Communication Concepts:

• Presenting Self

• Communication Climate

• Communication Competence

• Conflict

• Confirming and Disconfirming Messages

• Critical Thinking

• Nonverbal (Clothing/Appearance)

• Persuasion

• Self-Concept

• Types of Communication

Erin Brockovich is an unemployed single mother, desperate to find a job, but is having no luck. This losing streak even extends to a failed lawsuit against a doctor in a car accident she was in. With no alternative, she successfully browbeats her lawyer to give her a job in compensation for the loss. She begins to investigate a suspicious real estate case involving the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. What she discovers is that the company is trying quietly to buy land that was contaminated by a deadly toxic waste that the company is improperly and illegally dumping and, in turn, poisoning the residents in the area. As she digs deeper, Erin finds herself leading point in a series of events that would involve her law firm in one of the biggest class action lawsuits in American history against a multi-billion dollar corporation. Written by Kenneth Chisholm

Discussion Questions (Based on class discussions and your reading in the Text)

1. There are five types of communication that were discussed in class. Provide specific examples of each type that were represented in the film.

2. Real listening is an active process. Explain this as it relates to Erin's character and the interaction she has with the defendants and the other attorneys.

3. What image does Erin portray non-verbally? Support your response with specific examples.

4. A common perceptual tendency is that we cling to first impressions. How does this relate to Erin's character and her relationship with: her boss, her coworkers, and the defendants?

5. Describe Erin's self-concept and sense of identity, offering examples of how she sees herself and how she portrays herself to others.

6. Provide at least two examples each of confirming and disconfirming messages that occurred in the film.

7. Describe Erin's approach to conflict management and communication climate, focusing on how she treats different people in different ways.

8. Explain the communication climate during the town meeting and how it was affected by the self-perpetuating spiral.

9. What level of self-disclosure occurred with Erin and her significant other? Provide a specific example.

10. Is Erin a competent communicator? Why or why not?