COMM 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Paul Watzlawick
31 Aug 2020
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Native/personal theories theories: mental models for what"s going on, guides to undestanding. Example (personal theory): family portrait, photograph, seven people (able to figure out from unknown image) How do you know it"s a photograph: it"s a still image (not a video), very detailed and precise (not a painting) Why? black and white, hairstyles, clothing theory about hairstyles, about clothing. Personal theories: even if you see something new, can use theories to make accurate observations. Describe the world, put labels on things (1950s, family portrait, photograph) Predict what will happen if certain things occur. Basis of personal theory: knowledge passed on through generations, cultural backgrounds, mass media, consensus across similar cultural background. Personal taken for granted: don"t really think about it, accept them on faith. Based on experience: developed over a lifetime. Private: often not voiced, discuss in limited range. Stable: often hard to change, resistant, might ignore or distort observations that don"t fit in our personal theories.
