Communication Models

The Transmission Model is a more direct model of communication than the Cultural Model. In its simplest form there is a source, message and then a receiver. Though, this model is linear, the challenge of this process is the assumption that the receiver will interpret the content of the message exactly as the sender intends it to be. Which can be challenging, as the book states, "...your first concern as a receiver of communication is whether what you are receiving is actually the same as the message that has been sent."

The Cultural Model is the less often used communication model and more complex than the Transmission Model. The meaning of culture over the years has expanded from the original meaning of the word. Culture now include traits of human society. The Cultural Model argues that we live in a world of shared meaning and without this shared meaning, communication would be impossible. When trying to interpret the experiences of others, people struggle to interpret those experiences that they perceive to not fit in with the existing culture. If this process didn't exist everyone would understand everything. Conversely, shared understanding would be impossible if everyone gave new meanings to their interpretations.