Human Communication Theory
Human communication occurs when one or more people send and receive messages. All communication acts have the following elements: context, sources and receivers, messages, channels, noise and effects.
Context
There are four kinds of communication contexts: physical (the environment where communication occurs); social/psychological (which includes the status of a relationship or the seriousness of the situation); temporal (the time of the interaction); and cultural (the backgrounds of the people communicating).
Sources and Receivers
When you speak to someone, you are the source of the message. When you listen to someone, you are the receiver. These two functions are not mutually exclusive, as we send and receive messages simultaneously in conversations.
Messages
We send messages both verbally and nonverbally, and they can be transmitted from a combination of all of our senses.
Channels
Channels are the mediums used in communication, such as the telephone or chat room.
Noise
Noise is anything that prevents you from receiving a message. Noise can include thoughts that distract you or loud noises that make it difficult to hear.
Effects
There are effects to every communication act that we engage in. The effects can be cognitive (which changes our thinking); affective (which changes our feelings); or psychomotor (which affects bodily movements).
Tags: communication occurs, Communication Theory, Human Communication Theory, receive messages, send receive, send receive messages, which changes