The Nature of Rules

• “Rules” are a part of some communication theories.  Some “rules” theories have been developed to help us understand communication behavior.
• Rules are “norms” or “guides” that help us behave appropriately and effectively in communication situations.

• Rules interact with the context of the communication situation.  Context is a part of many communication theories.  It can refer to the setting (where and when) the participants and their relationship (who), their communication content (what), their intentions (why), their means of communication (how), etc.
• Rules occur within (interact with) context
• Some rules are generated within the communication interaction and relationship (generative rules).
• Some rules are imposed on the communication situation by the group, community, or society (imposed rules).

• Rules are an important part of social and cultural reality.
• Rules are guidelines for actions and meaning.
• Rules are formed in the process of interaction and govern interaction itself.
• A rule is “a followable prescription that indicates what behavior is obligated, preferred, or prohibited in certain contexts.” - S. Shimanoff, Communication Rules, 1980.

Rules and Social Action
The Rules Governing Approach - Some General Assumptions

• The Action Principle - Although some human behavior is mechanical, the most important behaviors are intentional; actively initiated by the person to achieve a goal.
• Rules integrate communication content and context: The relationship between the way people act and the situation wherein the action occurs is important.
• Social behavior is structured and organized.
• Social interaction is organized because of rules.
• Rules are situational; they explain why people behave differently in varied times and places.

• Rules involve choice. People choose to adhere to, modify, and violate rules.
• Rules must be followable.  Rules they must be possible (feasible) and capable of being understood.
• Rules are prescriptive.  They indicate preferred or prohibited actions, and criticism for non-compliance.
• Rules are contextual.  A rule must do more than govern a single event; it applies in similar situations over time.
• Rules specify appropriate behavior.  They tell us what to do or not do, but not how to think, feel, and interpret.

“If [ . . . . . . . . . . . ], then one (must, should, should not) [ . . . . . . . . . . ].”

The “if” clause specifies the context, and the “then” clause specifies behavior.

Discovering and Identifying Rules (Shimanoff)
Rules can be found by examining behavior according to three factors:

• Is the behavior controllable (to what degree is the underlying rule followable)?
• Can the behavior be criticized (to what extent is the underlying rule prescriptive)?
• Is the behavioral contextual (to what extent does the underlying rule apply in some but not all situations)?

Ontological Assumptions

• People create systems of meaning and order even when there are none (our talk creates order out of chaos).
• People organize meanings hierarchically   (we prioritize various possible meanings).
• People’s meanings are time-bound (we change meanings).
• Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM)
• Humans’ meaning systems differ from one person to another (we bring our own symbolic reality to the interaction).
• People interpret behavior in a larger meaning context (we draw upon life scripts, cultural archetypes).
• Human communication itself creates a social reality.

• Constitutive rules indicate appropriate behavior in a given context.  These are used to interpret or understand an event or message.  They are rules of MEANING.
• Regulatory rules indicate what behavior should happen next.  They are guides about how to respond or behave.  These are rules of ACTION.
• Rules of meaning and action are always chosen in a context.
• Actions (acts or behaviors) occur in a multi-layered context.

• Relationship - Mutual perceptions and expectations among parties
• Episode - An event, a series of actions that comprise a tangible interaction.
• Self-concept - One’s sense of self (image and worth), of personal definition, and identity.
• Archetype - One’s view of general truth, socially and culturally grounded.

CMM - Key Concepts

• Meanings are socially constructed individually and collectively.
• Meanings emerge from “persons-in-conversation.”
• Rules help people construct meanings and act appropriately.
• Coherence of meaning.
• Coordination of meaning.

• Can we have coherence without coordination?
• Can we have coordination without coherence?
• Where does conflict occur?
• Can communication interaction include talk about rules?