Non-Verbal Communication

5.1 Mehrabian's 7-38-55 Rule (1971)

Albert Mehrabian (1971, Silent Messages) conducted experiments on emotional communication and found:

• 7% of emotional meaning conveyed through words (verbal)
• 38% through vocal elements (tone, pitch, pace, volume)
• 55% through non-verbal signals (facial expressions, posture, gestures)

Important caveat: Mehrabian's rule applies specifically to emotional/attitudinal communication — not to all communication. A technical briefing relies much more on the 7% verbal content.

5.2 Types of Non-Verbal Communication

Type	Description	Example
Kinesics	Body movement; posture, gestures, facial expressions	Open arms = welcoming; crossed arms = defensive
Proxemics	Personal space (Hall, 1966) — Intimate (0–45cm), Personal (45cm–1.2m), Social (1.2–3.7m), Public (3.7m+)	A boss sitting behind a large desk creates social distance
Paralanguage	Vocal cues — tone, pitch, speed, pause	Speaking slowly and clearly signals importance
Haptics	Touch — handshakes, pats	Cultural variation: highly appropriate in some, inappropriate in others
Chronemics	Use of time — punctuality, meeting length	Being late = disrespect in Western cultures
Appearance	Dress, grooming, artifacts	Official uniform signals authority

For administrators: A district collector's non-verbal communication during a public grievance hearing — maintaining eye contact, leaning forward, nodding — signals genuine listening and increases citizen trust.

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