Effective Communication, Decision-Making & Assertiveness in Health Education

Effective Communication and Decision-Making

Los Dos Caminos, 19/05/2009
Union College, Mary Immaculate
Subject: Health
Student: Raymond Green
Grade: 8th, Section B

1) What is communication?

It is an innate, dynamic, and changing process through which messages are exchanged and rendered mutually comprehensible. These messages have effects on other people, which can be understood as responses, and they, in turn, shape us. In the absence of these responses, we say that there was only information sharing.

2) What are verbal and nonverbal communication?

Verbal communication

Verbal communication is the form that uses words, oral or written, as a vehicle for exchanging information between people. For example, words easily express and communicate what can be seen and heard or what someone may think.

Nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication transcends the spoken or written word. It expresses itself through facial expressions, body movements, posture, gestures, and the physical space that separates us from others. Because it is based on analogies, it functions as an intercultural language that crosses races and social groups.

3) What are the elements of communication?

In any communication process, three basic elements are distinguished:

• Sender: the person who owns and sends the information.
• Receiver: the person who, through their senses, perceives the sender's message.
• Message: the content the sender wishes to communicate.

4) What is effective communication?

Communication skills are essential in any field of human relations. Communication is the only activity that all humans share. Regardless of age, race, culture, mindset, job performance, or place of origin, we all need to communicate and do so in one way or another. Effective communication means transmitting messages clearly so they are understood as intended and producing appropriate responses.

5) What are barriers to communication?

Communication barriers are interferences that obstruct the transmission or reception of a message. These barriers may be physical, psychological, semantic, cultural, or related to noise and distractions, and they prevent the message from being received as intended.

6) What is decision-making?

Decision-making is fundamental to any human activity. Taking a "good" decision begins with a process of reasoning that is consistent and focused and includes many factors to consider. Good decision-making can improve our quality of life and gives us greater control over our lives. In fact, many of the conflicts we experience are due to the inability to confront problems for fear of making decisions.

7) What is assertiveness?

Assertiveness is a way to express our right to think and to express what we think, to feel what we feel, to believe in what we believe, to want what we want, and to enjoy what we enjoy. When we are assertive, we openly express who we are. Other people should accept our strengths and weaknesses.

8) List the steps for decision making

No specific steps were listed in the original document.