Fundamentals of the Communication Process and Elements

Fundamentals of the Communication Process

Communication is a dynamic process involving several essential elements:

• Dynamic: It is constantly changing.
• Inevitable: It is impossible not to communicate.
• Irreversible: Once something is communicated, it cannot be taken back or erased.
• Bidirectional: There is a response in both directions.
• Modality: It can be verbal or nonverbal.

The Communication Process Steps

The process involves an issuer transmitting a message to a recipient through a channel.

Key Roles:

• Issuer: a) Feels the need to communicate. b) Prepares the message mentally. c) Encodes the message.
• Receiver: Receives the message and relays a response.
• Earner (Feedback Provider): A person who provides feedback to the sender.

The message is the thought (mental elaboration). Information is the result of this development transmitted to others.

Perceiver (Receiver Interpretation):

1. Receiving the information.
2. Reconstructing the message (interpretation).
3. Interpreting the need of the issuer.

The mechanism by which the source system regulates its own words is known in cybernetics as feedback.

Communication Elements:

Two main categories of elements occur in communication:

• Technical: Message, code, channel, feedback.
• Psychological: Transmitter (Issuer) and Receiver.

Technical Elements of Communication

Message

The message expresses the purpose of the issuer. It is the mental elaboration of what was intended to be expressed. The information is the oral or written expression of that message.

Code

A system of signs and syntax (the structure used to form sentences).

Channel

The most purely technical element. It can be direct (dialogue, face-to-face communication) or indirect (conference, radio, internet).

Feedback

Information returned to the sender.

Psychological Elements of Communication

Issuer (Transmitter)

This is the most decisive factor because the issuer encodes and sends messages. The issuer may use different types of communication:

Types of Communication by Issuer Intent:

A1) Objective Communication: Involves informational messages where replication is not possible; the message cannot be destroyed or changed.

A2) Expressive Communication: Externalization of feelings and emotions.

A3) Persuasive Communication: Attempts to convince another person that an idea is good.

A4) Subjective Communication: Largely occupied by personal opinions and thoughts, depending on the viewpoint. Critical (Subjective): Most of our social interaction is subjective.

Interpersonal Communication

Verbal communication achieved between individuals.

Krech and his colleagues studied factors favoring communication fidelity, including shared experiences, similar culture or subculture, social class, ethnicity, and profession.

Non-Verbal Communication

Social psychologists have placed significant emphasis on non-verbal communication.