Communication Models – Aristotle, Berlos, Shannon & Weaver, Schramms, Helical and Westley and MacLeans Model
April 3, 2025
Elements of Communication Before we delve further into understanding the different types of communication models, it is important to deconstruct the basic elements which combine together to form any communication. It is important to understand these elements and their impact on their overall communication process. The 8 basic elements of communication are as follows: Source:…
An idea however brilliant and unique it is, is a waste unless and until it is communicated and shared with the world. Others must know what you are thinking to give you the credit for your unique idea and to gain from it as well. No one can get into our brain and check the…
Imagine a world without communication! You have a brilliant idea with you but don’t possess the power of communication. You have a strong desire for something, but cannot express your desires. Life would be dull, blank and the world would not be worth living. Such is the power of communication. Communication is the essence of…
Aristotle was the first to take an initiative and design the communication model.
Let us first go through a simple situation.
In a political meeting, the prospective leader delivers speech to the audience urging for more votes from the constituency. He/She tries to convince the crowd in the best possible way He/She can so that He/She emerges as a winner. What is He/She actually doing?
He/She is delivering his speech in a manner that the listeners would get convinced and cast their votes only in his favour, or in other words respond in the same manner the speaker wanted to.
Here the leader or the speaker or the sender is the centre of attraction and the crowd simply the passive listeners.
The example actually explains the Aristotle model of communication.
According to this model, the speaker plays a key role in communication. He/She is the one who takes complete charge of the communication. The sender first prepares a content which he does by carefully putting his thoughts in words with an objective of influencing the listeners or the recipients, who would then respond in the sender’s desired way.
No points in guessing that the content has to be very very impressive in this model for the audience or the receivers to get convinced.
The model says that the speaker communicates in such a way that the listeners get influenced and respond accordingly.
The speaker must be very careful about his selection of words and content in this model of communication. He/She should understand his target audience and then prepare his speech.
Making eye contact with the second party is again a must to create an impact among the listeners. Let us again go through the first example.
The politician must understand the needs of the people in his constituency like the need of a shopping mall, better transport system, safety of girls etc and then design his speech.
His/Her speech should address all the above issues and focus on providing the solutions to their problems to expect maximum votes from them.
Voice tone and pitch should also be loud and clear enough for the people to hear and understand the speech properly. Stammering, getting nervous in between of a conversation must be avoided.
Voice modulations also play a very important role in creating the desired effect. Blank expressions, confused looks and similar pitch all through the speech make it monotonous and nullify its effect.
The speaker should know where to lay more stress on, highlight which words to influence the listeners.
One will definitely purchase the mobile handset from that store where the sales man gives an impressive demo of the mobile.
It depends on the sales man what to speak and how to speak in a manner to influence the listeners so that they respond to him in a way he actually wants i.e. purchase the handset and increase his billing.
The Aristotle model of communication is the widely accepted and the most common model of communication where the sender sends the information or a message to the receivers to influence them and make them respond and act accordingly.
Aristotle model of communication is the golden rule to excel in public speaking, seminars, lectures where the sender makes his point clear by designing an impressive content, passing on the message to the second part and they simply respond accordingly. Here the sender is the active member and the receiver is passive one.
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