Ten Things You Should Know: The Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) Theory

1. CMM is a practical theory

Founders Cronen and Pearce

CMM as a Practical Theory

CMM was originally an interpretive theory of the social and behavioral sciences

CMM next emphasized its place as a critical theory of social behavior and culture

CMM has now developed into what its founders consider a “practical theory,” a theory which aims to help make life better for real people in the real world

2. CMM has many real-world applicationsCMM is often used to inform and improve those working in the fields of therapy, mediation, counseling, family communication, health advocacy

3. Communication is constitutive and reality is constructed

“I REALLY DO BELIEVE WE CREATE THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, AND THAT WORLD CREATES US.”

-W. BARNETT PEARCE

CMM theory teaches that language does not merely

describe an objective, external reality; rather,

language and communication take part

in actually creating reality. In this way,

communication constitutes and creates reality through social

interactions.

4. CMM hinges on three main facets

CoherencePeople can interpret things, particularly others’ stories, in the same way.

Coordination Collaboration, particularly the correspondence of individuals’ stories lived, is vital to communication.

MysteryThere are things in life that are not wholly objective or measurable. Communication is subjective and subtle.

6. Coherence requires the use of hierarchical communication

elements•Content

•Speech Acts

•Episodes

•Relationships

•Self-Concept

•Culture

7. Coordination focuses on the power of story

Stories Lived Co-constructed and co-

performed

Actions

Limited by physical reality

Stories Told Individually created to

interpret, analyze, or reconcile stories lived

Narrative

Imaginative

Star Wars, According to a Three Year Old

8. Meaning management results from story tension

Stories lived and stories told (as well as stories left untold) are entirely connected but remain in tension with each other. The management of meaning is what we do to fit our stories together, and then to fit them with the

stories of other individuals.

9. Mystery allows cosmopolitan

communication

Because of its inherent mystery, communication according to CMM theory is cosmopolitan and accepts pluralism.

Cosmopolitan communication is coordination with other individuals who may have different ideas, values, and backgrounds without one party trying to change the other.

10. Ethical Derivative of

CMM: Dialogic Ethics

If we each contribute to another’s social

construction of reality, how then should we

properly interact with one another?

Dialogue acts as a synonym for ethical

communication when we communication with each other as human beings, not objects by which to create reality. Thus, it is

not only a morally appropriate act, but a way

to discover more about our reality.