Psychology of communication: the self

The Self in Interpersonal Communication

In their book Between Ourselves (1988), Dimbleby and Burton present the model below as a model of the function of the Self in interpersonal communication. If you have already been through some of the related sections on the Self, you will be familiar with much of what is shown there.

The model is worth studying for a time, as it will help you to remember the many factors we need to take into account in examining the process of interpersonal communication.

As you can probably see, the model is essentially similar to some of the more simple transmission models of communication. For example, if you compare it with the Shannon-Weaver model, you could see

• the small triangle as source
• the large triangle as encoder
• communication with others as message
• attitudes, beliefs and values as potential sources of noise
• the arrow from there to others as the channel
• the possibility of a self-fulfilling prophecy as a source of noise
• communication from others as feedback

The comparison is fairly rough and ready of course and somewhat distorts Dimbleby's and Burton's model. It can, however, sometimes help towards an understanding of the more complex models if you look for those familiar underlying elements.

Clicking on the buttons on the model will reveal brief comment.