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PurComm - Unit 1 Lesson 4

This document discusses ethical communication. It defines ethics as accepted principles that govern behavior within a society and distinguish right from wrong. Unethical communication can include misleading information, falsehoods, or omitting important details. The document provides examples of unethical communication behaviors and questions to consider to ensure communication is ethical. It also lists 10 basics of ethical communication, such as seeking to understand others' perspectives rather than being right, and principles of ethical communication like endorsing freedom of expression and condemning intolerant speech.

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SUMAYYAH MANALAO
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184 views2 pages

PurComm - Unit 1 Lesson 4

This document discusses ethical communication. It defines ethics as accepted principles that govern behavior within a society and distinguish right from wrong. Unethical communication can include misleading information, falsehoods, or omitting important details. The document provides examples of unethical communication behaviors and questions to consider to ensure communication is ethical. It also lists 10 basics of ethical communication, such as seeking to understand others' perspectives rather than being right, and principles of ethical communication like endorsing freedom of expression and condemning intolerant speech.

Uploaded by

SUMAYYAH MANALAO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIT 1: THE COMMUNICATION ESSENTIALS

LESSON 4: ETHICAL COMMUNICATION


Ethics is defined as “the accepted principles of conduct that govern behavior within a
society. Put another way, ethical principles define the boundary between right and wrong”
(Bovee and Thill, 2007, 6).

Bovee and Thill explained that ethical communication includes all relevant information,
is true in every sense, and is not deceptive in any way. By contrast, unethical communication can
include misleading information, falsehoods or exclusions of important information.

Unethical Communication
1. Selective misquoting. Deliberately omitting unflattering or damaging comments to paint a
better but false picture of you or your group.
2. Misrepresenting numbers. Altering statistics, increasing or decreasing numbers,
exaggerating, or omitting statistical data.
3. Distorting visuals. Making a product look bigger or changing the scale of graphs and
charts to amplify or conceal differences.
4. Plagiarism. Stealing someone else’s words or work and claiming it as your own.

Questions to consider when you make ethical choices:


1. What is your intention in communicating this message?
2. Have you defined the situation fairly and accurately?
3. What impact will this message have on the people who receive it, or who might be
affected by it?
4. Will the message achieve the greatest possible good while doing the least possible harm?
5. Will the assumptions you’ve made change over time? That is, will a decision that seems
ethical now seem unethical in the future?
6. Are you comfortable with your decision? Would you be embarrassed if it were printed in
tomorrow’s newspaper or spread across the Internet? Would you be proud to describe
your choice to someone you admire and respect?

10 Basics of Ethical Communication


(Lewis, 2015, p. 1)
1. Seek to “elicit the best” in communication and interactions with other group members.
2. Listen when others speak.
3. Speak non-judgmentally.
4. Speak from your own experiences and perspective, expressing your own feelings,
thoughts, and needs.
5. Seek to understand others (rather than to be “right” or “more ethical than thou”).
6. Avoid speaking for others, for instance, by describing what others have said without
checking your understanding, or by understanding your values, opinions, beliefs, and
conclusions, assuming everyone shares them.
7. Manage your own confines or boundaries. Discuss only what you are comfortable
sharing.
8. Respect other’s personal boundaries.
9. Avoid interrupting and side conversations.
10. Everyone must have time to speak, that all members have relatively equal “air time” if
they want it.

Some Principles stated in the Credo for Ethical Communication


(Bovee and Thill, 2007)
1. Endorsement of freedom of expression, diversity of viewpoint, and acceptance of
differences to attain the informed and responsible decision making essential to a civil
society.
2. Condemnation of communication that degrades individuals and humanity through the
expression of hatred and intolerance.
3. Commitment to the courageous expression of personal convictions in pursuit of fairness
and justice.
4. Acceptance of responsibility for the short- and long-term consequences of our own
communication and expecting the same of others.

Ethical communicators treat people fairly, communicate honestly, and avoid immoral or
unethical behavior.

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