Doctor consultation scenario explained through Palo Alto's 5 axioms of interpersonal communication
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This very beautifully executed consisted of miniature characters set within 5 scenes each depicting the different stages of a doctor consultation. The students used these 5 scenes to portray Palo Alto's 5 axioms of interpersonal communication and the communication problems we can encounter in our daily lives. The characters were based on “trollface” or funny face expressions.
The first scene showcased axiom 1 "One cannot not communicate". In expresses the fact that all behaviour is communication (according to the Palo Alto school), from the way the doctor speaks, his body posture, the tone, facial gestures, everything is interpreted by the other interlocutor and this will punctuate the sequence of future exchanges and determine the nature of their communication and relation.
The second axiom "All communication contains two aspects: the content and the relation" illustrates the fact that in any human communication, the relation and the context determine the outcome more than what is actually said.
The third axiom "The punctuation in a communication determines the relation" further illustrates axiom one by emphasizing the circular nature of human interaction: one type of behaviour elicits a certain response from the receiver or interlocutor and amplifies it such that both are engaged in a circular chain of action-reaction and this ultimately determines the nature of their relation. In this scene, the doctor faces a difficult patient and at each consultation, their interactions amplify the difficult relationship because each blames the other (implicitly) for the inamicable relationship and thus adopts a defensive attitude. Axiom 4 showcased the different modalities of human communication: digital (as in fingers not computer-based) and analog, the two modes co-exist and complement each other. In the scene, the doctor is late and therefore felt guilty. He comes in smiling but without uttering a verbal apology. However his non verbal communication expresses his desire to disarm his patient who was showing signs of irritation and impatience. No words are uttered but the two each communicate their feelings to the other through non verbal communication.
Axiom 5 is used to explain the power dynamics that comes into play in all human relations: communication can either be symmetrical (between interlocutors of equal power) or asymmetrical (between unequal partners where one submits to the other or tempers down his or her response in order to maintain harmony). Here the doctor is in a superior position vis-à-vis his patient over whom he asserts his authority and knowledge who thus has to submit to the doctors diagnosis and recommendations. See video and photo gallery below.
The first scene showcased axiom 1 "One cannot not communicate". In expresses the fact that all behaviour is communication (according to the Palo Alto school), from the way the doctor speaks, his body posture, the tone, facial gestures, everything is interpreted by the other interlocutor and this will punctuate the sequence of future exchanges and determine the nature of their communication and relation.
The second axiom "All communication contains two aspects: the content and the relation" illustrates the fact that in any human communication, the relation and the context determine the outcome more than what is actually said.
The third axiom "The punctuation in a communication determines the relation" further illustrates axiom one by emphasizing the circular nature of human interaction: one type of behaviour elicits a certain response from the receiver or interlocutor and amplifies it such that both are engaged in a circular chain of action-reaction and this ultimately determines the nature of their relation. In this scene, the doctor faces a difficult patient and at each consultation, their interactions amplify the difficult relationship because each blames the other (implicitly) for the inamicable relationship and thus adopts a defensive attitude. Axiom 4 showcased the different modalities of human communication: digital (as in fingers not computer-based) and analog, the two modes co-exist and complement each other. In the scene, the doctor is late and therefore felt guilty. He comes in smiling but without uttering a verbal apology. However his non verbal communication expresses his desire to disarm his patient who was showing signs of irritation and impatience. No words are uttered but the two each communicate their feelings to the other through non verbal communication.
Axiom 5 is used to explain the power dynamics that comes into play in all human relations: communication can either be symmetrical (between interlocutors of equal power) or asymmetrical (between unequal partners where one submits to the other or tempers down his or her response in order to maintain harmony). Here the doctor is in a superior position vis-à-vis his patient over whom he asserts his authority and knowledge who thus has to submit to the doctors diagnosis and recommendations. See video and photo gallery below.
The photo gallery below show pictures of some of the other arts projects designed by the students in this 2018 winter course.
2018 Vintage |
2019 Vintage
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