Ethical Communication
What is Communication?
Many suggest that to communicate ethically one must adhere to a set of ethical principles. As we have seen in Understanding Ethics, the sets of principles or paradigms themselves can lead to confusion. Let's start by examining the basics of communication:
Definition: "Communication is a systematic process in which people interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings" (Wood 2008, 10). The illustration demonstrates how complicated basic communication can be. The communicators may have varying levels of experience, perhaps different cultures, competing social norms, and may adhere to varying religious beliefs. Not to mention that when individuals communicate they enter a communication event with varying goals, values, emotions and perceptions. Add "noise" (anything that distracts from the messages being sent and received) to the equation and without intention communication can go wrong quickly. Effective communication is not easy. Now let's add ethics to the picture.
Consider this: Your best friend "Joan" got a new haircut today, and well, it is not the most attractive thing you've ever seen. She asks you what you think. Should you tell her the truth? Or, should you tell a small white lie to preserve her feelings? Truth seems ethical, but it would cause "Joan" personal harm to tell her. What is the ethical choice? |
Ethical ConsiderationsFirst:
Understand the Five Principles that must be observed to be ethical.
Second: Understand the Ethical Obligations of Communication.
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So...How Does One Know if They are Communicating Ethically?
The principle of Veracity can be used as a guide for whether or not communications are ethical.
Veracity is telling the truth while remaining grounded in respect and autonomy for others. All available information must be used to determine the truth at the time of the communication (we cannot be held accountable for later discoveries).
Violations of veracity would include:
Stick with Veracity and your communication has a good chance of being ethical.
Veracity is telling the truth while remaining grounded in respect and autonomy for others. All available information must be used to determine the truth at the time of the communication (we cannot be held accountable for later discoveries).
Violations of veracity would include:
- Information omissions
- Lying (this could include deliberately using misinformation)
- Using confusing language or jargon to mask the truth
- Describing something in a way that others cannot understand or may purposefully mislead them
Stick with Veracity and your communication has a good chance of being ethical.