upward communication

written and oral messages that originate with individuals lower in the hierarchy of an organization and that flow upward to those occupying positions higher in the hierarchy. Upward communication is subject to distortions such as the mum effect, in which subordinates are unwilling to convey bad news to their superiors. The more levels in the hierarchy through which a message must pass, the more subject it is to distortion as the result of filtering at each level. Compare downward communication; horizontal communication.

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Psychology term of the day

November 21st 2024

centrifugal

adj. directed away from the center. For example, a centrifugal nerve carries impulses from the central nervous system to a peripheral region of the body. Compare centripetal.