Nonviolent Communication Assignment 1

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is an approach to communication based on principles of
nonviolence. It is not a technique to end disagreements, but rather a method designed to increase
empathy and improve the quality of life of those who utilize the method and the people around
them. The objective of this assignment is to explain the significance of Nonviolent
Communication in society. The paper will define Nonviolent Communication in detail and
explain its importance. Thereafter, a conclusion will be drawn.
According to Ellen W. Gorsevki (2014), Nonviolent communication ( NVC) can be defined as a

spoken, written, or nonverbal means of conveying and receiving information, for instance by
sight or touch, the goal of developing and sustaining healthy and productive relationships. The
concept of Nonviolent Communication, also known as compassionate communication entails
that language and communication skills strengthen our ability to remain human. According to
Hnah (2003), speaking and listening with compassion are essential practices of Nonviolent
Communication. Mindful communication means being aware of what one is saying and to use
conscious and loving speech. It also means listening deeply to what another person is saying.
The significance of Nonviolent Communication in the society is to strengthen peoples ability to

inspire compassion and to respond compassionately to others and to themselves. Nonviolent
Communication guides people to reevaluate how they express themselves and hear others by
focusing one’s consciousness on what he or she is observing, feeling, needing, and requesting.
Nonviolent Communication trains people to make careful observations free of evaluation, and to
specify behaviours and conditions that are affecting them. Nonviolent Communication helps
people learn to hear their own deeper needs and those of others, and to identify and clearly
articulate what is needed in a given moment. Nonviolent Communication emphasises on deep
listening to oneself as well as others. The result is that it fosters respect, attentiveness and
empathy and causes a mutual desire to give from the heart. Some people use nonviolent
communication to respond compassionately to themselves, some to create greater depth in their
personal relationships and to build effective relationships at work or in the political space
(Marshall Rosenberg, 2015).
Nonviolent Communication is a powerful technique that can be used by society to strengthen

intercultural dialogue. Nonviolent Communication can help citizens to manage anger, promote
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positive emotions and effectively counter the problems arising out of rising tensions. The
important ingredients of nonviolent communication are: nonviolence in both our verbal and
nonverbal communication; learning the power of gratitude; importance of self-awareness;
avoidance of evaluative language; avoidance of stereotypes; learning the art of anger
management and patience; empathetic listening; believing in the divinity of all human beings;
caring for the needs of others; practicing flexibility and openness in all our communication
efforts.
According to Bode (1995), the Gandhian approach to nonviolent communication includes: a)

nonviolent speech and action, b) maintenance of relationships and enrichment of personhood, c)
openness and d) flexibility. For Gandhi, the goal of communication is to build and maintain
human relationships and personhood. Gandhi's insistence on nonviolence recognized the
importance of others, valued humanity and appreciated the importance of human relationships
and personhood. Gandhi's Nonviolent Communication theory includes the valuing of personhood
throughout the world, but he also stressed the importance of individual relationships and
friendships.
Furthermore, Nonviolent Communication in a social setting eliminates all forms of

discrimination, prejudice and bias. It prevents citizens from evaluating others and forming
prejudged notions about other individuals. On the importance of Nonviolent Communication,
Senior Gandhian Natwar Thakkar pointed out that “To me nonviolent communication literacy
would mean how our communication efforts should be nonviolent; how our ability and capacity
to communicate not only with ourselves but with our family and society be nonviolent in all
aspects and overall how the entire process of communication whether between individuals,
groups, communities and the world at large should be nonviolent in nature. This would entail
deep understanding of the art and science of nonviolence and its centrality in all our daily
actions. It's not just verbal and nonverbal communication, nonviolent communication literacy
would also include whether our thoughts and ideas are nonviolent or not. This would also mean
how we can rid of our preconceived notions of individuals or groups with whom we want to
communicate and stop evaluating them to suit our own ideas. More than often we are attuned to
think in terms of moralistic judgments which may be our own constructions. By developing deep
understanding of the art and science of nonviolence and integrating it in our communication
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practices we could get over with biased and moralistic judgments; this in turn could contribute to
emotional bridge building.”
Nonviolent Communication fosters joy and happiness to communicators because people become
aware and mindful of their feelings as well as those of others. Awareness as an element of
Nonviolent Communication prevents one from injuring another person feelings due to
recklessness in communicating a message. Thich Nhat Hanh’s (1998) postulated on the nature
and importance of Nonviolent Communication the following: “Aware of the suffering caused by
unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving
speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of
suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am determined to learn to
speak truthfully, with word that inspires self confidence, joy and hope. I will not spread news
that I do not know to be certain and will not criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I
will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord or words that can cause the
family or the community to break. I am determined to make all efforts to reconcile and resolve
all conflicts, however small.” The foregoing sentiments indicate how power communication is in
that communication has the power and potential to destroy or build societies. Hence, the need for
individuals to consider and be aware of other people emotions.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that Nonviolent Communication focuses on effective strategies for meeting
fundamental needs for all parties in a conversation. The goal is interpersonal harmony and
obtaining knowledge for future cooperation. Notable concepts include rejecting coercive forms
of discourse, gathering facts through observing without evaluating, genuinely and concretely
expressing feelings and needs, and formulating effective and empathetic requests. The
significance of Nonviolent Communication in society can be said to founded on language and
communication skills that strengthen our ability to remain human, even under difficult
conditions. It guides people in reframing how they express themselves and hear others. Instead of
habitual, automatic reactions, an individuals words become conscious responses based firmly on
awareness of what he or she is perceiving, feeling and wanting. People are led to express
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themselves with honesty and clarity, while simultaneously paying others a respectful and
empathetic attention.
References
Bode, R.A. 1995. Mahatma Gandhi’s Theory of Nonviolent Communication. Paper presented at
the Annual Meeting of the Western States Communication Association.
Gorsevski, E. W. (2014). Nonviolence as a Communication Strategy An Introduction to the

Rhetoric of Peacebuilding. In Robert S. Fortner and P. Mark Fackler. (eds). The Handbook of
Media and Mass Communication Theory. UK: Wiley.
Hanh, Thich Nhat. 1998. The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into
Peace, Joy, and Liberation. New York: Harmony.
Rosenberg, M.B. 2015. Nonviolent communication: A language of life. 2nd ed. Encinitas:
Puddle Dancer Press.

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Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is an approach to communication based on principles of

According to Ellen W. Gorsevki (2014), Nonviolent communication ( NVC) can be defined as a

The significance of Nonviolent Communication in the society is to strengthen peoples ability to

Nonviolent Communication is a powerful technique that can be used by society to strengthen

According to Bode (1995), the Gandhian approach to nonviolent communication includes: a)

Furthermore, Nonviolent Communication in a social setting eliminates all forms of

Gorsevski, E. W. (2014). Nonviolence as a Communication Strategy An Introduction to the

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