On whether one can(not) not communicate: An examination via traditional communication postulates

Abstract

Despite the popularity of the Watzlawick, Beavin, and Jackson (1967) axiom that one cannot not communicate, the position warrants reexamination in light of other popular claims about the nature of communication. This paper reviews four traditional communication postulates‐namely, that communication is interactive, involves encoding, involves the exchange of symbols, and has a fidelity dimension‐and finds each to be a contradiction of the popular axiom. The contradictions force a rejection of the axiom or a rejection of the postulates. Neither decision need affect the kinds of human behavior studied as relevant to communication, but the decision does affect general conceptualizations and specific claims about communication.