Communication - Interpersonal Process 2

In the last byte, we looked at the interpersonal communication model and a few definitions. In today's byte we begin looking at the model in a greater detail.

As stated in the definition of perceptual screens, these are windows - windows of the mind. It is these perceptual screens that influence the quality, accuracy and clarity of the message. The screen gives its flavor to the message - it is the one which defines if the message sent and the message received are the same or any distortion has occurred.

The perceptual screens are generally composed of personal factors - every individual gets into the communication his/her various influences - age, gender, values, and beliefs, past experiences, cultural influences, and individual needs. The extent to which these windows are open or closed significantly influence both the sent and the received messages.

We have been using the terms message pretty heavily - message refers to the thoughts and the feelings that the communicator is attempting to elicit in the receiver. It has two primary components:

1. its content
2. its affect.

The thought or conceptual component of the message is contained in the words, ideas, symbols and concepts chosen to relay the message. The feeling or emotional component of the message is contained in the intensity, force, demeanor, and sometimes the gesture of the communicator. The feeling component of message is important to give the complete meaning.