What is the Need to Communicate?

     It is apparent that humans communicate with one another for a host of reasons. They are varied and not only global, but can also be individually based. We may communicate to persuade, to share or provide information, to gain or receive information, as well as to share our emotions. While this is a limited list, these reasons underscore why we study the art and science of communication, which is to gain mastery of the nature and the processes of the phenomenon, so that we can do a better job of meeting the needs or reasons why we engage in the activity of communication in the first place.

Needs Satisfaction

     Fundamentally, we humans use communication to satisfy our needs (Redmond, 2000). The diverse human needs which have been identified and described as Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, include physiological, safety, belonging and love needs, self-esteem needs, and self-actualization, (Maslow, 1982). To satisfy each of these needs, the common denominator is communication. For example, to satisfy physiological needs of food and sex, one needs to intrapersonally assess these needs in order to determine which message one needs to communicate to others in order to meet these needs.

Gathering and Gaining Information

     Our decisions are based upon need. Therefore, we may sometimes scavenge for information because having such information may be critical to the immediate satisfaction of our needs. Imagine that you’re about to graduate from college, but you need only one speech to fulfill all of the requirements in your Public Speaking course. In order to pass this course, the professor had mandated that you needed to cite two particular sources in writing your speech on your chosen topic of “The Six Principles of Persuasion”. Certainly, you would seek information as to where you can get your hands on these sources as soon as possible, since graduating would be an immediate and desired need. There are times that we may not be very active in seeking information because perhaps the need isn’t of immediate importance. But when in need, we devise means of accessing relevant information immediately.

Forming and Maintaining Relationships

     Humans are social beings; that is, we cannot survive for too long in social isolation. We need prolonged human contact, so we need to maintain long lasting relationships. The primary means of initiating, maintaining, and terminating relationships is communication. There are many ways we may use communication to accomplish the relationship goal: direct or indirect expression of the desire, through verbal or nonverbal messages. Frequency, length and the topics of conversation with another person may be indicative of likeness or attraction, and the opposite of which may indicate otherwise. Reciprocity is, no doubt a key factor in the formation and maintenance. However, in forming love relationships some individuals may prefer the active, verbal communication style of asking versus the subtle, indirect and sometimes nonverbal style. As we will find out in the latter part of this chapter, this preference may be cultural, biological or both.

Pleasure and Entertainment

     Think of a family conversation that you may have thought was seemingly insignificant at the time. For example, when your grandparents talk endlessly about a seemingly unimportant topic, the purpose of the interaction may not necessarily be to gain information, but the act itself may be an emotional outlet for both of them. It is certainly pleasurable to talk with a loved one who is always willing to listen. When you have a new love interest and text or talk endlessly on your cellphones, seemingly about nothing really, it is the pleasurable act of ‘talking’ that leads to a greater connection. Again, we like listening to stories either told to us directly or even captured on television or in the movies (think of your favorite Netflix series). The real business of Hollywood is indeed packaging pleasure and escape rather than making movies.

Self-Confirmation and Validation

     We derive a sense of self through what others say or do to us. Imagine that on a morning, as usual, you dressed up for work, grabbed your breakfast and off you went through the door yet for another day of work. But what’s different this day is that the very first person that saw you ran away from you! Then, the second and the third… How would you feel about the people and/or yourself? We are who we are because others confirm that person that we are. And in the face of disconfirmation, we tend to doubt the way we see ourselves. Daily, we receive and give communication that confirms us all – communication that values us or that values others. A simple hello, a simple nod, or a simple smile tells us that we are accepted and that we are human.

Managing and Coordinating Tasks

     We must organize in order to function. With organizing comes the need to coordinate actions, especially to achieve a common goal. The act of giving and following instructions that lead to this coordination of human efforts is communication. While we seek to organize through managing and coordinating tasks, we also do so to exert influence over one another. Think of a ‘honey-do-list’ you give to your partner to accomplish. You must manage the needs, then coordinate the task, all the while attempting to influence their action to complete (or attempt to) the list. Hence, the most important idea to guide your thoughts here is that the unifying element for this coordination is done through means of communication. Indeed, communication is an essential and imperative tool for individuals to effectively practice in order to meet needs.

Persuasion

     All that we need to satisfy our needs and desires cannot be produced and supplied by individuals working alone. All humans are interdependent, meaning we rely on each other to meet each other’s needs. Because we cannot achieve each other’s needs through force or coercion, we need to engage them in the act of persuasion. Because persuasion is a necessity for human exchange, we engage others in persuasive communication all of the time. Whether asking for a date, asking for a raise, asking the waitress for extra sauce, or even interviewing for a job, we are engaged in the act of influencing others through the manipulation of signs and symbols. In order to gain their agreement, we use various communication tactics to secure acceptance of our values, beliefs, opinions, and behavior.

     We may argue that we do not do a very good or efficient job of communicating to meet all of these needs adequately and this often gives us an understanding as to why humans are faced with a lot of social and personal problems. Although communication will not solve all human problems, it certainly plays a great role in mitigating many of them.

Why Do We Communicate?”