CMS 330 Fall 2013 University of Southern Maine Prof. Maureen Ebben

1. Interpersonal
Communication in Cars
CMS 330
Fall 2013
Dee Menear
Image: disneyvault.net

2. • Lightening
McQueen
• Mater
• Sally
• Doc
Major Characters

3.  Lightening McQueen experiences culture shock
when he finds himself in Radiator Springs.
 The local characters are proud of their forgotten
town.
 McQueen is used to a fast paced, unstoppable
society.
 Communication is limited because, although they
are all cars, their culture and values are exceedingly
different.
 For instance: McQueen tells a pair of tourists that he
was in hillbilly hell. This was hurtful to the residents
who took pride in their town and way of life.
Intercultural Communication

4.  Doc is private about his past racing life not letting
anyone in.
 His motivation in keeping his privacy is an example of
risk-benefit analysis.
 Doc can not see a benefit for disclosing this
information but the risks include embarrassment and
vulnerability.
 As Doc mentors McQueen he slowly opens up until a
final scene where he has disclosed fully to his
neighbors, McQueen and racing fans that is his
indeed the famous Doc Hudson.
 This is also an example of social penetration theory
as described by Shrek.
Disclosure-Privacy Dialect

5. • Unlike Doc, Mater’s self disclosure practice is to let
it all out. He is unafraid of hiding any detail about
himself.
• Right from the beginning his relationship cycle with
McQueen, Mater lacks the social skill of
appropriately self disclosing.
• This disclosure is not reciprocated from McQueen
until appropriately later in their relationship.
Self-disclosure

6. • Sally shows us she is insecure through her self-talk.
• When visitors show up to Radiator Springs, she springs into
motion getting the town ready. Her self-perception is shown
in this scene. She believes she knows what is best for the
town.
• Sally talks herself into getting mentally ready for what
visitors mean. It appears that she is anxious about visitors.
• This anxiety shows when she fails to have effective
conversations with the visitors. She controls the one sided
conversation not letting the visitors express their needs.
Self-talk/self-perception
& ineffective communication

7. • By the middle of the movie I was frustrated that
none of these characters were communicating
effectively.
• McQueen and Sally were stubbornly not sharing
their feelings for each other.
• Doc was not sharing much of himself with anyone.
• McQueen’s nonverbal and verbal communication
said, “Get me out of here.” He is so self absorbed
that he doesn’t listen to or care for those around
him.
• Mater is sharing too much however he is
the best communicator so far. He makes
a good mentor for McQueen.
Mid-film critique

8. • McQueen’s personal space differs slightly from
everyday proxemics of the average American.
• He allows intimate or personal distance with his
fans.
• In most conversations with those that could further
his career he does seem to maintain a social
distance.
• With the residents of Radiator Springs his need for
personal space evolves as his relationships change.
What starts as public distance becomes intimate
and personal.
Spatial Use

9. • As he builds relationships, McQueen empathizes with
residents. He connects with their feelings and acts on
his perception.
• In one scene, McQueen surprises Sally with an
evening that showed her towns assets in it’s heyday.
• In another, he manages to bring racing headquarters
to town; thus revitalizing the once forgotten place.
• In a final scene McQueen gives up his dream to help
The King over the finish line. He has moved from
thinking selfishly to acting selflessly.
Empathy

10. • We learn by her eye contact and facial expressions
that Sally is hurt when McQueen leaves for the
Piston Cup.
• Her eyes look downward and to the right when she
tells him to go. This movement indicates feelings are
being hidden(i).
• Her behavior provides us with information. She
really doesn’t want him to go but she also gives the
image that she is a tough, independent girl.
Nonverbal Messages
(i)www.nlpu.com/Articles/artic14.htm

11. • McQueen cycles from having no close relationships
to having many intimate relationships.
• As he thinks less of himself and more of others he
develops a need to be included in his surroundings.
• The time and energy involved in building and
maintaining these relationships are worth the cost in
that he gains a need to love and be loved.
• His relationships with Sally, Doc, Mater and other
characters grows as his desire to please himself
lessens.
Developing Relationships

12.  Communication and relationship skills are developed in
the movie.
 The animators did a wonderful job of giving the cars life
and life like nuances.
 Although McQueen is the main character and we see
him learning communication skills, all other characters
give an insight to communication styles and issues.
 This was a delightful film to watch while studying
interpersonal communication.
The End

13. Fun Fact
• Stanley, the statue of the car in front of the fire
station, is a Stanley Steamer. The steamers were
built by F.E and F.O. Stanley at the turn of the 20th
century. The Stanley brothers are from my
hometown, Kingfield, ME.
•
•
pixar.wikia.com
www.stanleymuseum.org