Harold Dwight Lasswell (February 13, 1902 — December 18, 1978)
Harold Dwight Lasswell, the American political scientist states that a convenient way to describe an act of communication is to answer the following questions
- Who
- Says What
- In Which Channel
- To Whom
- With what effect?
This model is about process of communication and its function to society, According to Lasswell there are three functions for communication:
- Surveillance of the environment
- Correlation of components of society
- Cultural transmission between generation
Lasswell model suggests the message flow in a multicultural society with multiple audiences. The flow of message is through various channels. And also this communication model is similar to Aristotle’s communication model.
In this model, the communication component who refers the research area called “Control Analysis”,
Says what is refers to “Content Analysis”,
In which channel is refers to “Media Analysis”,
To Whom is refers to “Audience Analysis”
With What Effect is refers to “Effect Analysis”
Example:
CNN NEWS – A water leak from Japan’s tsunami-crippled nuclear power station resulted in about 100 times the permitted level of radioactive material flowing into the sea, operator Tokyo Electric Power Co said on Saturday.
Who – TEPC Operator
What – Radioactive material flowing into sea
Channel – CNN NEWS (Television medium)
Whom – Public
Effect – Alert the people of japan from the radiation.
Advantage of lasswell model:
- It is Easy and Simple
- It suits for almost all types of communication
- The concept of effect
Disadvantage of lasswell model:
- Feedback not mentioned
- Noise not mentioned
- Linear Model
Add more flesh for students to understand better.
like
it is good it gives the general idea but it’s very short.
kudos
It’s quite interesting to understand communication medels
The content of the message should be transmitted through the appropriate medium in such a way that, according to Lasswell, the recipient is then persuaded to adopt the view of the communicator. One of Lasswell’s main interests as a political scientist was the use of propaganda and its effect.
Great but too shallow.
Good and intresting, but add more flesh
Thanks, nice way of explaining. Feedback 100% ve. I like it. Keep contributing the same way.
so nice and simple, we can understand very easily. thanks
loudly explained and to understand but where lies feedback.
Kindly explain what exactly you mean by Linear model? I will grateful for the reply, as I am still not getting a clear picture.
Regards,
Sulabha Dhavalikar
This is the best explanation. writing a news story intro is now easier.
I dont agree with the point of view of Mr. Porter that Lasswell interested in propaganda and its effects because Lasswell did not mention feedback. Therefore, no effect can be measured without a proper feedback of the audiences. Although at early stages of studying the communication processes he did explore effects of the message but the model has defficiencies in itslef.
We need a little more of critique of the Lasswellian model than narrating or res-stating the usual facts. Otherwise the simple explanation best for those undertaking introduction to masscommunication theories or those seeking to refresh. Kudos
Lass well was not a fool to have forgotten feedback and noise because these two do not necessarily apply in every aspect of communication for example i may use non verbal cues in communication which the receiver understands (no noise) and they may not give me the feedback. but i have derived the massage.
i agree with Potter’s views.
i agree with Potter’s views
the model of laswell is so convincing but at that stage of with what effects can termed as feedback.
The model is short and clear well explained
This is a very short model,but with a great impact.
This is the best explanation i ever seen, so nice and simple we students can understand easily.
nice…
Very brief and to the point.it clearly indicates the source(Who) the information(What) the carrie(Channel) the recipient(Whom) and the result(Effect).absolutely its complete.kudos
I need more points. This is too short.
itz too brief
Very simple and clear
I appreciate
This is a very to short model,but with a great results
Thanks alot
A challenging school of thought yet to be challenged. May I have more of this on my email!
Wish you a prosperous 2012
add more material for students for understand better
It’s quite interesting but, it’s too complicated for me to understood, bcos i’m new in mass communication & i’ll really appreciate if you can enlighten me more on this topic called COMMUNICATION PROCESS… Thanks
well explained
brief and concise.love it.
Although Lasswell’s model identifies the message as an element in the process, it fails to include non-verbal messages thus over looking a very important body of signals available to a sender during communication.
the theory is good but he should have came up with other ideas.it is like all the models have same thing
the model is good &implicit but try to more advantages &disadvantages
it is to short and i needed more information but thank you for the given information
the theory is clearly understandable,appreciate it!
more information need to be added.,but i appreciate
contains the very much needed information. keep updating ,chao
State the difference between Aristotle’s model n Lasswell’s
mmmmmh,explanations worth checkn
I think more is needed to added on this
Wow, I now don’t need to turn the library upside down looking for Laswell’s comm model! Thanx
i, agree with lisa TElly
thank you…..
Muchias Gracias!
I want to write an assignment about this topic plz include some more information