Chapter 3: Sense of Self/Self Worth–Angela Maiers is an educator (now educational consultant) with 25-years’ experience, and the author of Classroom Habitudes and the Passion-Driven Classroom.

Watch Maiers’ TEDTalk about the words “You Matter”

TEDxDesMoines – Angela Maiers – You Matter (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

Answer the following questions:

• Based on Maiers’ experience in the airport and her interactions with the supervisor, how could reflected appraisal impact the passengers’ and supervisor’s sense of self and self-worth?
• Can you apply self-fulfilling prophecies to this video? Explain.
• Do you believe that the message “You matter” can alter a person’s negative identity management in adulthood? Explain.
• What are specific ways a person could tell or show another person that they matter? Give three to five examples.

Chapter 4: Perceptual Process–What do you notice about others? What do you notice in the various environments you occupy? Answer the following questions:

First, take a few minutes to sit down and think about something you always notice about others, that it seems others don’t. For example:

• “I always notice that the tops of people’s refrigerators are dirty.”
• “I always notice when people say “like” a lot when they are talking.”
• “I always notice the artwork on the sets of TV shows.”

Next, identify and write down the reason you always notice these things. For example:

• “I’m tall and I see the tops of refrigerators.”
• “I am a speech teacher and pay attention to people’s speech.”
• “I am an artist and like to look at art.”

Then, extend your analysis of this example through the remaining three steps in the perception process:

• Organization: What frameworks do you often put this situation into?
• Interpretation: What meaning do you attach to this stimulus?
• Negotiation: How do you influence other’s interpretation of this same stimulus?

Finally, how will being aware of the perceptual process help you to become a better communicator?