Mehrabian Communication Theory Summary
“The non-verbal elements are particularly important for communicating feelings and attitude, especially when they are incongruent: if words and body language disagree, one tends to believe the body language.” Albert Mehrabian The Mehrabian Communication Theory, often referred to as the "7-38-55 Rule," is a theory developed by Albert Mehrabian, a professor of psychology. The theory suggests that communication can be divided into three elements: verbal, vocal, and visual. According to Mehrabian, the relative importance of each element in conveying meaning differs. He claimed that when there is inconsistency between the verbal, vocal, and visual elements, people tend to rely more on nonverbal cues to interpret the message. Mehrabian explained the breakdown of the average percentages associated with each element.
It's important to note that the Mehrabian Communication Theory specifically applies to situations where emotions or attitudes are being conveyed. The theory does not hold true for all forms of communication, such as technical or factual information. However, it's worth mentioning that the 7-38-55 Rule has faced some criticism and has been misinterpreted over time. The percentages are often mistakenly applied to general communication situations or taken out of context. It's essential to understand that effective communication is a complex process, and the relative importance of verbal, vocal, and visual elements can vary depending on the context, cultural factors, and individual differences. An example of the application of Mehrabian Communication Theory An example of this in practice could be during a job interview. Lets assume a candidate is asked whether they are excited about the job opportunity. Words (7%): The candidate says, "Yes, I'm very excited." Tone of Voice (38%): The candidate's tone is flat and monotonous, lacking enthusiasm. Body Language (55%): The candidate avoids eye contact, has slumped shoulders, and doesn't smile. According to Mehrabian's theory, the interviewer might perceive that the candidate is not genuinely excited about the job. Despite the candidate's words saying they are excited; the tone and body language potentially suggest otherwise. This is because the non-verbal cues (tone and body language) carry much more weight in the overall message. There may well of course be other issues and probing questions will likely need to be used to explore and validate if needed. Mehrabian's theory highlights the importance of congruence between what we say, how we say it, and our body language, especially in face-to-face communication. If there's a mismatch, people are more likely to trust the non-verbal signals over the actual words spoken. Alec McPhedran is an international creative sector coach and mentor and specialises in nurturing next generation talent as well as supporting creative business leaders. For more information, visit www.mcphedran.co.uk. Copyright © Alec McPhedran 2024
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AuthorAlec McPhedran is a long established creative arts coach and mentor. Archives
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