The Communication Spectrum

The Communication Spectrum is a model that helps us understand the different styles of human interaction, ranging from abusive to appreciative, with everyday dialogue in between.

This model is a valuable tool for identifying unhealthy forms of communication that are often trivialized, but can permanently damage our relationships.

Being aware of where we fall on this spectrum allows us to make informed decisions about how we want to interact with others and what behaviors we want to change in ourselves.

The importance of being aware of communication style

Often, we are unaware of the toxicity of our own relationships, whether at work or at home.

The Communication Spectrum forces us to reflect on whether we would recommend our relationships to someone we love, and if the answer is no, it makes us question why we tolerate destructive patterns.

Verbal abuse, for example, is an insidious form of control that is often normalized.

It occurs behind closed doors and gradually erodes the self-esteem of the victim, who may come to believe that such treatment is normal.

Verbal abuse and shifting focus

Verbal abuse manifests itself in many forms, from direct insults to sarcastic remarks that seek to belittle the other person.

What defines abuse is not the form, but the intent: to divert attention from the core problem to attack the person in order to exert control over them.

Instead of having a conversation about a problem, verbal abuse transforms the dialogue into a power struggle.

The Communication Spectrum helps us identify these patterns and understand that, to improve our interactions, we must choose communication that makes us feel good about ourselves and others.

Summary

The Communication Spectrum is a model that helps us understand different styles of interaction. It allows us to identify unhealthy forms of communication that can permanently damage relationships. Being aware of our style helps us make better decisions.

We are often unaware of the toxicity of our own relationships. Verbal abuse, for example, is a form of control that becomes normalized and erodes the victim's self-esteem.

Verbal abuse transforms dialogue into a power struggle. To improve our interactions, we must choose communication that makes us feel good about ourselves and others.