Communibiology

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Communibiology is a term referring to a research paradigm that emphasizes the "neurobiological foundations of human communication behavior". [1] Communibiologists take the nature side of the nature versus nurture debate in communication development. The communibiological paradigm was developed by Beatty and McCroskey as an alternative to the nature side supporting social learning paradigm. [2] They believe genetics to be far more important in the development of communication behavior than learning processes and the environment. [2] These researchers do concede, however, that genetic factors are not the sole source of communication behavior. One accepted ratio is 20% influence of cultural, situational, or environmental stimuli and 80% influence of inborn, neurobiological structures on behavior. [2] [3]

Contents

A main idea of communibiology is that temperaments are based on genetics and not learned. Communication behavior is an expression of a person's temperament, though the behavior and the temperament do not completely correlate with one another. [4] Identical genetics producing identical temperaments may result in non-identical communication behaviors because one's temperament can be expressed in various ways. The behaviors, though, will be very similar. [4]

Influences on the communibiological paradigm

Hans Eysenck's personality theory

Hans Eysenck found that the two main aspects of personality are temperament and intelligence. He identified three personality types:

Eysenck argues that these three personalities are inherited [5] lending it useful to the communibiological paradigm. Other research has also found that the genetic component of these three personalities is between 50% and 80%. [1]

J.A. Gray's theory of neuropsychology of temperament

J.A. Gray proposed a behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and a behavioral activation system (BAS). The threshold for activation of the BIS or BAS is inherited. [5]

Cary Horvath's twins study

Horvath compared identical and fraternal twins in order to determine if communicator styles were inherited. This was the first study of heredity and communication and it found that communicator style variables are partially inherited, [6] leading the way for the future studies regarding inheritance and communication behavior.

Model for communibiological research (as used by Beatty, et al.)

  1. Select or create a theory that proposes an explanation for an aspect of human communication behavior.
  2. Relate the theory to specific biological elements or processes.
  3. Select or create a measure related to those biological elements or processes.
  4. Establish a relationship between the measurements, human communication behavior, and biological elements or processes. [1]

Opponents

There exist many opponents to the communibiological paradigm. First are the "nurture" and social learning paradigm supporters that believe learning has more to do with communication behavior than genetics. Then there are others who believe the whole argument is pointless. Condit calls for a multi-causal model that would incorporate both nature and nurture. Condit also claims that the 80% genetic influence found by Beatty and McCroskey lacks solid evidence and a number in the 40-60% range is more likely, helping to support her view of incorporating both nature and nurture. [7]

Communibiological perspective on communication apprehension

Communication apprehension afflicts millions of people worldwide. Much of the communibiological research done on communication apprehension has found that the causes of the affliction are inherited. [8]

Beatty and McCroskey

Beatty and McCroskey first developed their communibiological paradigm in order to more effectively diagnose communication apprehension. Using Eysenck's personality theory they identified the primary components of communication apprehension to be introversion and neuroticism. [5] They also used Gray's theory to say that activation of the behavioral inhibition system is related to anxiety. [5] They make note that both the personalities of Eysenck's theory and the activation threshold of the BIS in Gray's theory have been found to be inherited. Differences in communication apprehension correspond to differences in BIS activation threshold, [9] supporting the idea that communication apprehension is genetically determined.

Interpersonal communication motives

Interpersonal communication motives explain why people with communication apprehension communicate the way they do. People with low communication apprehension communicate for pleasure, affection, control, and relaxation while people with high communication apprehension communicate for inclusion and escape. [10] Paulsel and Mottet (2004) [10] found that interpersonal communication motives such as these are at least a partially influenced by genetically inherited traits.

Communication apprehension in second languages

Jung and McCroskey (2004) [11] studied the presence of communication apprehension in those speaking their first language and those speaking their second language. Communication apprehension in the first language predicted communication apprehension in the second language. This combated the social learning perspective which would say that the learning of the second language would influence and change the communication apprehension in the second language. They concluded that communication apprehension is a cross-linguistic trait and that the trait is genetically inherited. [11]

Treatment

The fact that the causes of communication apprehension are inherited has major implications in how it can be treated as some believe that if communication apprehension is genetically inherited then it cannot be changed. Others contend, as Beatty and McCroskey did, that since traits are not exclusively genetically inherited, treatment is viable. Treatment in terms of the communibiological paradigm involves learning to control the negative aspects of one's inherited temperament. [5]

The role of culture

Comminubiologists argue that people are born with specific temperaments based on their genetics. This does not, however, mean that they do not learn. Culture plays an important role in this learning process. While they are born with a certain temperament a person learns how to respond to specific temperamental demands based on the culture they are surrounded by. [4] As children they learn which temperamental actions are appropriate and which are not. So while the basis of a person's communication behavior is based on genetics, a good portion of their behavior is also affected by the culture they are raised in. In fact, the communication behaviors ethnocentrism and homophobia were found to have no relationship with a person's genetic make-up or temperament. [12] These traits are instead developed through culture.

See also

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Communication apprehension

Communication apprehension is the level of anxiety triggered by the real or anticipated communication act, as defined by McCroskey. The fear of judgment from the audience and self-image is what fuels the anxiety. Communication apprehension, CA, can cause a variety of involuntary responses such as "stomach butterflies" which is your body shutting the digestive system down and going into the “fight-or-flight” response, shaking, nausea, sweating, forgetting the information, among many others. The term communication apprehension is usually connected with 'stage fright'; however, this response is not necessarily connected with a delivery on a stage or in front of a large audience. This anxiety can be caused by any of the four forms of communication: interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication. The most common and reliable test used to measure an individual’s CA level when exposed to these forms of communication is called the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, also known as the PRCA-24 test, and it follows a survey format.

Subfields of psychology Psychology subdisciplines

Psychology encompasses a vast domain, and includes many different approaches to the study of mental processes and behavior. Below are the major areas of inquiry that taken together constitute psychology. A comprehensive list of the sub-fields and areas within psychology can be found at the list of psychology topics and list of psychology disciplines.

Reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) proposes three brain-behavioral systems that underlie individual differences in sensitivity to reward, punishment, and motivation. While not originally defined as a theory of personality, the RST has been used to study and predict anxiety, impulsivity, and extraversion. The theory evolved from Gray's biopsychological theory of personality to incorporate findings from a number of areas in psychology and neuroscience, culminating in a major revision in 2000. The revised theory distinguishes between fear and anxiety and proposes functionally related subsystems. Measures of RST have not been widely adapted to reflect the revised theory due to disagreement over related versus independent subsystems. Despite this controversy, RST informed the study of anxiety disorders in clinical settings and continues to be used today to study and predict work performance. RST, a continuously evolving paradigm, is the subject of multiple areas of contemporary psychological enquiry.

Compulsive talking is talking that goes beyond the bounds of what is considered to be socially acceptable. The main factors in determining if someone is a compulsive talker are talking in a continuous manner or stopping only when the other person starts talking, and others perceiving their talking as a problem. Personality traits that have been positively linked to this compulsion include assertiveness, willingness to communicate, self-perceived communication competence, and neuroticism. Studies have shown that most people who are talkaholics are aware of the amount of talking they do, are unable to stop, or do not see it as a problem.

Biological basis of personality

The biological basis of personality is the collection of brain systems and mechanisms that underlie human personality. Human neurobiology, especially as it relates to complex traits and behaviors, is not well understood, but research into the neuroanatomical and functional underpinnings of personality are an active field of research. Animal models of behavior, molecular biology, and brain imaging techniques have provided some insight into human personality, especially trait theories.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Heisel, A. D.; McCroskey, J. C.; Richmond, V. P. (1999). "Testing theoretical relationships and non-relationships of genetically-based predictors: Getting started with communibiology". Communication Research Reports. 16: 1–9. doi:10.1080/08824099909388695.
  2. 1 2 3 McCroskey, J. C.; Beatty, M. J. (2000). "The communibiological perspective: Implications for communication in instruction". Communication Education. 49: 1–6. doi:10.1080/03634520009379187. S2CID   144098520.
  3. ↑ Boren, Justin P.; Veksler, Alice E. (2011). "A decade of research exploring biology and communication: The brain, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and immune systems" (PDF). Communication Research Trends. 30 (4): 1–31. ISSN   0144-4646. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  4. 1 2 3 McCroskey, James C. (2006). "The Role of Culture in a Communibiological Approach to Communication". Human Communication. 9 (1): 31–35.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kelly, L.; Keaten, J. A. (2000). "Treating communication anxiety: Implications of the communibiological paradigm". Communication Education. 49: 45–57. doi:10.1080/03634520009379192. S2CID   145670613.
  6. ↑ Horvath, C. W. (1995). "Biological origins of communicator style". Communication Quarterly. 43 (4): 394–407. doi:10.1080/01463379509369987.
  7. ↑ Condit, C. M. (2000). "Culture and biology in human communication: Toward a multi-causal model". Communication Education. 49: 7–9. doi:10.1080/03634520009379188. S2CID   85121819.
  8. ↑ Ireland, C. (2016). Student oral presentations: developing the skills and reducing the apprehension. In: Proceedings of 10th International Technology, Education and Development Conference Valencia, Spain. 7-9 March, 2016. IATED (2016). IATED, Valencia, Spain, pp. 1474-1483. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297715071_Student_oral_presentations_developing_the_skills_and_reducing_the_apprehension
  9. ↑ Beatty, M. J.; Valencic, K. M. (2000). "Context-based apprehension versus planning demands: A communibiological analysis of anticipatory public speaking anxiety". Communication Education. 49: 58–71. doi:10.1080/03634520009379193. S2CID   145376366.
  10. 1 2 Paulsel, M. L.; Mottet, T. P. (2004). "Interpersonal communication motives: A communibiological perspective". Communication Quarterly. 52 (2): 182. doi:10.1080/01463370409370189. S2CID   144701330.
  11. 1 2 Jung, H. Y.; McCroskey, J. C. (2004). "Communication apprehension in a first language and self-perceived competence as predictors of communication apprehension in a second language: A study of speakers of English as a second language". Communication Quarterly. 52 (2): 170. doi:10.1080/01463370409370188. S2CID   144216800.
  12. ↑ Wrench, J. S.; McCroskey, J. C. (2003). "A communibiological examination of ethnocentrism and homophobia". Communication Research Reports. 20: 24–33. doi:10.1080/08824090309388796. S2CID   144692760.
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