Communication Arts Study Material - August 2015
CHAPTER 1, Session 1
Defining Communication. Simply speaking, it is the exchange of thoughts and ideas with another person.
Maybe a friend, relative, colleague, or your loved ones. By exchanging our thoughts and ideas, we also
share our feelings. But aside from exchanging ideas of people, the word communication is quite broad,
to begin with. Communication is also used by animals and other living organisms, not just by verbal
interpretation. Even machines communicate. But in this chapter, we will focus on the communications
of solely human beings.
Personal Growth
Each person has a different personality. We have unique qualities that we only have. We differ from
each other and sometimes it is hard for us to communicate with other people. We tend to approach
people that we think we share a similarity. In that case, our connection with different people is not
broad as we think. Our communication will be constrained. We can’t learn more in that way. Our
learnings are just limited to the people we share the same culture, personality, and beliefs. We can learn
to broaden our grasp of communication by not limiting ourselves to selected people. We can learn
about ourselves, and we can also learn about other people. People have different kinds of personalities
depending on the event or environment. We must learn to read the room for us to act and
communicate with the person in that room. Imagine yourself being stuck in an elevator and the other
person you are with is panicking and doesn’t know what to do. In that situation, It is best to be calm and
start your approach and communicate on how to make the other person also calm.
As a person grows, a new personality may be developing. Once we are a child, our character starts to
develop in a certain way. It can be in a temperament way it can also mature by the environment a child
is living in, and lastly is the character. Temperament is associated with genetics or the "nature" and the
environment as the "nature". There are studies that the parents are the vital player in the development
of their child's personality as it grows. They are the key player in enhancing and correcting bad
personalities that their child may have.
According to Erickson (1956), the process of a person's socialization has eight phases. He clearly stated
that each of those phases has something to do with the development of a person.
8 STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Trust and Mistrust – This stage starts at birth until up to 18 months. It is the stage where an
infant doesn't know entirely what the world is. They rely mainly on their caregiver. If the
caregiver consistently gives love, care, and support, the infant develops trust. If the caregiver
isn't constantly showing much love, care, and support, the infant may develop mistrust. In the
first stage of psychosocial development, if the infant develops trust, the virtue of hope is
, developed as well. But if the infant develops mistrust, the infant may develop the virtue of fear
where the infant may develop a sense of insecurity and anxiousness towards a certain situation.
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt – This stage occurs from 18 months up to 3 years of age. The
child tends to act on their will, and if the caregiver supported the child, it results in the child
having more confidence and success in achieving life in this world. In this stage, a child is
learning more things that they can do. They will develop skills like playing with their toys,
putting on their clothes. They begin to take their first steps without the help of their parents.
The parents should encourage their children by doing it on their own. The parent's constant
support and encouragement must be continuous.
3. Initiative vs. Guilt - During this stage, a child is assessing themselves. As they begin to interact
with other children, their communication skills are also developing. Their thinking skills and
taking initiative toward things. During this stage, a child is assessing themselves. As they begin to
interact with other children, their communication skills are also developing. Their thinking skills
and taking initiative skills toward things are also progressing. The child may develop the guilt
feeling as their parents are telling them the right and wrongdoings. In this stage, the child's
curiosity is very high. They ask questions as they discover new things.
4. Industry vs. Inferiority - This stage is where the child learns how to read and write. It is also the
stage where their circle of friends plays a role in building the child's self-confidence. If the
teacher or the parent acknowledges the ability and skills of the child will feel more confident
and competent. If their ability and skills are neglected, the child will feel neglected, ashamed,
and inferior. This stage is very crucial to the child's self-esteem. It is important to balance the
two factors to achieve success.
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion - In this stage, it occurs from age is from 12-18 years old.
Adolescence often seeks their identity by trying to find out their personal preferences, beliefs
and gained knowledge. The change between childhood and adulthood is very crucial. The child is
becoming more aware of their actions, and it's the effect of the future. They may begin to find
groups that they will fit in. Adolescents will start to become awkward with things, especially
with their bodies. The result of their exploration will result in forming their personality for the
present and future. Failure to find their sense of identity may result in role confusion.
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation - This stage happens from approximately 18 to 40 years old. In this stage,
a person often shares some intimate relationship with others. Exploring relationships and
commitments to another person other than their family members for the long term is what a
person seeks in this stage. Success in this stage will result in the happy life of being in the
relationship. If the person fails to achieve intimacy with others, it will result in loneliness,
isolation, and unhappy life.
CHAPTER 1, Session 1
Defining Communication. Simply speaking, it is the exchange of thoughts and ideas with another person.
Maybe a friend, relative, colleague, or your loved ones. By exchanging our thoughts and ideas, we also
share our feelings. But aside from exchanging ideas of people, the word communication is quite broad,
to begin with. Communication is also used by animals and other living organisms, not just by verbal
interpretation. Even machines communicate. But in this chapter, we will focus on the communications
of solely human beings.
Personal Growth
Each person has a different personality. We have unique qualities that we only have. We differ from
each other and sometimes it is hard for us to communicate with other people. We tend to approach
people that we think we share a similarity. In that case, our connection with different people is not
broad as we think. Our communication will be constrained. We can’t learn more in that way. Our
learnings are just limited to the people we share the same culture, personality, and beliefs. We can learn
to broaden our grasp of communication by not limiting ourselves to selected people. We can learn
about ourselves, and we can also learn about other people. People have different kinds of personalities
depending on the event or environment. We must learn to read the room for us to act and
communicate with the person in that room. Imagine yourself being stuck in an elevator and the other
person you are with is panicking and doesn’t know what to do. In that situation, It is best to be calm and
start your approach and communicate on how to make the other person also calm.
As a person grows, a new personality may be developing. Once we are a child, our character starts to
develop in a certain way. It can be in a temperament way it can also mature by the environment a child
is living in, and lastly is the character. Temperament is associated with genetics or the "nature" and the
environment as the "nature". There are studies that the parents are the vital player in the development
of their child's personality as it grows. They are the key player in enhancing and correcting bad
personalities that their child may have.
According to Erickson (1956), the process of a person's socialization has eight phases. He clearly stated
that each of those phases has something to do with the development of a person.
8 STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Trust and Mistrust – This stage starts at birth until up to 18 months. It is the stage where an
infant doesn't know entirely what the world is. They rely mainly on their caregiver. If the
caregiver consistently gives love, care, and support, the infant develops trust. If the caregiver
isn't constantly showing much love, care, and support, the infant may develop mistrust. In the
first stage of psychosocial development, if the infant develops trust, the virtue of hope is
, developed as well. But if the infant develops mistrust, the infant may develop the virtue of fear
where the infant may develop a sense of insecurity and anxiousness towards a certain situation.
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt – This stage occurs from 18 months up to 3 years of age. The
child tends to act on their will, and if the caregiver supported the child, it results in the child
having more confidence and success in achieving life in this world. In this stage, a child is
learning more things that they can do. They will develop skills like playing with their toys,
putting on their clothes. They begin to take their first steps without the help of their parents.
The parents should encourage their children by doing it on their own. The parent's constant
support and encouragement must be continuous.
3. Initiative vs. Guilt - During this stage, a child is assessing themselves. As they begin to interact
with other children, their communication skills are also developing. Their thinking skills and
taking initiative toward things. During this stage, a child is assessing themselves. As they begin to
interact with other children, their communication skills are also developing. Their thinking skills
and taking initiative skills toward things are also progressing. The child may develop the guilt
feeling as their parents are telling them the right and wrongdoings. In this stage, the child's
curiosity is very high. They ask questions as they discover new things.
4. Industry vs. Inferiority - This stage is where the child learns how to read and write. It is also the
stage where their circle of friends plays a role in building the child's self-confidence. If the
teacher or the parent acknowledges the ability and skills of the child will feel more confident
and competent. If their ability and skills are neglected, the child will feel neglected, ashamed,
and inferior. This stage is very crucial to the child's self-esteem. It is important to balance the
two factors to achieve success.
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion - In this stage, it occurs from age is from 12-18 years old.
Adolescence often seeks their identity by trying to find out their personal preferences, beliefs
and gained knowledge. The change between childhood and adulthood is very crucial. The child is
becoming more aware of their actions, and it's the effect of the future. They may begin to find
groups that they will fit in. Adolescents will start to become awkward with things, especially
with their bodies. The result of their exploration will result in forming their personality for the
present and future. Failure to find their sense of identity may result in role confusion.
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation - This stage happens from approximately 18 to 40 years old. In this stage,
a person often shares some intimate relationship with others. Exploring relationships and
commitments to another person other than their family members for the long term is what a
person seeks in this stage. Success in this stage will result in the happy life of being in the
relationship. If the person fails to achieve intimacy with others, it will result in loneliness,
isolation, and unhappy life.
