Is effective communication the same as ethical communication?
My answer is NO! It is my understanding that effective communication can be used for unethical purposes. If the intent of the message producer is malicious, I believe the communication would be unethical. For example, if a message is sent to manipulate the receiver into acting on said message under false pretenses, it is unethical; however, if the receiver acts on the message, it would be considered effective.
Another example, of unethical effective communication could include omitting the truth about an important detail for personal gain. Below is a chart that reflects my classmates beliefs about omitting information, as opposed to lying. As you can see, the majority of my classmates find omitting is equally unethical.
On the other hand, in the comments section of my questionnaire, everyone that responded had a similar viewpoint. Their comments are as
follows:
Depends.
Ethical relativism - what is the motivation for the omission? What are the other options and potential consequences?
It depends on the context.
If you are purposely omitting information it is being dishonest and it is just as unethical as lying.
Depends on the situation.
What you don't know CAN hurt you.
Lying isn't just an active thing, but a result.
My classmates' opinions bring validity to my own. The intention of communication can make the difference between ethical and unethical.