Dystopian cyberpunk writing of prose, graphic novels, fiction, and non-fiction by Sam-i-am
The Cambridge online dictionary defines it as “failure to communicate ideas or intentions successfully”
Wikipedia defines it as “Miscommunication ("mis" + "communication") is defined as a failure to communicate adequately and properly.[1] It is one of the types of Communication barrier.”
These definitions provide a solid understanding of each word, but clicking on the links provided by the Cambridge online dictionary allows you to delve deeper into the meanings of each individual word and how they contribute to the overall definition.
Failure is defined as the lack of success or achievement.
Communicate means to convey information through speech, writing, body language, or other forms of signals.
Ideas refer to suggestions or plans for action.
Intentions are desires and plans that one intends to carry out.
Successfully means achieving the desired or hoped-for results.
Combining all these definitions, we can define miscommunication as the failure to share ideas, information, suggestions, or plans effectively with others through speech, writing, body language, or other means to achieve a desired outcome. This definition addresses the issue of a person attempting to communicate but failing to do so successfully. However, it does not consider the role of the listener, reader, or receiver in the communication process and how they may misinterpret or fail to understand what is being conveyed.
It can be argued that it is the responsibility of the communicator to ensure their message is clear and understood by the recipients. In part, this is true; if we want to effectively communicate, we must take ownership of our skills and continuously work on improving them. However, when it comes to mass communication, checking for understanding becomes nearly impossible. Even in face-to-face interactions, miscommunication can occur.
Improving our communication skills involves understanding the various factors that contribute to effective communication. As receivers of information, we also have a responsibility to ensure that we fully comprehend what is being conveyed to us. Communication is not always one-sided and requires both parties to actively listen and respond clearly. It's important to acknowledge that a lack of acceptance does not necessarily indicate a breakdown in communication or understanding. With the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation being rapidly shared, it can be challenging to discern the truth and facts from falsehoods. This can be caused by either incompetence in the subject matter or intentional deception by bad actors, making it crucial for us to critically evaluate information before accepting it as truth.
Our brains are constantly bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information and stimuli from our surroundings. Our unconscious mind works tirelessly to decode and analyse this data, while our conscious mind can only process a fraction of it. As a result, our perceptions and understanding of the world are shaped by our subconscious filters, based on our beliefs and values. These filters allow the information that aligns with our worldview while blocking out anything that contradicts it. This is why police officers gather statements from multiple witnesses to get a completev and more accurate picture of events. While we may be open to new ideas and opinions, it takes a presentation that resonates with our core beliefs or values for us to truly consider changing our perspective.
When someone communicates with us in a way that challenges our beliefs, we tend to ignore, delete, or distort the information. However, when it aligns with our core values, it can have a significant impact on shifting our beliefs. Understanding this, we can improve our communication skills by truly comprehending the people we are sharing information with. By gaining a deep understanding of their identity, thought process, and beliefs, we can identify their core values and tailor our message to appeal to them. This approach increases our chances of success and minimizes the risk of deletion, distortion, or misinterpretation. Instead of reacting negatively when faced with opposing views, we can take a step back and use analytical thinking to understand their perspective, belief systems, and underlying motivations driving their communication.
