Read the information carefully below for specifics and then click on the subhead above "Week One Assignment – Journal" and you will be able to access the assignment.  

Overview

Each week, you will submit a two-page journal entry on a topic defined by your instructor (below). These assignments are called journal entries because they require you to become self-aware, take a look at yourself and your relationships, and define a clear action plan for improvement.

Journal

Self-concept is the mental image we have about our skills, abilities, knowledge, competencies, and personality. But, where does that mental image come from? How do you know about your skills and abilities? Do you know what your personality is, or do other people tell you? These questions lead us to the text’s definition of self: "a multidimensional process of internalizing and acting from social perspectives" (Wood, 2016, p. 46). In other words, our sense of self is developed through interpersonal communication.

Part 1

After reading Chapter 2 in the textbook, write down seven words that describe you and your skills, abilities, interests, personality traits, and roles. Examples might be responsible, ambitious, good-looking, funny, outgoing, etc. It is important to provide specific examples and a backstory of why you chose those words.

Then ask a friend or family member if these words ring true and what they might add or delete to develop a more full-bodied portrait. What did they add or subtract? Were there any surprises?

Explain if these attributes are part of an "identity script" you’ve been given (Wood, 2016, p. 51), "reflected appraisal" (Wood, 2013, p. 48), "direct definition" (Wood, 2016, p. 47) or through "social comparison" (Wood, 2016, p. 50). Make sure you reference the textbook and use appropriate terminology.

Now comment on what influences your self-concept? Identify the "particular others" (Wood, 2016, p. 47) who have been and are now significant in your life. How have these people influenced the words you chose to describe you? How have they communicated to you about the traits you listed? How did they express their appraisals of what you defined as important parts of you? Can you trace how you see yourself to these individuals? What role did they play in your ideas of what makes you "you"? What scripts did they provide you about who you are, or who your culture or family is? Do you follow some of those scripts today? Why or why not? What other life experiences have shaped who you are today? Please describe with examples.

Part 2

"Attachment styles" (Wood, 2016, pp. 51-54) provide a generalized overview of how we may approach relationships in the future.

Attachment Styles and Close Relationships – R. Chris Fraley

www.web-research-design.net

"These surveys are designed to measure your attachment style–the way you relate to others in the context of close relationships. There are two surveys you can take. Survey Option A This survey is designed to provide you with in-depth information about your attachment style and your personality." Here is a link to an interesting attachment style test that is FREE QUIZ: http://www.web-research-design.net/cgi-bin/crq/crq.pl. These test results are not blueprints but they do provide clues to how we respond in relationships. As a companion to this test — read attachment styles in our book (secure, fearful, dismissive, and anxious-avoidant) for a more full-bodied description (Wood, 2016, pp. 51-54).

Take the test and in the journal write about whether the results from the attachment style fits. I do not need to see the test. All of this is confidential since it is a journal. The more truthful we are the better we can develop new approaches to how we communicate. It is important to be specific about the results. Then reflect to see if the results make sense? Write about where you land with a little bit of history when it comes to caregivers in your life and how they may have shaped your attachment style. Use terminology and reference some book or outside articles.

(You are required to address both parts 1 and 2. The questions are meant to be prompter questions; write about the topics or questions that work for you.)

Due: Sunday 11:59pm (PT)

Length: Two pages

Requirements:

· Use terminology from the text/citations along with relevant examples (e.g. particular others, direct definition, reflected appraisal, social comparison, identity scripts, attachment styles – secure, dismissive, fearful, avoidant, etc.).

Use APA style for citations to the text, other course resources, and outside sources.

Reference listed for all sources you cite.

MS Word format.

Grading:

5% of your final grade. · The Journal grading rubric is available here here and on the Course Resources page.

Wood, J. (2016). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters (8th ed). Boston MA: Cengage Learning.