What is Ethics in Communication?

Summary

This video delves into the concept of ethical communication, defining ethics as moral principles guiding right and wrong, and communication as the exchange of messages. It emphasizes the universality of ethical communication, expecting dignity and respect across cultures. The video outlines four key expressions of ethical communication: adhering to the Golden or Platinum Rule, considering the receiver's feelings, acknowledging sources of ideas, and speaking the truth with care. These principles are illustrated through a school scenario, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting individual preferences in communication.

Takeaways

• 🔖 Ethics in communication is derived from the Greek word 'ethos', relating to moral character, and it involves discerning right from wrong in human actions.
• 💬 Communication is defined as the act of sending and receiving verbal or non-verbal messages, both online and offline, with interpretations made during the process.
• 🌟 Ethical communication involves being clear, concise, truthful, and responsible in all forms of messaging.
• 🌐 Ethical communication is a universal concept, applicable across cultures, where individuals expect to be treated with dignity, fairness, respect, and basic courtesy.
• 👉 The Golden Rule suggests treating others as you would like to be treated, focusing on one's own preferences in interactions.
• 💁‍♀️ The Platinum Rule emphasizes treating others the way they wish to be treated, which requires understanding and respecting others' preferences.
• 🤝 An example given illustrates the difference between the Golden and Platinum Rules, showing how each can be applied in social interactions to build relationships.
• 🧡 Considering the feelings of the receiver is crucial for ethical communication, as it involves being mindful of the emotional impact of words, tone, and gestures.
• 📜 Acknowledging the source of ideas or information is essential to avoid plagiarism and to give credit where it's due, upholding ethical standards in communication.
• 🗣️ Speaking the truth is a fundamental aspect of ethical communication, but it must be done with care and consideration for the feelings of others and the appropriateness of the situation.

Q & A

What does the term 'ethics' originate from and what does it represent?

The term 'ethics' comes from the Greek word 'ethos,' which means character or moral nature. It is concerned with the questions of right and wrong, good and bad in human action.

How is communication defined in the context of this video?

Communication is defined as the human act of sending verbal or non-verbal, online or offline messages, and receiving them, with interpretations made during the process.

What is the difference between the Golden Rule and the Platinum Rule in communication?

The Golden Rule focuses on treating others as one would like to be treated, emphasizing one's own preferences. The Platinum Rule, on the other hand, focuses on treating others the way they wish to be treated, emphasizing the preferences of the other person.

Why is it important to adhere to the Platinum Rule in certain communication scenarios?

Adhering to the Platinum Rule is important because it takes into account the unique preferences and desires of the person being communicated with, which can lead to more effective and respectful interactions.

How does considering the feelings of the receiver demonstrate ethical communication?

Considering the feelings of the receiver demonstrates ethical communication by ensuring that one's words, tone, and nonverbal gestures are mindful and respectful, thus avoiding negative emotional impacts.

Why is it unethical to not acknowledge the source of ideas or information?

Not acknowledging the source of ideas or information is unethical because it involves using someone else's intellectual property without giving them credit, which is both disrespectful and potentially illegal.

What is the importance of speaking the truth in ethical communication?

Speaking the truth is important in ethical communication as it makes a person reliable and trustworthy. However, it should be done carefully, considering the feelings of others and the appropriateness of the situation.

Can you provide an example from the script that illustrates the difference between the Golden Rule and the Platinum Rule?

In the script, Ryan uses the Golden Rule by treating Paul kindly because that's how he wants to be treated. Mary, however, uses the Platinum Rule by asking Paul about his interests before suggesting the music club.

What are the four ways to express ethics in communication mentioned in the video?

The four ways to express ethics in communication are: 1) adhering to the Golden Rule or the Platinum Rule, 2) considering the feelings of the receiver, 3) acknowledging the source of ideas and information, and 4) speaking the truth.

How does the video suggest one should approach people who are not comfortable dealing with anyone?

The video suggests that one should first get to know such people and treat them as they wish to be treated to avoid conflict and ensure ethical communication.

Why is it important to observe ethics in communication across cultures?

Observing ethics in communication is important across cultures because people in almost every culture expect to be treated with dignity, fairness, courtesy, and respect when communicating with others.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Ethics in Communication

This paragraph introduces the concept of ethics in communication, defining ethics as originating from the Greek word 'ethos', which pertains to moral character. It explains communication as the act of sending and receiving messages, both verbal and non-verbal. The paragraph emphasizes the universality of ethical communication, which involves treating others with dignity, fairness, respect, and courtesy. It outlines four ways to express ethics in communication: adhering to the Golden Rule or the Platinum Rule, considering the feelings of the receiver, acknowledging the source of ideas or information, and speaking the truth. The Golden Rule is about treating others as one would like to be treated, while the Platinum Rule focuses on treating others as they wish to be treated. The paragraph uses an example of a new student, Paul, to illustrate the difference between the two rules through the actions of his classmates, Ryan and Mary.

05:00

🌟 Recap and Conclusion on Ethical Communication

The second paragraph serves as a recap of the key points discussed in the video about ethical communication. It reiterates the importance of adhering to ethical standards in communication, as it aligns with the expectations of individuals across cultures for dignified and respectful interactions. The paragraph reinforces the four main principles of ethical communication: following the Golden or Platinum Rule, considering the receiver's feelings, acknowledging the source of ideas and information, and speaking the truth. It concludes by encouraging viewers to engage with the content, suggesting they like the video and subscribe to the channel for more related content.

Keywords

💡Ethics

Ethics refers to the branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles, especially those relating to conduct. In the context of the video, ethics is discussed in relation to communication, emphasizing the importance of moral behavior in how we interact with others. The script mentions that ethics is concerned with questions of right and wrong, good and bad in human action, which is crucial for understanding the ethical aspect of communication.

💡Communication

Communication is the act of conveying or exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. The video defines it as the human act of sending and receiving messages, which can be verbal or non-verbal, online or offline. It is central to the theme of the video as it explores how ethical considerations should guide this universal human activity.

💡Ethical Communication

Ethical communication is the focus of the video, defined as the act of communicating in a manner that is clear, concise, truthful, and responsible. It is presented as a universal approach that transcends individual moral principles, emphasizing the need for dignity, fairness, respect, and basic courtesy in all communications.

💡Golden Rule

The Golden Rule is a moral principle that encourages individuals to treat others as they themselves would like to be treated. In the video, it is contrasted with the Platinum Rule, with an example illustrating how Ryan treats Paul kindly because that's how he wants to be treated, reflecting the Golden Rule in action.

💡Platinum Rule

The Platinum Rule is an ethical guideline that suggests treating others the way they wish to be treated, rather than treating them as one would want to be treated. The video uses the example of Mary, who asks Paul about his interests before suggesting the music club, demonstrating an understanding and application of the Platinum Rule.

💡Dignity

Dignity is the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect. The video script mentions that everyone expects to be treated with dignity in communication, highlighting it as a fundamental aspect of ethical interaction.

💡Fairness

Fairness in the context of the video refers to the quality of being impartial and just. It is one of the ethical expectations people have in communication, implying that all parties should be treated equally without favoritism or discrimination.

💡Respect

Respect is the feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. The video emphasizes the importance of treating others with respect during communication, which is a key component of ethical conduct.

💡Courtesy

Courtesy is the polite behavior or attitude shown toward others. The script includes basic courtesy as one of the ethical expectations in communication, suggesting that even small acts of politeness are part of ethical interactions.

💡Acknowledging Sources

Acknowledging sources is the practice of recognizing the origin of ideas or information. The video stresses the importance of giving credit where it's due, which is not only ethical but also a legal requirement, to avoid plagiarism and to honor intellectual property.

💡Truthfulness

Truthfulness is the quality of being honest and telling the truth. The video discusses the universal rule of speaking the truth as a cornerstone of ethical communication, while also cautioning that it should be done with care to avoid unnecessary harm to others' feelings.

Highlights

Ethics in communication is defined by the Greek word 'ethos', which means character or moral nature.

Communication is the human act of sending and receiving messages, with interpretations made during the process.

Ethical communication is about communicating clearly, concisely, truthfully, and responsibly.

Ethics and communication can take a universal approach, regardless of an individual's moral principles.

People from different cultures expect to be treated with dignity, fairness, respect, or at least basic courtesy.

The Golden Rule suggests treating others as you would like to be treated.

The Platinum Rule focuses on treating others the way they wish to be treated, considering their preferences.

Ryan's approach to Paul illustrates the Golden Rule, treating him with kindness as he wishes to be treated.

Mary's approach to Paul demonstrates the Platinum Rule, asking about his interests to tailor her communication.

It's important to understand that some people may not be comfortable with any form of interaction, regardless of its intent.

Considering the feelings of the receiver is crucial to ethical communication, as humans are emotional beings.

Maintaining care, tact, and diplomacy in communication helps avoid negatively affecting others.

Acknowledging the source of ideas or information is essential to avoid unethical and unlawful use of intellectual property.

Speaking the truth is a universal rule, but it must be done carefully to avoid hurting others' feelings.

Ethical communication is important because it aligns with the expectations of dignity, fairness, courtesy, and respect across cultures.

Expressing ethics in communication can be done by adhering to the Golden or Platinum Rule, considering the receiver's feelings, acknowledging sources, and speaking the truth.

The video encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more related content on ethics and communication.

Transcripts

hello everyone in this video we will

discuss ethics in communication

let's start by defining first what

ethics and communication is

ethics comes from the Greek word ethos

which means character or moral nature

it is concerned with the question of

right and wrong good and bad in Human

Action while communication is the human

Act of sending verbal or non-verbal

online or offline and receiving messages

in which interpretations are made during

the process

if you want to learn more about ethics

and communication check out our playlist

Linked In the card above

following these definitions ethical

communication then may be defined as the

act of communicating clearly concisely

truthfully and responsibly

now because communication is a universal

human activity ethics and communication

2 can take a universal approach

regardless of an individual's moral

principles

indeed although people from different

cultures have different moral

philosophies everyone expects to be

treated with dignity fairness respect or

at least with basic courtesy in

communicating with others

now there are many ways to express

ethics in communication here are four of

them

number one adhering to the golden rule

or the Platinum rule

surely almost everyone is familiar with

the golden rule which may be expressed

as always treat others in the same way

you want to be treated

notice that the Golden Rule focuses more

on the self rather than on the person

one is talking to

now although this rule may work for some

one nevertheless cannot just disregard

other people who do not think and act

like oneself

the Platinum rule on the other hand

focuses more on other people's

preferences

it is commonly expressed as treat others

the way they wish to be treated

to better distinguish the golden from

the Platinum rule consider this example

Paul is a new transferee of a school

he is shy to approach any of his

classmates so he just remains silent in

their classroom

after a few days Ryan the class

president approaches him and talks to

him casually

Ryan makes sure Paul is comfortable so

he tells him about sports without even

asking whether Paul likes it or not

the next day Mary his other classmate

talks to him and asks what he likes to

do in his free time

Paul answers and tells Mary that he

likes music

Mary tells him about the music Club in

their school and Paul becomes excited

about it

when Ryan noticed them he approached and

offered to treat them at the cafeteria

the three became friends

Paul thanked Ryan because of his

kindness and generosity

Ryan said he treated Paul that way

because that's how he wanted others to

treat him

while they were eating Mary mentioned

the music Club again to Ryan and they

talked about it until the bell rang

in the example Ryan used the Golden Rule

because he treated Paul the way he wants

to be treated he wants others to be kind

to him that's why he's kind to Paul

Mary on the other hand used the Platinum

roll when he asked Paul what he likes to

do during his free time since the

Platinum rule is all about understanding

what other people want in order to be

able to know what and how to communicate

with them

now always remember that there are some

people who are not comfortable in

dealing with anyone no matter how good

they are to them

it is important to get to know these

people first and treat them as they want

to be treated in order to avoid conflict

number two considering the feelings of

the receiver

humans are not only cognitive beings

they too are emotional

if one is careless with one's words tone

and nonverbal gestures it could

negatively affect other people

in order to be ethical in communicating

with others it is best to maintain care

tact and diplomacy in one's

Communications

number three acknowledging the source of

idea or information

sources of ideas or information should

be acknowledged appropriately at all

times

it is unethical and unlawful for someone

to use other people's intellectual

property without recognizing their name

or organization

in other words give credit to where it's

due

and lastly number four speaking the

truth

this is a universal rule speaking the

truth makes a person reliable

however it too can hurt others feelings

that's why one needs to speak it

carefully

some people are just not ready to hear

the truth one therefore has to consider

their feelings

sometimes one may know the truth but the

question is are you the right person to

say it

and is it the right time and place to

talk about it

although as the saying goes truth will

always Prevail there are unfortunately

people who for whatever reason seem to

enjoy spreading lies and falsehood

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to recap ethical communication is the

act of communicating clearly concisely

truthfully and responsibly

it is important to observe ethics in

communication because people in almost

every culture expect to be treated with

dignity fairness courtesy and respect in

communicating with others

ethical communication can be expressed

by one adhering to the golden rule or

the Platinum rule

two considering the feelings of the

receiver

3. acknowledging the source of idea and

information

and four speaking the truth

[Music]

if you think this video is helpful

please click the like button and don't

forget to subscribe to our channel for

more related content thank you and see

you in our next videos

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foreign

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