Apply Mehrabian's 7-38-55 rule only to inconsistent messages about feelings and attitudes.
Use this ladder when words, tone, and body do not line up around feelings or attitudes. Congruence Ladder Words What was said content Voice Pace, tone, energy attitude signal Face and body Expression, posture, orientation felt signal Baseline and cluster Is this a topic-linked shift? interpret cautiously Words still matter for facts and commitments. Nonverbal cues matter most when attitude signals conflict. Baseline prevents overclaiming. Which use of Mehrabian's 7-38-55 rule is most defensible?
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