The Interaction Model

The interaction model shows communication as a two-directional process that incorporates feedback into communication between sender and receiver (see Figure 1.2). Feedback is a message from the

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receiver to the sender that illustrates responses that occur when two or more people communicate. As with the linear model, noise occurs along the way.

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FIGURE 1.2 Interaction Model

Feedback can be a verbal message (your friend invites you to a party on Friday night, and you reply, “About nine?”), a nonverbal message (your roommate asks if you enjoyed the dinner, and you look up, smile, and nod), or both (you frown while saying, “I don’t think I understand”). Through feedback, communicators in the interaction model take turns sending and receiving messages.