The five axioms of communication.
Communication is an important part of human interaction.The five axioms of communication were formulated by Paul Watzlawick and his colleagues and help to explain how communication works.A few notes are added to tune the axioms.
1.One can't not communicate.The first axiom states that activity, words, and silence all have message value, that they influence others and these others, in turn, cannot not respond to these communications and are themselves communicating.If the parties are in the presence of another, this is true.Problems in the relationship system can be caused by this.If one does not want to communicate this fact, it may anger the other party.People who are emotionally reserved may be appreciated differently between cultures.A smooth acculturation process may be hampered or undermined by insensitivity to these differences.
2.The second axiom states that there are two levels of communication.The relationship level of a communicative act has to do with how the two communicators view one another and how they convey it.All such relationship statements are about one or several of the following assertions.There are more than one 3).The relationship level is information about this content level information.
Culture and communication training will teach you how to avoid a negative impression with people from other cultures and how you can read their communication style.
3.The third axiom is about how participants in the system finish their speeches.Every item in the sequence is stimuli, response, and reinforcement in a communicative event.In Watzlawick, Beavin, and Jackson, 1967.One can interpret an act as being a response and the other as a stimulation.When people see the sequence of events differently, they may end up with endless conflicts that make pointing the finger at each other pointless.No one can be blamed for the other's actions.
4.Communication can be both digital and analogue.The digital code is what the person says, the words actually mean, while the analogical code has to do with how something is said.It is possible for someone to convey two opposing messages at the same time.It pays to learn how to identify when people are silently saying yes and when they aren't interested.
5.The fifth axiom is concerned with the communication being symmetrical or complimentary.Either the participants in the system are on equal ground with regards to power relations, or one of them is over the other.A party may like the status quo to change.
The strength of the five axioms is in explaining what happens during a communication process.
Culture Class offers personal development, culture and communication training.