Research on communication models has shifted from linear models, which didn’t take into account the effects that the recipients of the message can send back to the sender (McQuail and Windhal, 1982), to circular models, such as the one theorized by Watzlawick et al. (1967).Circular models of communication consider communication as a circular process that starts from one subject, reaches another and returns to the starting subject, in a circular process that involves feedback.
Based on these studies, the CQ: Communication Quotient™ methodology has developed a communication model of what is referred to as the “CQ: Communication Loop™”.

The CQ: Communication Loop™ describes the communication process as an exchange of information capable of producing a change, a circular interactive process in which the behavior of the effector influences and is influenced by the behavior of the recipient in a perspective of circular causality.
The CQ: Communication Loop™ is a circular model of communication that focuses on the whole set of processes that make up communication. In linear models, one fundamental element is not taken into account: the feedback from the person receiving the message. In the CQ: Communication Loop™, the focus is not only on who sends the message and what that message is, but also how that message is received and interpreted by the receiver and what feedback it produced.

In framework of CQ: Communication Quotient™ methodology, the two fundamental processes involved in the CQ: Communication Loop™ are referred to as Expressive and Receptive IntelligenceTM.

Expressive Intelligence™ involve the cognitive and linguistic skills necessary to identify the intended meaning of our thoughts or ideas and effectively transform them into communicative messages. This process requires proficiency in various aspects, including clarity of expression, concise articulation, conscious intention and appropriate timing in delivering the message.

On the other hand, Receptive Intelligence™ pertain to the cognitive processes involved in extracting and comprehending the content and conceptual meaning embedded within a communication. This involves active listening, which entails attentiveness, engagement and the ability to decipher and interpret the intended message. Additionally, critical thinking skills are essential in evaluating and analyzing the received information.

CI: Communication Intelligence™ entails the conscious an deliberate use of both Expressive and Receptive Intelligence™. It involves being intentional and purposeful with the choice of words, and employing Expressive Intelligence™ to effectively convey thoughts and intentions. Simultaneously, it necessitates the development of Receptive Intelligence™, enabling individuals to attentively listen, comprehend and extract meaning from the communication of others.
The conscious application of expressive and receptive intelligence contributes to effective and meaningful communication interactions within the CQ: Communication Loop™.

The development of this model also gave light to the study of how the CQ: Communication Loop™ can be broken.
Some specific types of listening, such as passive, selective and competitive listening, can interrupt the circular flow of the loop in different ways, stopping or altering the communication process.