The spiral model of communication was invented by Frank Dance , an American communication scholar.

Quick Scoop: Key Facts

  • The spiral (also called helical) model of communication is most widely credited to Frank Dance.
  • It presents communication as a dynamic, continuous, and ever‑growing process, expanding like a spiral as people gain experience and vocabulary.
  • In multiple communication exam reviewers and quizzes, “Who invented the spiral model of communication?” is answered with “Dance.”

Why It’s Called Spiral/Helical

  • Dance’s idea is that communication does not simply move in a straight line or a closed loop; instead, it grows and changes over time, like a widening spiral.
  • Each interaction is influenced by past communication and added experience, so the process becomes richer and more complex as it continues.

Not to Confuse With Software Spiral Model

  • There is also a Spiral Model in software engineering created by Barry Boehm in the 1980s, but that is about software development, not human communication.
  • When exam questions or textbooks say “spiral model of communication,” they refer to Frank Dance’s communication model, not Boehm’s software process model.

TL;DR: The spiral (helical) model of communication was developed by Frank Dance, who described communication as a continuously expanding, experience- based spiral rather than a simple linear exchange.

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