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The Concept of Interaction

The concept of interaction has been adapted to a variety of situations. A central element in interaction is feedback. Wiener (1961) notes the biological importance of feedback in the organism, including the human organism, and explains why feedback is essential for life:

We thus see that for effective action on the outer world it is not only essential that we possess good effectors, but that the performance of these effectors be properly monitored back to the central nervous system, and that the readings of these monitors be properly continued with the other information coming in from the sense organs to produce a properly proportioned output to the effectors (Wiener, 1961, 96).

Feedback and interaction are forms of communication. Studies of communication are especially valuable for defining us as human beings and for demonstrating ways in which we relate to ourselves, to others, and to ideas. Deetz (1982) refers to this

when noting how interpersonal communication involves the individual "in the most thorough and integrated sense" (Deetz, 1982, 2). The person interacting displays multi-dimensionality and is also able to use all sense modalities: "The interpersonal message is precisely the synergy of all essential inputs. Analysis of interpersonal dialogue must recognize this synergy" (Deetz, 1982, 3).

However, in the current age an important issue is the degree to which interactivity by means of electronic means such as the Internet can be considered interpersonal communication or some other form of communication. It is not clear that the same synergy is at work when the person interacting does so by means of a computer screen and a keyboard. Briggs (2001) emphasizes the amount of time adults spend online today and finds that compared to their entire day, the time spent away from direct human interaction is relatively small, though she fears that this will change in a few years as computer use expands. She see...

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The Concept of Interaction. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 10:44, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1701313.html