Transformative communication (TC) is not a concept coined by a single person, nor is it a rigidly defined and officially recognised conceptual framework. TC is a term used by academics, activists, educators and others to describe how communication can be used for personal and social transformation. It draws on interdisciplinary work, such as feminist or ecological thinking, decolonial studies, conflict resolution or community practices for empowerment and social justice. It is part of a broader movement to rethink how communication can shape power, identity and social structures through dialogue and interaction.
TC enables conflict resolution and transforms relationships, fostering mutual understanding and challenging power dynamics that foster inequality and injustice.
TC aims to break down barriers and bridge gaps between people, both interpersonal and those created by racism, sexism or other systems of oppression. The vision is that communication can be a tool for creating lasting social change by transforming personal behaviours and attitudes, and social norms.
Many versions of transformative communication can co-exist in its conception and practice. Lighthouse joins individuals or groups of people who use it, experiment with it and define it in their ways of thinking and acting in pursuit of a common goal. Although constantly evolving, these are some of the pillars of TC as Lighthouse understands and practices it today:
TC aims to contribute to social justice by working from an intersectional perspective. The empowerment that TC pursues, at Lighthouse we work on a community or group level as well as on a personal level.
TC is based on constructive dialogue, active listening, empathy and individual and collective reflective practices to understand and transform social and self-relationships.
TC can be used in conflict management to heal, repair, mediate and agree, whether in interpersonal relationships, in groups or communities or larger social structures.
At Lighthouse we use TC from an intersectional perspective including analysis and awareness of various possible discriminations and their intersection. By integrating TC with an understanding of the structural injustices that affect individuals and communities that suffer marginalisation or oppression, TC becomes a tool not only for personal empowerment, but also for social transformation.
The theoretical and practical ideas around TC have evolved through the work of diverse theoretical, activist and academic people, who have influenced the understanding of social interactions and communication as a tool for deep personal and social change.
Some of the many bodies of theory from the Global North and Global South on which Lighthouse TC draws are:
Marshall Rosenberg (1934-2015): creator of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), an approach centred on empathy, active listening and honest expression of needs and feelings. His work seeks to transform interpersonal conflicts through a process of respectful and collaborative dialogue and offers concrete techniques and resources to do so. Rosenberg’s CNV promotes critical reflection and mutual understanding, invites the challenge of hierarchical relationships and aims to help empower individuals and collectives to transform their environments through communication that fosters connection and respect. His best known work: ‘Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life’ (2003).
bell hooks (1952-2021): Her work promoted an inclusive and critical view of how socio-cultural and political structures perpetuate oppression. Her approach to intersectional feminism allows the experiences of marginalised groups to be recognised and given voice, necessary to facilitate a more equitable dialogue. It challenges rigid gender norms, promoting communication that encourages freedom, empathy and equity. The idea of love as a revolutionary principle drives the construction of relationships based on mutual respect and care, key to generating social transformations. In his analysis of media and popular culture, he points to the importance of critical communication that challenges dominant narratives and encourages a more realistic representation of all groups.
Paulo Freire (1921-1997): His ideas on education, dialogue and critical consciousness have been central to understanding how communication can drive social change. He agrees with TC on the importance of dialogue and active participation in the construction of knowledge, challenging power structures. Freire sought awareness-raising and critical reflection to generate profound social change, empowering individuals as agents of transformation. His best known work: ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ (1970).