Why We Communicate & What It Does
People communicate for tons of reasons - to inform friends about weekend plans, persuade parents to extend curfew, teach younger siblings new games, or express feelings about that horrible math test. We also communicate to question, clarify, motivate, and sometimes even to criticize or deny things.
Communication serves five major functions in our daily lives. The control function helps manage behavior - like when teachers give instructions or parents set rules. Social interaction lets you connect with others and build relationships with classmates, friends, and family.
The motivation function encourages people to do better, whether that's a coach pumping up the team or friends supporting each other through tough times. Emotional expression gives you a way to share feelings, frustrations, excitement, and everything in between.
Key Insight: Every time you communicate, you're actually serving one of these five functions - even casual conversations help maintain social connections!
Finally, information dissemination is all about sharing knowledge and facts. This happens constantly in school through lectures, presentations, and group discussions where everyone shares what they know.