The Transactional Model of Communication

Summary

In this educational video, Dr. Steve Klein from the University of Missouri explores three key models of communication: the transmission model, the interactional model, and the transactional model. The transmission model presents a one-way flow of information, while the interactional model emphasizes a turn-taking, bilateral exchange between communicators. The focus shifts to the transactional model, which describes communication as a simultaneous, co-creative process, where both participants share and construct meaning in real time. The video highlights the significance of context and non-verbal cues in effective communication, aiming to enhance understanding of these foundational concepts.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses three important models of communication developed in the mid-20th century: the transmission model, interactional model, and transactional model.
• 📡 Shannon and Weaver's 1949 transmission model emphasizes a unilateral flow of communication, where the source sends a message to a passive receiver.
• 🔄 The interactional model introduces a bilateral approach, highlighting turn-taking between communicators and emphasizing the importance of context in understanding messages.
• 📱 A text message exchange example illustrates how the interactional model functions, with sources and receivers alternating roles in a conversation.
• 🗣️ The transactional model, developed by Dean Barland in 1970, focuses on simultaneous encoding and decoding of messages in interpersonal communication.
• 👥 In the transactional model, both parties actively participate in co-creating meaning rather than simply exchanging messages.
• 🌍 Context plays a crucial role in both the interactional and transactional models, influencing how messages are encoded and decoded.
• 🎭 Public cues (surrounding environment), private cues (psychological context), and behavioral cues (verbal and nonverbal communication) are vital in the transactional model.
• 💬 The co-creation of meaning is transformative, impacting not only the communication act but also the underlying contexts such as cultural and relational factors.
• 📊 In summary, the three models vary in their approach to communication: transmission is unilateral, interactional is bilateral with turn-taking, and transactional is simultaneous and co-creative.

Q & A

What is the focus of Dr. Steve Klein's video?

The video focuses on the transactional model of communication, part of a three-part series that explores various communication models developed during the mid-20th century.

How does the transmission model of communication work?

The transmission model, proposed by Shannon and Weaver in 1949, describes a unilateral and asymmetric flow of communication where the source sends a message to a passive receiver without feedback.

What are the key features of the interactional model of communication?

The interactional model introduces a bilateral and symmetric approach, where both parties alternate roles as sender and receiver, and emphasizes the context in which communication occurs.

Can you explain the text message example used in the interactional model?

In the example, a person sends a humorous pickup line to a woman on Tinder. They exchange messages, taking turns to encode and decode meanings, illustrating the back-and-forth nature of the interactional model.

What distinguishes the transactional model from the interactional model?

The transactional model emphasizes simultaneous communication where both parties encode and decode messages at the same time, rather than taking turns, leading to a co-creation of meaning.

What are the three sets of cues identified in the transactional model?

The three sets of cues are public cues (surrounding context), private cues (individual perceptions), and behavioral cues (verbal and nonverbal communication).

What role does context play in the transactional model of communication?

Context influences how meaning is encoded and decoded, including physical, psychological, cultural, relational, and social aspects that affect the communication process.

How does the concept of co-creation of meaning operate in the transactional model?

Co-creation of meaning occurs as both parties engage in communication, working together to create shared understanding, which is informed by their individual and contextual backgrounds.

What is the significance of nonverbal communication in the transactional model?

Nonverbal communication, such as tone of voice and facial expressions, plays a crucial role in conveying meaning and enhancing understanding between communicators in a simultaneous exchange.

What is the summary of the three communication models discussed in the video?

The transmission model is a simple one-way communication, the interactional model is a circular two-way exchange with turns, and the transactional model is a simultaneous communication where meaning is co-created.