Face to Face Communication.

The current generation has mainly invested in communication devices due to the technical advancement of the contemporary society. Despite, the efficiency of the electronic devices in passing information through texts. The texts eliminates several emotional cues and essential communication aspects that help in expressing one's feelings. Previously, texting had always been used as a means of passing important, urgent and short messages. Currently both the old and the young rely on texting to express their feelings and as a means of conversing on a regular basis. The latter has led to a breakdown in the ability to pass emotionally sensitive information. Scholars argue on the role played by texting when compared to face to face communication in provision of adequate and favorable room for one to express their emotions. However, it is widely agreed that communicating one's feelings demands the need to observe both the verbal and non-verbal communication elements. Therefore, when it comes to expressing the sadness, depression, happiness, sorrow, joy, etc. face to face communication offers the best platform that utilizes non-verbal communication elements and prepares the road to the free flow of non-distorted a compelling, and useful interpersonal information (Farber et al., 1227).

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The brain perceives physical threats the same way it perceives social threats thus one can notice emotional variants in the surrounding environment the same way they recognize physical threats. Thus, in a while communicating the senses are always in search of the different emotional cues. The brain looks interpret the words that the person is saying at the same time looking for the unique emotional aspects of the conversation. Their pitch, tone, variance, and poses in a conversation provide even more information than what they are saying. The brain immediately spots the nonverbal factors during face to face communication and elicits a response from the observer. For example, if one is smiling it is a clear indication of their happiness or content with the subject at hand. Meanwhile, texting has also developed to the extent that one can send an emoji showing their actual facial expressions. However, asserting the authenticity of these expressions is impossible as the other part is not able to the expression by themselves. Mistrust between the facial expression and what is being said can also be easily noted during face to face communication. For example, a person communicating with their mouth drawn down depicts an element of sadness. If the same person insists that they are happy there is a conflict between what they say and the perception created by the brain of the observer. The latter results in the breakdown of communication as the emotional response by body language do not align with words. By completely blocking possible body language in communication and promotes communication flight due to the ability of one to control the outcome of the information received (Farber et al. 1226). In hindering body language response and ensuring controlled communication environment, one limits their emotions. Therefore, face to face communication is the best platform offering honesty in a display of feeling and emotions.

Also, the vocal code and tone of messages play a significant role in portraying the attitude, mood, and emotions of an individual. Harshness, whispery, tense, creaky and breathy depicts different emotional states of the speaker. Texting is an expression of just words without the vocal tone attached to them. Thus, limiting the understanding of the psychological status of the person communicating. The voice of a person when they ask for something, and they are replied with a firm "No" the intensity of the refusal is felt. The person may feel humiliated or self-loathing for asking (Farber et al. 1225). The latter, conversely, shows that the emotion of one person has been efficiently depicted and has elicited another emotional response from the recipient of the message "No." The "No" received from a text message is taken lightly. Texting erodes the intensity of the emotional response as one is safeguarded from the intense emotions from one person to another. The blocked emotions are thus not released as they do not attain their intended purpose.

In addition, face to face communication eliminates any possibilities of miscommunication and enhances clarification of information through the display of emotions than texting. Besides offering limited non-verbal communication elements, texting creates room for the miscommunication on both the side of the sender and/ or recipient. Texted information is interpreted by the brain based on an individual's subjectivity as it creates room for ambiguity. The brain, therefore, fills some of the missing components of the message on its own resulting in distortion of the information or its intended purpose. The latter results in the personal interpretation of words especially the emotional aspect of the message. Therefore, responding based on our emotions and the previous personal experiences with the people we communicate with rather than their emotions while passing the message.

The use of texting applications has nevertheless resulted in an increase in self-disclosure over the past decade. From the latter the society is seen to have improved the overall relationships among its people. People can air out their emotions without the fear of judgment from the other party. Friendships have been built based on the ability of one to disclose more through texting than they would have done in direct communication (Schiffrin, Edelman, Falkenstern, & Stewart, 304). The personalities of various people in the society also vary, therefore, the way one person expresses their emotions is utterly different from the other. With texting one can eliminate the barrier that prevents them from facing the person they want to convey information to. Furthermore, the anonymity offered by text messages enhances the feeling of immediacy and safety thus increasing the extent to which one can disclose personal and emotional information. With the right word choice, one can openly express their feelings without the body language and other nonverbal forms of communication associated with face to face communication (Farber et al. 1228).

However, the increase in self-disclosure due to texting applies to new relationships and friendships. Existing relations find it challenging to thrive in medium based communication such as texting (Farber et al. 1228). Further, the extra comfort associated with texting enhances the ability of one choose words based on their need to protect their feelings. Consequently, they end up subjecting and blaming others for their predicaments rather than taking responsibility for their actions. The latter is the main reason behind the rise in cases of harassment and bullying as one has the extra freedom to keep a safe distance from their emotions. The emotional safe distance also limits the extents through which one can share the information they consider personal and sensitive. Besides sharing recipients even end up feeling less supported emotionally and unfulfilled (Schiffrin et al. 305). Therefore, texting limits the ability of one to communicate and disclose more when compared to what they will reveal through an emotional one on one interaction.

When it comes to communicating the sadness, depression, happiness, sorrow, joy, etc. face to face communication offers the best platform that utilizes non-verbal communication elements and prepares the road to the free flow of non-distorted information. The brain depends on the interpretation of the non-verbal parts of communication that can only be viewed during face to face communication, to understand the emotional state of an individual and the message they pass across. The non-verbal cues and the vocal codes ensure that the mood and emotional state of the speaker are depicted in their message. By lacking the above factors, texting limits the ability of one to express and understand what the other person is feeling entire. The intensity with which emotions are expressed and understood is also limited in texting as a means of communication. However, texting has managed to create a buffer that protects and provides a platform for those who cannot express their feeling during face to face conversations. The buffer, however, limits the ability with which people disclose vital information and express their emotions. In case emotional responses are shown, new relations stand to benefit more than the existing ones. Thus, playing a critical role in the breakdown of the existing emotional ties in the society. Texting, therefore, falls short of communicating the emotional and personal aspects of a conversation when compared to face to face communication.

Work Cited

Farber, Barry A., et al. "Children, technology, problems, and preferences." Journal of clinical psychology 68.11 (2012): 1225-1229.

Schiffrin, Holly, et al. "The associations among computer-mediated communication, relationships, and well-being." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 13.3 (2010): 299-306.