This rule from psychologist Albert Mehrabian is the secret to better communication, provided you understand it well.
In 1967, Albert Mehrabian described for the first time the 7-38-55 rulewho highlighted the importance of the saying “It’s not what you say, but how you say it“. This psychologist and anthropologist, who taught at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), conducted numerous pioneering studies on non-verbal communication, particularly on the influence of gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice on the perception and understanding of messages.
His books, such as *Silent Messages* and *Non-Verbal Communication*, have become seminal works and have been widely studied and cited since their publication in the 1970s. His principle is quite surprising and contains a truth that remains valid today, more than 50 years later: it is fundamental when we talk about emotional intelligence. Additionally, understanding the 7-38-55 rule can help us deal with everyday situations.
What is the 7-38-55 rule?
The “7-38-55 rule” states that communication is transmitted as follows: 7% by words, 38% by tone of voice And 55% thanks to body language. This claim is based on two studies: one published by Mehrabian and Wiener, which compared the relative importance of words versus tone of voice, and a second published by Mehrabian and Ferris, which compared tone of voice and facial expression. The rule was later explained in detail in the book “Silent Messages”.
93% of communication is non-verbal and 7% is verbal. Expanding this analysis, we see that nonverbal communication includes…
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