What is the onion theory of communication

Onion model of communication and culture.As part of our conversations, we realised that the process is a bit like peeling back the layers of an.This definition ushered in the effects tradition, the idea that messages affect our affective (i.e., emotional) state.Irwin altman and dalmas taylor describe this progression from superficial to intimate levels of communication in social penetration theory, which is often called the onion theory because the model looks like an onion and involves layers that are peeled away (altman, i.The theory was formulated by psychologists irwin altman of the university of utah and dalmas taylor of the university of delaware in 1973 to understand relationship development between individuals.This is called the onion metaphor.

The next layer encompasses the beliefs, norms and attitudes of that culture.He says, the arts are the supreme form of the communicative activity, since any attempt to harness psychology to the service of criticism is bound to insist upon poetry.In the beginning, people establish relationships by disclosing many.