expressions, posture, and emotions.
We communicate in a variety of contexts and through different channels. The setting and medium affect how we receive and interpret the message being communicated. For example, you may be more open to discussing a problem with your best friend when you are leisurely meeting for coffee, rather than when you are texting as you rush off to work. The basic idea may be the same, but the way that you understand and respond to it will likely be different in each case. If the issue is important to your relationship, then choosing to talk face-to-face when you are unhurried and focused may lead to a richer conversation.
At the heart of human communication is the question of how we create meaning. A basic consideration of this process asks what message is being communicated to whom. The transactional model helps us to visualize the many moving parts that comprise human interaction. This model demonstrates that communication is an ongoing process. We co-construct meaning together as we use feedback to exchange ideas.
An important part of this process is the willingness to listen to what is being communicated. Active listening is different than hearing, because listening requires effort to focus and understand. Listening is also different from agreeing with the message. It is particularly difficult to listen when we disagree with the message, because we tend to put up defensive walls that block the message from being received. When we listen, we pay attention not only to the words spoken, but also to the other person’s tone of voice, facial expressions, posture, and emotions.
We communicate in a variety of contexts and through different channels. The setting and medium affect how we receive and interpret the message being communicated. For example, you may be more open to discussing a problem with your best friend when you are leisurely meeting for coffee, rather than when you are texting as you rush off to work. The basic idea may be the same, but the way that you understand and respond to it will likely be different in each case. If the issue is important to your relationship, then choosing to talk face-to-face when you are unhurried and focused may lead to a richer conversation.
About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Katherine Hampsten
- Script Editor Amy Adkins
- Director Andrew Foerster
- Animator Andrew Foerster
- Artist Andrew Foerster
- Sound Designer Weston Fonger
- Narrator Addison Anderson
