theory of congruent communication

8/13/2019 Theory of Congruent Communication

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BY ALEXANDER CHOON HUA

Haim Ginotts

Theories of Congruent Communication


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Born Haim Ginzburg Ginott in 1922,Ginott was a school teacher, a child

psychologist and psychotherapist and

a parent educator.

An Israeli and started teaching in

elementary school in 1947.

Emigrated to United States to study

psychology at Clumbia University.

Earned a doctorate in clinical

psychology in 1952.

Well renowned books: Between

Parent and Child (1965), BetweenParent and Teenager (1967) and


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Congruence in mathematics means coinciding exactlywhen placed over.

So in congruent communication, it means

that we communicate in congruence with

our behaviour.

For example, I may say I like you but my bodylanguage can tell differently.

Charles (1999) cited Ginottsexplanation on congruent

communication:Congruent Communication is a style of speaking thatdoes not attack others, but instead remains harmoniouswith feelings being experienced.


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Congruent Communication

Strategies

Non-congruent communication

strat.

1. Addresses students action

instead of their character

It will help if you raise your hand,

Jerry.

1. Prejudiced and usually labels

students

Dont act like a clown when you

laughed at me, Gary!

2. Invites cooperation between

teachers and students

Come Ali, help me take this to the

staffroom. I need to see Lilys

parents in the principals office.

2. Denies students feeling and

attack them

Shelon, you have not submitted

even one of the assignments this

week. If you spent more time doing

your assignments instead of giving

lame excuses, you would be a much

more productive.

3. Accepts and acknowledges the

feelings of both students andteachers

3. Demands rather than inviting

cooperationShah,you will finish your


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Congruent Communication

Strategies

Non-congruent

communication strat.

4. Use brevity/concise words

in correcting misbehavior

Stella, please put that away

4. Shows students that the

teacher cannot maintain their

own temper-and therefore

why should they?I am getting sick and tired of

this noisy class. Everytime I

have to remind all of you the

rules but everyday is thesame thing.

5. Expresses anger

appropriately

Ken, I am sorry thatyou feellike I was mistreating you.

5. Invades students privacy

Come here now David. I

need to look at your backpackbecause Andy said his toy


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Correcting by directing-misbehaviours are dealt by redirecting

studentssbehaviour patterns to more

acceptable ones.

Behavior contract plan-teacher sets behavior terms in a contract

for students and they will have to adhere

to it. This will incept the idea that the

teacher trusts in him or her.-teacher should also uphold their end of

the bargain so that students can feel a

partial control and ownership of their own

behavior.


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Convey an attitude of helpfulness andacceptance

Teachers must be careful in imparting messages

and they must think of the impact of their

message to students self-esteem.

A caring and conducive learning environment

must be cultivated by the teacher so that

discipline problems can be nipped in its bud.


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Ginott brings the psychology of classroommanagement into practice.

If students still has disciplinary problems after manyinterventions, congruent communication might help to

heal the problem because Ginottscommunicationmodel teaches teacher how to talk tochildren/students.

Congruent communication will result in a more caring

and loving classroom environment. Thus, students willfeel appreciated and belonged.

Teacher can try setting up behavior contracts in thebeginning of the year continuously update and upholdthe bargain. For example, new behavior terms can be

added or removed while reward can be given to


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Sample of

behaviour

contract


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Continued...

Our students come from different races andreligion. So congruent communication is a more

culturally responsive form of communication.

Teacher can avoid racial sentiment with an

attitude of helpfulness and respect asemphasized by Ginott.

theory of congruent communication

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