What are the strengths and weakness of the communication cycle?

Answer 1

The main strength is the fact it is a description of the two way process of communication and therefore it explains how it occurs. It clearly indicates that it is the health and social care professional who has to have the advanced listening skills and the ability to check their understanding of others responses (Moonie, N. 2006 AS Level for OCR Health and Social Care, publisher Heinemann).

The main weakness is the fact that it suggests too great an emphasis on the health and social care professional having skilled active listening skills, a range of communication skills which enable them to reflect on what is being communicated to them and responding appropriately. This suggests the respondent is a passive listener of the message when in reality they too need a range of communication skills if they are to be empowered to control the communication. It also suggests that the main focus is getting the message across whereas often the message may be secondary to establishing a relationship with the service user.