Empathy In this week’s readings, the authors discuss emotional intelligence, a concept which measures people’s ability to understand emotions and express them appropriately. As you have learned, this ability is crucial to communicating effectively in interpersonal relationships. One of the major components of emotional intelligence is the ability to empathize with others. Prepare: As you prepare to write this discussion post, take a few moments to do the following: Read the writing prompt below in its entirety. Notice that there are three tasks: Based on what you’ve learned in Chapter 8, start formulating a definition of empathy and consider why it is important in effective communication. Brainstorm some examples of times when you had difficulties empathizing with others. Think of some ways you could have handled the situation differently. Review the grading rubric. Reflect: Take time to reflect on why empathy is so important in becoming better communicators. Consider how we might become more empathetic. Write: Based on the information in Chapter 8 in the text: Define empathy and explain why it is important for effective communication. Share an example of a time when you found it difficult to empathize with someone. How did you handle the situation? What could you have done differently to empathize with them? Consider what you’ve learned in class this week. Thoroughly address all three elements of this prompt by writing at least two to three sentences on each element. Use the course readings at least once to help you make your points. Consider copying and pasting these tasks into a word file and addressing each of them separately. Your initial response should be 200-300 words in length and is due by Thursday, Day 3. DISCUSSION 2: Willingness to Listen To be an effective communicator we must master the core competence of listening. A willingness to listen during an interaction allows you to understand others, respond appropriately to what they say, or provide helpful feedback. Prepare: As you prepare to write this discussion post, take a few moments to do the following: Read the writing prompt below in its entirety. Notice that there are three tasks: Complete the following listening survey and record your results: Active Listening Think about how your listening style shapes your professional relationships. Make a list of some specific techniques from the Bevan and Sole (2014) you can use to improve your listening. Re-read Section 7.2: Listening. Review the grading rubric. Reflect: Take time to reflect on why listening is so important in becoming better communicators. Consider how the listening techniques covered in the course text could improve your professional relationships. Write: Based on your quiz results and what you learned in Section 7.2 of the text: What is your willingness to listen score? What feedback did you receive from the quiz? Why do you think this measure was an accurate or inaccurate representation of your willingness to listen? How do you think your willingness to listen score could impact your professional relationships? How can you improve your listening? Explain some specific techniques described in our text and how improvement in these areas could enhance your professional relationships. Consider what you’ve learned in class this week. Thoroughly address all three elements of this prompt by writing at least two to three sentences on each element. Use the course readings at least once to help you make your points. Consider copying and pasting these tasks into a word file and addressing each of them separately. Your initial response should be 200-300 words in length and is due by Thursday, Day 3. ASSIGNMENT: Interpersonal Conflict in Television Choose one (1) television show from the list provided below: Bellisario, D. & Brennan, S. (Producers). (2003-2014). NCIS: Naval criminal investigative service [Television Series]. United States: Columbia Broadcasting System. This television show can be found for no charge with closed captioning via the following website link: http://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis/ Kaplan, E., Holland, S., Molaro, S., Lorre, C., & Cohen, R. (Executive producers). (2007-2014). The big bang theory [Television series]. United States: Columbia Broadcasting System. This television show can be found for no charge with closed captioning via the following website link: http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/ Rhymes, S. (Executive producer). (2012-2014). Scandal [Television series]. United States: American Broadcasting Company. This television show can be found for no charge with closed captioning via the following website link: http://abc.go.com/shows/scandal Walsh, R., Levitan, S., Richman, J., Chupack, C., & O’Shannon, D. (Producers) (2009-2014). Modern family [Television series]. United States: American Broadcasting Company. This television show can be found for no charge with closed captioning via the following website link: http://abc.go.com/shows/modern-family Wilmore, L. (Executive producer). (2014). Black-ish [Television series]. United States: American Broadcasting Company. This television show can be found for no charge with closed captioning via the following website link: http://abc.go.com/shows/blackish Watch one episode of one of the above television programs and identify and describe one interpersonal conflict that was not handled effectively. Based on what you’ve learned in class this week in Chapters 8 and 9 of our text, write a two-page paper (excluding title and reference pages) explaining why the conflict was not handled effectively and what could have been done differently. Be sure to focus on one particular interpersonal conflict and not the television show as a whole. The television programs can be found in syndication, weekly on air, and through the links provided above. Please Note: A synopsis of the television program (e.g., which actors are in the television show or what it is about) should not be included. Be sure to reference at least one of your course readings from this week in your paper. The paper must be formatted according to APA style. Cite your resources in text and on the reference page. OTHER INFORMATION: Course materials: Bevan, J. L., & Sole, K. (2014). Making connections: Understanding interpersonal communication (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. ADDITIONAL ARTICLES: Bower, B. (2010, November 22). Shared talking styles herald new and lasting romance. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2010/11/22/shared-talking-styles-herald-new-and-lasting-romance Schoenberg, N. (2011, January 17).Can we talk? McClatchy-Tribune News Service. Retrieved from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-14/features/sc-fam-0111-talk-relationship-20110111_1_happy-marriages-couples-marital-therapy Carter, K. A. (2003). Type me how you feel: Quasi-nonverbal cues in computer-mediated communication. ETC: A Review of General Semantics, 60(1), 29-39. Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database. Holohan, E. (Reporter). (2011, January 14).To nab that job, check your posture: Experiments find more abstract thinking, willingness to take action in people with ‘expansive’ posture. U.S. New & World Report. Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/01/14/to-nab-that-job-check-your-posture Hood, J. (2011, March 7).Students offended by slurs on ‘no derogatory language’ fliers. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-03-07/news/ct-met-cps-slurs-0308-20110307_1_slurs-fliers-students Johnson, T. (2011, March).Healthy relationships lead to better lives. The Nation’s Health, 41(2), 20. Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database. Jung, H. Y., & McCroskey, J. (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), 170-181. Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database. Martz, D., Petroff, A., Curtin, L., & Bazzini, D. (2009).Gender differences in fat talk among American adults: Results from the psychology of size survey. Sex Roles, 61(1-2), 34-41. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database. Miczo, N., Segrin, C., & Allspach, L. E. (2001).Relationship between nonverbal sensitivity, encoding, and relational satisfaction. Communication Reports, 14(1), 39-48. Retrieved from the EBSCOhost library. Mottet, T. P. (2000).The role of sexual orientation in predicting outcome value and anticipated communication behaviors. Communication Quarterly, 48(3), 223-239. Document ID: 72038418 Preston, P. (2005).Nonverbal communication: Do you really say what you mean? Journal of Healthcare Management, 50(2), 83-6. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global. Document ID: 814698921