Communication Model example essay topic

The communication model I have chosen to develop is based on the communication between individuals who are building or already have established a strong level of communication. My model will be a reflection of friendships, intimate relationships, teacher / student relationships and also manager / employee relationships. In the model below the sender (Person A) has an intended meaning to express to the receiver (Person B). The message may not be conscious knowledge; it may be a sub-conscious wish for communication to occur, although what is desired to be communicated is some type of idea, thought, or perception. As you can see in my model above, A and B have different personal realities.

Each person has their own world formed by personal experiences. Their perceptions, ideas, and knowledge will play key in how they interpret the message that is being sent. Since no person is exactly alike, each two individuals always perceive the same event differently. For the communication to occur at all there must be some type of shared space. The two people in the conversation must posses a common ground. The directional flow will be shared two ways and the participants must have an understanding and be aware of the possible channel of communication shared between the two.

Location and status are also essential towards the message that is being conveyed. The message being sent will be transmitted across a distance in the shared space. Whether the transmitter is verbal or nonverbal several layers of the message are being sent at this time. Most likely whatever is being expressed will be in verbal form. At this time perceptions are being made and the receiver is interpreting what the sender voiced. Based on what the receiver perceives, and based on the interpretations of the verbal and non-verbal input, a concept is then formed of his or her reality.

The message sent will be mean something to the receiver. It might not be what the sender intended. In successful communication the message will approximate the intended message to the sender's expectations. The sender will only know this if the receiver reciprocates with a message that is congruent with what was had in mind.

My model would be similar to the work of Frank Dance. Although visually the two are very abstract, I feel the similarity falls into play with the concept Dance had behind his model. Dance believed the circular feedback from his model added a concern with the dimension of time, suggesting that each communicative act builds upon the previous communication experiences of all parties involved (Ruben, 31). Likewise I feel my model deals strongly with understanding, time, and an overall comfort with the person in which you are conversing with. For example, you speak differently to a good friend verses speaking to a stranger.

Word choice, eye contact, and space are all altered when speaking to a stranger. Whereas, with a friend you are open, exposed, and less apprehensive with spacing. This is a prime example of personal conversations where comfort and security play key into effective communication. The shared space would be the comfort and the personal realities deal with person A and person B's perceptions and interpretations. Dance in my opinion had the same thought process when creating a model that dealt with personal communication. His motive was to create a model that represented the idea that communication is a complex and an evolutionary process.

My model would most differ from the work of Watzlawick, Beavis, and Jackson's Model. (See picture above) These three provided their communications model through psychiatric study and therapy. Together they created and portrayed communication as a process involving give-and-take of messages between individuals. Although I do agree, I feel my model is more open-ended and does not reflect a give and take process. Their perspective stressed the view that communication is not something that occurs only when a source intentionally chooses to send messages (Ruben, 32).

These three felt because "we were always behaving", one could not communicate. I disagree and in my model prove that communication is always occurring. I feel one chooses to communicate and does not do so out of nature. My model applies to various different communication acts. Within a family you communicate with your siblings and parents especially in this manner. I tend to speak to my father and what I am implying is never crystal clear in his eyes.

It always seems I am saying one thing, and he hears another. This is a great example of personal realities. To get in touch and be on the same page, my Dad and I have had to establish a strong communication level. In the classroom Teachers tend to repeat themselves often because certain students do not interpret the words or the intentions of directions given. I could not imagine making it through school without printed instructions for assignments.

If all students obtained information only by ear, a teacher would find themselves with hundreds of different assignments. Each person would interpret things differently and thus use their personal reality to accomplish the assignment.