7-38-55 Rule

The 7-38-55 Rule, also known as Mehrabian's Rule, is a communication principle proposed by psychologist Albert Mehrabian. It suggests that when we communicate our feelings and attitudes, the message we convey consists of three main elements: body language, tone of voice, and words. According to the rule, the impact of these elements on the listener is distributed as follows:

1. 55% comes from body language (facial expressions, gestures, posture, etc.)
2. 38% comes from tone of voice (pitch, volume, intonation, etc.)
3. 7% comes from the actual words spoken

In simple terms, this rule implies that non-verbal cues (body language and tone of voice) have a more significant impact on how our message is received than the words we use. However, it's important to note that Mehrabian's findings mainly apply to situations where we communicate feelings and attitudes, not necessarily factual information.

Here are some simple examples:

1. If someone says "I'm fine" with a smile, relaxed posture, and a cheerful tone, we are likely to believe they are genuinely fine due to their positive body language and tone of voice, despite the generic words.
2. Conversely, if a person says "I'm fine" with crossed arms, a frown, and a dismissive tone, we might doubt their words and assume they are not actually fine because their body language and tone of voice contradict their statement.
3. When giving a presentation, if the speaker maintains eye contact, speaks confidently and clearly, and uses engaging gestures, the audience is more likely to find them credible and persuasive, even if the content of their speech is less impactful.

Remember, the 7-38-55 Rule is a general principle and might not apply to all communication scenarios. However, it does highlight the importance of being aware of non-verbal cues when conveying feelings and attitudes.

The 7-38-55 Rule, also known as Mehrabian's Rule, is a communication principle proposed by psychologist Albert Mehrabian in the 1960s. It posits that when conveying feelings and attitudes, the message's impact is derived from three primary components: non-verbal cues (body language and tone of voice) and the words used (Mehrabian, 1971). The rule assigns the following percentages to these components:

55% comes from body language (facial expressions, gestures, posture, etc.) 38% comes from tone of voice (pitch, volume, intonation, etc.) 7% comes from the actual words spoken Mehrabian's Rule relates to various communication principles and scientific topics, such as non-verbal communication, emotional intelligence, and social psychology.

Non-verbal communication plays a crucial role in human interaction (Birdwhistell, 1970). It encompasses elements like facial expressions, gestures, and posture, which often convey more information about a person's feelings and attitudes than their words (Ekman, 1965).

Emotional intelligence, the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own and others' emotions (Goleman, 1995), is closely linked to non-verbal communication. Understanding non-verbal cues, such as those highlighted in Mehrabian's Rule, is an essential component of emotional intelligence.

Mehrabian's Rule also aligns with social psychology principles, as it highlights the importance of non-verbal cues in interpersonal relationships (Argyle, 1975). The rule underscores the need to be aware of these cues when communicating with others, especially when expressing feelings and attitudes.

However, it is important to note that the 7-38-55 Rule primarily applies to situations where feelings and attitudes are communicated, not necessarily factual information. Critics argue that the rule may be oversimplified or misinterpreted (Lapakko, 1997), so it should be considered within its original context.

References

• Argyle, M. (1975). Bodily Communication. International Universities Press.
• Birdwhistell, R. L. (1970). Kinesics and Context: Essays on Body Motion Communication. University of Pennsylvania Press.
• Ekman, P. (1965). Differential communication of affect by head and body cues. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2(5), 726-735.
• Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. Bantam Books.
• Lapakko, D. (1997). Three cheers for language: A closer examination of a widely cited study of nonverbal communication. Communication Education, 46(1), 63-67.
• Mehrabian, A. (1971). Silent Messages. Wadsworth Publishing Company.