The pragmatic perspective focuses on the systems of behavior within the communication that is taking place. To be more specific, “communication consists of a system of interlocking, interdependent behaviors that become patterned over time”. In other words, this perspective specifically looks at the series of actions and behaviors where communication is taking place. The analogy that this perspective resembles is of a game.
So, in terms of the analogy of a game, as a player, one must know and understand the series of actions and reactions that lead up to the current situation as well as how to anticipate and make the next “move”. In a given situation, one takes a type of action; then, depending on the person’s action, the other responds in a particular way, the person responds to the other, and this cycle tends to repeat. Therefore, one must understand how interactions work and how to communicate in those reactions; in other words, one must understand the structure of the game and how it works. So communication is like a game in terms of how people become interdependent as each person is affected by the other within the interaction through each others’ actions. As a result of continuous interactions, people then “work out the rules” as people find out which actions and moves work and does not work for them, what works and does not work for the other, which works for neither or for both; thus people can “get something out of playing”, whether the payoffs are winning or losing.
However, communication is not like a game, as there are individual differences through personality and cultural background that plays a role in communication. Communication often requires many different ways of interpreting the actions taking place. So, the pragmatic perspective simply focuses on the patterns of interaction, rather than the intent, cultural context, understanding, needs and desires that are “outside of the game”.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I read your post and find your comments very interesting. Compared to the social constructive the pragmatic perspective focuses very much on an individual thought and how that individual plays the "game". I do think this is a good way to go about communicating when considering an individual, but you brought up a good point when considering the elements of the social constructive perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe pragmatic perspective does not take into account community or cultural standards. This is where we have to be aware of these standards and i think it is good to consider all perspectives depending on the type of situation were in.