100 % transmission is impossible (Part 1)

Social psychology has traditionally been defined as 'the study of how individual’s or group’s behavior is influenced by the presence and behavior of others'. Indeed, a major question that social psychologists ponder is: 'how and why are people's perceptions and actions influenced by environmental factors, such as social interaction?'

Communication is one of the basic concepts that can be used to influence one another, making it essential for social psychologists to study the concept of communication extensively. According to Paul J. Meyer, “Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success.” Thus, it's hard to imagine in-depth discussions on topics such as social influence, social interaction, cognition, behavior change, or interpersonal relationships without acknowledging the crucial role communication plays. However, these discussions often overlook the specific communication mechanisms at work.

As I mentioned in my previous article, from a Social Psychological perspective, the first of the five golden rules of communication is: ‘100 % transmission is impossible’.

To communicate effectively with our environment and the people we interact with, it's not just about selecting the right words, maintaining an appropriate voice volume and tone, or displaying supportive body language (although all these are crucial). It's also vital to consider the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects. Understanding the process of effective communication, the recipient of the message, and the motives, desires, and goals of both the sender and the receiver is key. Thus, we often communicate more persuasively with people who share our opinions, values, and social environment than with those we perceive as different from us.

The communication diagram consists of severalimportant elements, as shown in Figure 1:

In addition to the above elements, from a social psychological perspective, the communication diagram should include the following characteristics:

• The social system.
• The importance of language in communication.
• The significance of social position in communication.
• The ability to communicate.
• The individual's emotions, attitudes, and expectations.
• Communication styles.
• Communication channels.
• The physical distance between individuals during the communication process.
• Others …

To be continued …