LESSON 2 : COMMUNICATION ETHICS

Summary

This lesson delves into the significance of ethical communication, emphasizing its role in guiding our actions based on well-founded standards of right and wrong. It outlines the ethical principles as defined by the National Communication Association: advocating truthfulness, endorsing freedom of expression and diversity, condemning communication that degrades individuals, and accepting responsibility for the consequences of our messages. The discussion highlights the importance of ethical communication in maintaining relationships and the potential negative impacts of disregarding these principles, especially in the era of social media.

Takeaways

• 📚 Ethics are well-founded standards of right and wrong that guide human actions.
• 🗣️ In communication, ethics involve making judgments on the appropriateness of our statements, behaviors, and actions.
• 🤔 Ethical considerations are necessary before speaking, especially in sensitive situations.
• 🌟 The National Communication Association outlines key ethical principles for communication.
• 💬 Truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason are essential to the integrity of communication.
• 🌈 Freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent are endorsed to foster informed decision-making.
• 🚫 Communication that degrades individuals or humanity through distortion, intimidation, coercion, or violence is condemned.
• 🤝 Communicators should accept responsibility for both the short and long-term consequences of their communication.
• 🤔 The importance of ethical communication is heightened in today's social media-driven environment.
• 💡 Reflecting on the consequences of our words is crucial to maintaining positive relationships and avoiding harm.

Q & A

What is the definition of ethics as discussed in the script?

Ethics is based on well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do. It serves as a guide for action, helping individuals determine if something is the right or wrong thing to do before taking action.

How does the script describe the role of ethics in communication?

Ethics in communication refers to the judgment made based on how appropriate one's statements, behaviors, and actions are in a particular situation. It guides the approach and method of communication to avoid causing offense or harm.

What is an example given in the script to illustrate the application of ethics in communication?

The script provides the example of noticing a close friend has bad odor. Instead of impulsively commenting on it, one should consider the ethical approach to communicate this issue without offending the friend.

What are the ethical principles of communication according to the National Communication Association mentioned in the script?

The ethical principles of communication mentioned are: advocating truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason; endorsing freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent; condemning communication that degrades individuals and humanity; and believing that communicators should accept responsibility for the consequences of their communication.

Why is truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason important in communication as per the script?

Truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason are essential to the integrity of communication. They ensure that the statements and behaviors used in communication are factual, honest, and uphold one's integrity.

How does the script explain the importance of freedom of expression and tolerance in communication?

The script emphasizes that freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent are crucial for informed and responsible decision-making in a civil society.

What does the script say about communication that degrades individuals or humanity?

The script condemns any communication that degrades individuals or humanity through distortion, intimidation, coercion, violence, or the expression of intolerance and hatred.

What responsibility do communicators have according to the script?

Communicators should accept responsibility for both the short and long-term consequences of their communication, whether it is positive or harmful.

Why is it important to be ethical in communication today, especially with the presence of social media?

Being ethical in communication is important today because words are powerful and can either ruin or improve relationships. Social media amplifies the reach and impact of communication, making ethical considerations even more critical.

What question does the script leave for reflection at the end?

The script asks why it is important to be ethical in communication, especially today, and what the consequences are if we fail to communicate ethically with people around us.

What does the script suggest to support the claim about the importance of ethical communication?

The script suggests citing scenarios or first-hand experiences regarding the importance of ethical communication to support one's claim.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Communication Ethics

The first paragraph introduces the topic of communication ethics within the context of the course on 'Propositive Communication.' It reviews the basics of communication from previous lessons, particularly focusing on the Shannon-Weaver model. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of ethics in communication, defining ethics as a set of well-founded standards that guide human actions. It explains how ethics influence our decisions on what to say and how to say it, using the example of how to communicate sensitive information to a friend without causing offense. The paragraph concludes by outlining the ethical principles of communication as established by the National Communication Association in 1999.

05:02

🤔 Ethical Principles in Communication

The second paragraph delves into the ethical principles that should guide communication. It discusses the importance of truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason, which are essential for maintaining the integrity of communication. The paragraph also touches on the endorsement of freedom of expression, diversity of perspectives, and tolerance of dissent, which are crucial for informed and responsible decision-making in a civil society. Furthermore, it condemns communication that degrades individuals or humanity through distortion, intimidation, coercion, violence, and expressions of intolerance and hatred. Lastly, the paragraph highlights the responsibility communicators bear for the consequences of their communication, both short and long term. It ends with a call to consider the ethical implications of our words, especially in the age of social media, and poses a question to the audience about the importance of ethical communication and its consequences.

Keywords

💡Ethics

Ethics refers to a set of moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. In the context of the video, ethics is the foundation for making decisions about what is right or wrong in communication. It guides actions like how to approach a sensitive issue with a friend without causing offense, reflecting the video's emphasis on the importance of ethical conduct in our interactions.

💡Communication

Communication is the act of conveying information, ideas, or feelings through speech, signals, writing, or behavior. The video discusses communication ethics, highlighting how our words and actions can have significant consequences on relationships, emphasizing the power of words and the need for ethical communication.

💡Shannon Weaver Model

The Shannon Weaver Model, also known as the 'telephone model,' is a communication model that illustrates the process of communication. Although not directly discussed in the provided transcript, it is mentioned as a prerequisite for understanding the video's focus on communication ethics, suggesting a progression from understanding how communication works to how it should be conducted ethically.

💡Truthfulness

Truthfulness is the quality of being honest and accurate. The video emphasizes that ethical communication should advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason. This is exemplified by the need to ensure that our statements and behaviors align with factual truth, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of communication.

💡Freedom of Expression

Freedom of expression is the right to express one's thoughts and ideas without fear of censorship or punishment. The video endorses this principle but also discusses the ethical responsibility to use this freedom responsibly, advocating for diversity of perspectives and tolerance of dissent while condemning communication that degrades individuals or humanity.

💡Consequences

Consequences refer to the results or effects of an action. In the video, the concept is tied to the ethical responsibility communicators have for the outcomes of their communication. It underscores the importance of considering both short-term and long-term impacts, whether positive or negative, on relationships and society.

💡Integrity

Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. The video connects integrity to the ethical principles of communication, suggesting that communicators should strive for truthfulness, accuracy, and honesty in their interactions to maintain their integrity.

💡Diversity of Perspective

Diversity of perspective refers to the inclusion and appreciation of a range of viewpoints in communication. The video encourages embracing diverse viewpoints and fostering an environment of tolerance for dissenting opinions, which is essential for informed and responsible decision-making in a civil society.

💡Tolerance

Tolerance is the ability to tolerate or allow the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. The video discusses the ethical principle of endorsing tolerance for dissenting views, which is crucial for a healthy and democratic society that values open dialogue and respect for all individuals.

💡Degradation

Degradation in the context of the video refers to the act of demeaning or devaluing individuals or humanity through communication. The video condemns any form of communication that leads to degradation, such as through distortion, intimidation, coercion, or violence, emphasizing the ethical imperative to protect the dignity of all.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility in the video is the concept of being accountable for one's actions and their outcomes. It is highlighted as a key ethical principle, where communicators are expected to accept the consequences of their communication and to encourage the same level of accountability from others, reinforcing the idea that communication is not just a right but also a duty.

Highlights

Introduction to the nature of communication, its etymology, definition, principles, and models.

Focus on the Shannon Weaver model of communication, also known as the telephone model.

Discussion on the different elements of the communication process.

Transition to communication ethics and its importance.

Definition of ethics as standards of right and wrong guiding human action.

Ethics in communication involves making judgments on the appropriateness of statements and actions.

Example given: Dealing with a friend who has a bad odor ethically.

Ethical principles of communication as outlined by the National Communication Association in 1999.

Advocacy for truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason in communication.

Endorsement of freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent.

Condemnation of communication that degrades individuals and humanity.

The importance of communicators accepting responsibility for the consequences of their communication.

Emphasis on the power of words and the need to think before communicating.

The privilege of speaking up and the responsibility to consider ethics in communication.

Question posed to viewers: Why is ethical communication important today, especially with social media?

Encouragement to consider scenarios or experiences to support the importance of ethical communication.

Conclusion of the lesson with a reminder of the importance of learning from the discussion.

Transcripts

welcome to our next lesson for the

course propositive communication in the

previous

video we discussed the nature of

communication

its etymology definition principles

as well as models of communication

wherein we focus on

the shannon weaver model of

communication or the so-called telephone

model

because that model explains the entire

process of communication

and also i we have

the discussion for the different

elements of the communication process

now we are moving to communication

ethics

at the end of this video you are

expected to learn

the following first is the role of

ethics and

communication and the second is the

ethical principles

but before that let us answer this

question first

what is ethics you may have heard this

word a lot of times especially

during philosophy classes and

i wonder what you mean about this

so ethics is based on well-founded

standards

of right and wrong that prescribe what

humans ought to do in short this is our

guide of action like before

doing something we first consider

um this is it the right thing to do or

it's the wrong thing and if it's the

wrong then

we refuse to do it that's the idea of

ethics

now what is its role or how do we apply

ethics in

communication so ethics in communication

is the judgment we make based on how

appropriate

our statements behaviors and actions

in a particular situation

there are situations when we

first have to decide what to

say i mean it's not just we impulsively

say something in every situation

sometimes

we are required to think about it

let's say for example you have

this close friend who you notice

smells bad in short i mean

he or she has a bad order

you don't just say hey you smell bad or

something like that

okay you still need to think about it

and your action or your decision is

guided by ethics

you try to analyze first what approach

or in what way of communication

will work um how can i approach

this friend of mine without offending

him

about the issue okay so that

is how we use ethics in communication

and there are ethical principles of

communication

that is according to the national

communication

association it was published in the year

1999

first is it advocates truthfulness

accuracy

honesty and reason as essential to the

integrity of communication

so in short your statement your behavior

the symbols that you're going to use

should advocate truthfulness it should

be

um fact truth

accurate honest and

essential to one's integrity second

is it endorses freedom of expression

diversity of

perspective and tolerance of descent

to achieve the informed and responsible

decision-making fundamental to a civil

society

third is it condemns communication that

degrades

individuals and humanity through

distortion

intimidation coercion and violence and

through the expression of intolerance

and hatred

now we have this freedom of expression

but in this ethical principle of

communication it says that

whatever that degrades individuals or

the humanity

is something that should be condemned

or we do not really

um encourage or we do not tolerate

um way of communicating

when it ruins or it hurts

people especially um if it's

intentional okay because the

consequence here is the entire

relationship with the people

um involved in that um process

might be ruined so again it condemns

any way of communicating that degrades

individuals

and humanity so through the following

that is

already mentioned and lastly

it believes that communicators should

accept

responsibility for the short and long

term consequences

of our own communication and expect the

same of others

communication involves responsibility

like whatever you say

you're going to face the consequence if

it's positive

then you have the responsibility you

should take the responsibility

and it's more evident when what you said

is harmful or degrading

uh let's say you intentionally did

something or said something to someone

and then you should take

the the full responsibility of

your consequences be it long-term or

short-term

that is why it is very important that we

think a million times before we

utter words or be during our

communication because it's either

you ruin the relationship or

you improve the relationship because we

know words are very

powerful therefore we should conform

with these ethical principles of

communication

although we are privileged to speak up

and to communicate with anyone we want

to

still we should have considered

the ethics first if we don't want to

face negative consequences of our

words

so let me leave you a question why is it

important to be ethical in communicating

especially today so what are

the consequences if we fail to

communicate ethically with the people

around us especially

during this time we know that

the way of communicating before is

different now

with the presence of social media so

what do you think

is the reason why it is very

very important to communicate ethically

now to answer this question you may cite

scenarios or even first-hand experiences

regarding this to support your claim

and that concludes our discussion in

this lesson and i hope you learned

something from me today

and i'll see you next time bye