Personal Communication Philosophy

In case anyone wonders what it is I do in graduate school-here is a small peak into the field of communication studies.  I wrote this piece for academic purposes from a philosophical and theoretical perspective, nonetheless it speaks to why I love communication, as a field of study and also a window into how I view humanity.

Here is the first draft of my Personal Communication Philosophy:

Communication: The Ligament, Joint, and Bond of Humanity

How we communicate is based on our frame of reference. The ways in which we communicate whether directly or indirectly is shaped by our personal history. Culture is the framework for our perspective and our identity deeply rooted in our upbringing, shapes and influences our values and choices. Therefore I accept the socio-cultural tradition (Griffin, 2006) of communication. I believe that every human interaction is controlled by our motivation, fears, passion and dreams. We are controlled by them and their perceived and actual impact on our lives. Thus every time we communicate, taking part in the “relational process of creating and interpreting messages that elicit a response,” (Griffin, 2006) we allow others an opportunity to observe our internal belief system. I believe all mammals have the innate desire to belong, to feel valued, and to be a relevant part of a community we participate in shaping. This is my first universal principle.

I believe in honesty as duty and the core fundamental for establishing truths, values, morality, or guiding principles. It is vital to any sense of personal integrity we are entitled to create, as “we have a moral obligation to tell the truth,” as the theorist Kant reveals. Honesty, is then my second universal ethical standard and principle.

The ethical tradition of communication also influences my philosophy. The third creed of the “Credo for Communication Ethics” (Griffin, 2006) states “we strive to understand and respect other communicators before evaluating and responding to their messages.” (Griffin, 2006) This is a keynote of how I maintain objectivity and encompass active listening into my communication style.

I value integrity, honesty, passion, the pursuit of knowledge and love. Despite the presence of universal ethical standards and principles, I believe the former values along with others we individually assign importance also guide our actions and mold our communication style.

There exists an interconnectedness in humanity via language, speech, and prose. This is further explained in the Bible, one of our oldest and most cross-culturally relevant, and timeless verse. Ephesians 4:25 urges “therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” (Ephesians 4:25, New International Version). The Bible further explains the power of our words “for by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37, New International Version).

Communication is the ligament, joint and bond that glues humanity together.

References

 Griffin, E. (2006). A first look at communication theory. New York: McGraw Hill.

“Aristotle and West Ethics PDF” retrieved November 8, 2013 from: https://learn.gonzaga.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_906361_1%26url%3D