Syllabus for fall semester 2008
Historical perspective on interpersonal communication
First reading
Second reading
Professor Stephanie Coontz's Oct 25th 2006 lecture on the history of marriage.
1st paper assignment: due Nov 11 2008
Final paper assignment: due last day of class
From Galateo by Della Casa (1609), an early manual on
proper conduct, etiquette, and social behavior:
"Moreover, it does not befit a modest, honorable man to prepare to relieve nature in the presence of other people."And
"...it is not a refined habit, when coming across something disgusting in the street ... to turn at once to one's companion and point it out to him. It is far less proper to hold out the thing for the other to smell, as some are wont, who even urge the other to do so, lifting the thing to his nostrils and saying, 'I should like to know how much that stinks...'"
Notice the connection between the character traits "honor" and "modesty" and the prescriptions for behavior --- modest and honorable persons can be distinguished from others because the former avoid certain unpleasant behaviors. This very early advice on social behavior covers some pretty basic material (!) but it is a direct forerunner of hundreds of modern books of popular advice on social behavior, communication, psychology, etiquette, and "people skills". This literature shares the common goal of sensitizing the reader to the fact that those who witness our interaction, infer from it information about our character, our social position, our identities, our sense of ourselves.
Those who seek to understand interpersonal behavior and to master their own interpersonal style will do well to understand its vital connection to conceptions of character, self, and identity. Some astute observers even suggest that virtually all communication behavior is consciously, indeed strategically managed in order to promote particular views of oneself. Is there anything more to character, self, and identity than our own communicative behavior as witnessed by ourselves and by others? Are all of our behaviors strategically managed? Is there a "core" self that exists apart from interaction with others? Is it possible to be psychologically healthy and yet have multiple selves? If "self" is a public performance, what happens to "self" when the performance of self has to be coordinated with others (who also happen to be strategically managing their own performances of self)? Is the performance of self more difficult today than it may have been in the past? What insights can we derive to improve our marriage, our friendships, and our interaction with colleagues at work from the idea that the management of "self" lies at the center of communication?
If you like questions like these, you'll like the class!