Direct definitions is “communication that tells us explicitly who we are by directly labeling us and our behaviors” (Wood, Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters). In highschool I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to study, but I knew I wanted to do something in the health science field which can be academically challenging so I wasn’t sure if I think I could handle it. Person X would always tell me how smart I am and that I can do anything I set my mind to. By this person using direction definitions to communicate to me really inspired me to attend MCPHS University, because it is so focused on health sciences. Another time direct definitions has affected me is when I was younger, Person A use to always make fun of me and say I was slow, because I would always take my time doing things and making sure everything is right. This has impacted me a lot, when I first started my job as a pharmacy technician this past summer I was so insecure about how slow I would count pills and maneuvering the computers, so in the beginning I would always try to go really fast.
Reflected appraisals are how we think another person perceives us (Wood, Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters). During college orientation I was very nervous because I’m typically a shy person at first. On the first day of orientation I met Person Y and I made little jokes here and there that they would always genuinely laugh at or with me, from this I concluded that Person Y thought I was funny.