Answer:
D) 7%
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that a specific percentage of the meaning and intent of communication is conveyed by spoken words is a topic of debate and has been widely misunderstood. The statement you provided is often associated with the "7% rule," but it is a misinterpretation of research conducted by Albert Mehrabian in the 1960s.
Mehrabian's research focused on the relative importance of different communication channels (verbal, vocal, and nonverbal) when expressing emotions and attitudes in certain contexts. He found that:
Verbal content (spoken words): Accounts for about 7% of the overall impact.
Vocal tone (paralinguistic cues like pitch, tone, and volume): Accounts for about 38% of the overall impact.
Nonverbal communication (body language, facial expressions, gestures, etc.): Accounts for about 55% of the overall impact.
It's crucial to note that Mehrabian's research specifically pertained to situations where the content of the communication was inconsistent with the speaker's tone and nonverbal cues. In other words, if someone said one thing but their tone and body language conveyed something different, listeners tended to rely more on the nonverbal cues to determine the speaker's true intent or feelings.
However, this 7-38-55 breakdown should not be interpreted as a universal rule for all types of communication. The importance of each element can vary significantly depending on the context, culture, and individuals involved in the communication. Moreover, for conveying precise information, spoken words are usually the primary means.