In one line
Postulates are the basic, accepted truths about how communication always behaves, whatever the situation.
Explained simply
Imagine you sit silently with arms folded in a group discussion. You said nothing, yet everyone 'read' you as bored or angry. That shows one postulate: you are always communicating. Postulates are like the ground rules of the game; they hold whether you notice them or not.
Technically, postulates (or axioms) are self-evident principles on which the study of communication rests. Several were stated by Paul Watzlawick and colleagues (1967); textbooks add others drawn from communication theory.
How it works
- One cannot not communicate: silence, posture, dress and even absence send messages.
- Meanings are in people, not in words: the same word ('cheap', 'fine') is understood differently by different people based on their background.
- Communication is a dynamic, continuous, two-way process: it keeps changing with feedback and context.
- Communication is irreversible: once said or sent, a message cannot be taken back; an apology does not erase it.
- Every message has a content aspect and a relationship aspect: 'Submit the report now' carries facts and also shows who has authority.
- Communication is complete only when the receiver understands and responds (feedback).
- Communication is both verbal and non-verbal; when they conflict, people usually trust the non-verbal cues.
Quick example
A team lead says 'Good job' while looking at her phone and sighing. The words (content) praise you, but the tone and lack of eye contact (relationship aspect, non-verbal) suggest disinterest. You feel unappreciated. This shows three postulates together: meaning is in the receiver, non-verbal cues carry weight, and the relationship aspect matters as much as content.
Common mistakes
- Confusing postulates with objectives; postulates describe what communication is, objectives describe what it is for.
- Writing only names of postulates without explaining or giving an example.
- Saying silence means 'no communication'; it is one of the strongest messages.
How MU asks it
Asked as 'Explain the postulates of communication' (5 marks) or as part of 'Basic concepts of communication' (definition, objectives, postulates together, 5 to 6 marks). Write four to six postulates, each in one or two sentences with a small workplace or college example. Naming Watzlawick for 'one cannot not communicate' adds value.