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Theories of Communication
Theories of Communication
It is a communication theory that focuses on the dynamic and reciprocal nature of human communication.
It emphasizes the back-and-forth process of exchanging messages between individuals or groups, where
both parties are actively engaged in creating meaning.
Key features of the Interaction Theory of Communication include:
1. Reciprocity: This theory views communication as a two-way process, where both the sender and
receiver participate in the exchange of information. Each party takes turns encoding and decoding
messages, contributing to the ongoing interaction.
2. Mutual Influence: Communication is seen as a process where both parties influence each other.
Each person's communication affects and shapes the other person's responses and vice versa.
3. Co-creation of Meaning: Meaning is not solely transmitted by the sender; rather, it is co-created
during the interaction. Both the sender's intended meaning and the receiver's interpretation play a
role in shaping the overall understanding.
4. Contextual Dependence: The meaning of messages is heavily dependent on the context in which
they are exchanged. Factors such as cultural background, relationship history, and immediate
circumstances can significantly impact the communication process.
5. Interdependence: This theory recognizes that in any communicative act, both parties are
interdependent. Each person's communication behavior is influenced by the other's responses,
leading to an ongoing cycle of interaction.
6. Feedback Importance: Feedback is an essential component of the Interaction Theory. It allows
communicators to gauge the effectiveness of their messages and make necessary adjustments to
improve understanding.
7. Transactional Nature: Similar to the Transactional Model of Communication, the Interaction Theory
highlights that communication is an ongoing and continuous process, rather than a series of isolated
events.
It's worth noting that the Interaction Theory of Communication aligns closely with other interactive and
transactional theories of communication. Scholars and researchers have built upon and refined these
theories over time to better understand how humans engage in meaningful exchanges, considering factors
like culture, power dynamics, and technology's impact on communication.
Rhetorical Theory:
It suggests that communication is not linear, but circular; not just sending a message to be received, but
producing a response; not static, but dynamic. Rhetorical theorists provide an important addition to a
communication model for business communicators. Many people in business get so much absorbed in the
accuracy of their message and appropriateness of the situation that they forget the third crucial variable,
producing the desired response form their audience. The importance of response in business
communication is illustrated in the following figure—which
incorporates the ideas of accuracy (from the collective theory) and
situation (from the social environment theory). This model is circular,
not linear.
In fact, perhaps the most important difference between business communication and other forms of
communication is this circular quality: your business communication effectiveness depends on the result
you achieve.