EFFECTS OF COMMUNICATION:Helping Out Others, Relaxation

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Introduction to Mass Communication MCM 101

LESSON 09

EFFECTS OF COMMUNICATION

Communication generally and mass communication in particular has a great deal to serve a diversity

of purposes human beings have always wished to achieve. The strong effects of striving to achieve purposes

of human communication are visible and helped bring harmony of living in a number of ways.

Here we will see how the process of communication at different scales has helped people of different

societies to benefit from exchanging views (messages) on subjects of their interest. First we will see to what

effect the communication stands for.

Discover

The immediate effect of communication is to discover something from an individual to an idea to

physical exploration as a consequence of generating a message.

For centuries human beings have been striving to explore the world around them. Nothing more has helped

them in this quest than the communication. It is usually the answer to a communication which brings in

certain effects of discovery. Even to day when two people meet the communication starts from here; my

name is Sara and what is yours? Or, I live in Karachi and (where do) you (live)?

It is an instinct of human nature to discover matters around him or her. The process of communication

over the centuries has helped tremendously to mankind explore the world around and develop a civilization.

Relationship

Next to discovering, the most important effect of communication is to create relationship with

people and things around. A piece of communication is always targeted towards other people with whom

you want to have a relationship, or with whom a relationship of friendship or enmity already exist.

Usually the effect of communication is that a new relationship is set or a fresh dimension, which may be

strengthening an existing relationship, is given.

And this phenomenon is not confined to individuals. Nations have been seen striving to use the tool of

communication to bring this effect. High level diplomats and even heads of states are seen engaged in fresh

communication with their counterparts from societies with whom little association has been witnessed in

the past.

The mass communication has always worked strongly to fetch this effect to societies living a distance apart

from each other.

Historically, many a travelers roamed about the world even when traveling facilities had been scant, to

communicate and establish relationship. In many cases an effort by a small group of travelers had helped set

up long lasting relationships between people of two societies.

Helping Out Others

Hallmark of communication effects has been the human effort to provide assistance to other fellow

beings. It is due to communication from one part of the world to another that the suffering humanity is

saved from various disasters. At a lower scale as well, a piece of communication works miracle to save lives

of many. Think of a situation when a house catches fire and a family is trapped inside. One call to rescue

operation team a piece of communication, I will say activates so much movement of rescuers that in

most cases many lives are saved from what could have been a major catastrophe.

Hurricanes, excessive rains, earthquakes, epidemics and floods are but everyday occurring around the globe

but almost in every tragedy no sooner a communication is made, help starts pouring in from all around.

Stimulation

Stimulation, or persuasion, is another effect caused on human beings by communication. An advice

Introduction to Mass Communication MCM 101

from a teacher may effect into activating students to work more seriously, or conduct research on a given

topic.

At mass level, an appeal from a cherished leader to donate blood or to draw certain measures may do a

magic. For instance in the wake of soaring sugar prices if an appeal a communication- is made from a

leader asking people to reduce use of the sweetener may work more than other administrative measures and

the price may start falling due to low demand.

It is commonly observed that an organized and well thought after piece of communication causes a great

deal of persuasion on matters of common interest.

Relaxation

Among effects of communication one huge area is the relief which is effective when an exchange

of ideas or even receiving of messages is done in common life.

It is a frequent sight seeing people telling jokes to ward off their worries. Watching a humorous TV play

when one is tense does substantially well to change the mood and lessen the anxiety level. Similarly,

watching a tense match and seeing your favorite team winning eventually relaxes you to a large extent.

The effect of communication in relaxing people is also observed in meta-communication in which one is

involved with non living things as well.

Social Growth

Growth of social values, physical structures and increase in the overall intellectual level of a society

are result of the net effect it receives from the every day communication.

The exchange of message on scores of issues commonly shared by the people living in one society always

lead to organizing people in a better way. The coherence in living style gives a sort of strength to people of

one community which distinguishes it from others. Likewise, sharing of economic knowledge by the people

of same society is the effect of common swapping of expertise which some people have gained by their

individual efforts.

The present campaign of globalization and all the debate originating from it is a clear effect of the

communication which has been taking place on this subject over the decades. It is a matter of common

sense that the new approach of one village is going to benefit almost all the people who excel in any field of

life. Again, it is a piece of communication which will make people in the same village to come to know how

they can benefit from the expertise of others.

Communication Effects in Time and Space

Effects of communication are not limit to present day activities but as a matter of fact they go

beyond the limits of time and space. This is quite possible that an idea generated at one time of history is

materialized in some physical form at another stage.

Most scientific inventions, like radio, are the result of a multiple pieces of communication made by scientists

over a period of 150 years. Many scientists who professed presence of electromagnetic waves but could not

prove this in their life time, left behind a theory on which others worked and were able to discover a truth

in the original idea.

The distance consideration has also been overcome by ever progressing process of communication. A little

research done by a scientist on, for example a disease is widely known to others living miles away, thanks to

communication. This brings great effect in the science world and makes the collective human progress more

integrated.

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