1) Apply the concepts of
self-awareness, social comparison, looking-glass self, and
self-discrepancy theory. Page 45 (Focus on Culture box) of your text states, “We live in
an ‘appearance culture,’ a society that values and reinforces extreme,
unrealistic ideas of beauty and body shape.” Do you live in this
culture? To answer this question consider the following
questions: How much of what you buy is based on living up to standards
set by media? How many of your expectations regarding how you
should look, dress, and act are based on expectations from media,
society and peers rather than your values (or your family’s
values)? Once you have done this analysis, decide: 1) Whether you
live in this ‘appearance culture’ to some extent. 2) Why you
answered this way.
2) Consider the channels you choose for interpersonal
communication. Over the course of two “typical days”, analyze how
you communicate with family, significant others (best friends, romantic
partners), friends, acquaintances (co-workers, fellow students
etc.). Do you communicate primarily face-to-face, phone, text,
email, instant messaging, facebook (or other similar sites), online
chat, discussion forums, online video gaming, etc.? For
each type of relationship (family, significant other, friend, acquaintance): 1)
describe the two or three primary channels you use and 2) evaluate
how effective these are in maintaining/developing that type of
relationship.
3) Understanding self-disclosure, social penetration theory, and/or the
Johari window. Choose an interpersonal relationship you have;
either family, significant other, friend, or acquaintance. Create
a diagram of either the Johari window or the “onion” of the
self-disclosure that has occurred in this relationship. Your
diagram should indicate how much and how indepth this person’s
knowledge of you is. Once you have created it, ask the person to
review it and comment on its accuracy from his/her perspective.
Is the amount/level of self-disclosure effective for this
relationship? Why or why not?
OR
An alternative would be for you and five of your
family/friends to complete the quick assessment at the
Johari Window website.
To report on this - a) recreate the diagram/table on your webpage, b)
explain who the five people were who completed it for you, c) ignore the "unknown"
box (they put everything that has not been selected in there whether it
applies or not), and d) explain anything you learned about
yourself - i.e., are you "hiding" things that you had not realized you
were hiding (facade is those areas you believe but that others do not
see)? do your friends/family recognize characteristics that you
might not have considered (blind spot).