Communication can be defined as a one-way or two-way process of transferring information in which specific actors act as recipients and sources. Lasswell’s theory is not only a model that reflects the structure of the communication process but also a framework for studying this process, its elements, and structure. According to Tomsett et al., this model includes five basic elements utilized as analytical tools and allows expressing the form of presentation, the speaker’s idea and interlocutor, the channel, and the effect put into the message (100049). This interaction methodology is suitable for both mass and interpersonal or group communication and helps disseminate messages among various actors. The use of such a framework in a real situation is a common phenomenon that contributes to delivering specific ideas clearly and conveniently to both a wide range of people and individual interlocutors.
When applied to everyday life, Lasswell’s communication pattern can be observed in any educational session. In this case, the form of interaction is more often one-way, when a lecturer conveys specific ideas to the target audience by focusing on the mode of transmission, for instance, digital format or real-time communication. By analyzing such a communication mechanism, one can single out all the aforementioned elements that make it possible to get answers about the participants and the context of the interaction, thereby supporting it. In the media environment, Lasswell’s model also appears as a handy tool. Vivian cites TV shows in which actors’ performances and scripts play the central role (170). The author mentions Two and a Half Men as a sitcom that has earned colossal ratings by capturing the target audience due to an understandable algorithm for presenting information (Vivian 170). Thus, by utilizing Lasswell’s framework, one can break a particular message into structural components to understand its context and support communication.
References
Tomsett, Richard, et al. “Rapid Trust Calibration Through Interpretable and Uncertainty-Aware AI.” Patterns, vol. 1, no. 4, 2020, p. 100049.
Vivian, John. The Media of Mass Communication. 11th ed., Pearson, 2014.