Lasswells model of communication is one of the earliest and most influential models of communication, first published by Harold Lasswell in his 1948 book "The Structure and Function of Communication in Society". The model aims to organize the "scientific study of the process of communication". Initially formulated for the analysis of mass communication, such as radio, television, and newspapers, it has also been applied to various other fields and forms of communication, including new media like the internet, computer animations, and video games.
Lasswell's model is often used in pedagogical settings to teach students the major elements of the communication process and as a starting point for developing hypotheses. The model analyzes communication in terms of five basic questions:
- Who?: The communicator or sender of the message, which can also be an intermediary.
- Says What?: The content of the message or the message that the sender spreads.
- In Which Channel?: The medium or channel used to convey the message.
- To Whom?: The audience or receiver of the message.
- With What Effect?: The impact or effect of the message on the audience.
Lasswell's model suggests that communication flows in a multicultural society with multiple audiences, and the message can be transmitted through various channels. The model is similar to Aristotle's communication model, which also includes the elements of sender, message, medium, receiver, and effect.
The advantages of Lasswell's model include its simplicity and applicability to various forms of communication. However, some theorists argue that criticism of the model is based on a misinterpretation, as most models of communication take the form of graphical representation, while Lasswell's model is more text-based.
