Purposive Communication Lesson 3
Purposive Communication Lesson 3
Lesson Learning Outcomes: At the end of the learning engagement you should
be able to:
Ethical Communication
Etymologically, the word ethics comes from the Greek term ethos which can
pertain to customs and habits. As branch of knowledge, ethics deals with a structure of
moral principles. Ethics guides an individual’s behavior- his words and actions- and the
way he or she communicates with others.
Ethics is defined as a code of moral standards of conduct for what is “good” and
“right” as opposed to what is “bad” and “wrong”. It deals with values with human
conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the
goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.
Communication is ethical when it is utilized to enhance the way people interact
with one another to improve society’s moral life. On the other hand, communication is
unethical, when it is used to damage human relations or encourage societal
decadence. Some common examples of unethical communication are inappropriate
jokes, coercive, threatening and intimidating statements, misleading words, lying,
meddling with something overheard, telephone tapping, betraying or backstabbing
somebody, and spreading fake news.
Communication ethics varies by culture and context and involves the negotiation
of and reflection on our actions regarding what we think is right and wrong or good and
bad.
Ethical Standards of Communication
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