Communication is hard, although it is often seen as the key to successful interpersonal relationships. But it is surprising how little we know about how to do it effectively considering its importance. Luckly there are many experts that have focused on the best ways to do it for decades and all we have to do is understand their theories and apply them to our lives. One of the most popular communication theories is the 7-38-55 rule, which has been popular for decades and for good reasons.
Coined in 1967 by University of California, Los Angeles, psychologist Albert Mehrabian, this 7-38-55 model is still applied today due to its simplicity. The theory states that 7 percent of communication is conveyed by our words, 38 percent comes via our tone of voice, and 55 percent comes through body language. Although the numbers are not easy to remember, they do provide a very clear understanding of how important the author saw the different communication vehicles that we humans use and can provide a fun guideline to understand our communication.
Although this rule does not actually work in real life, the percentages are skewed and there is a lot more to life than silly rules, understanding how it works and why Mehrabian created it can give many struggling to communicate the tools to do so in a simple way that can help them succeed in important everyday situations.
The problems with the 7-38-55 rule as a style of communication
Like most psychological tricks, this rule was misappropriated by pop psychology to help people advance in their career or professional environment. While of course it can help, the rule was not created with this intent and most of the articles and advice columns are misinterpreting the original text.
The rule pertains specifically to communication involving emotions or attitudes, like when someone’s words, tone, and facial expressions do not align. According to his research, when there is a mismatch in emotional messaging, only 7% of the meaning comes from words, 38% from tone of voice, and 55% from facial expressions and it is important to note this breakdown does not apply to all communication, especially factual or straightforward content like a business meeting.
However, in emotionally charged or ambiguous situations, like detecting hidden frustration or gauging genuine enthusiasm, it can be a valuable tool for interpreting mixed signals. What this effectively means is that you can use it to interpret whether the person in front of you is matching their words to their attitude, not a way to manipulate situations to get to the top without effort.
Leaning on body language to see if you can trust the person in front of you is useful as long as you know how to do it, and if you are able to decipher what the nonverbal communication means, you will be one step closer to understanding the conversation.
This rule can also be very helpful when you are expressing your own emotions, as how you deliver a message can matter just as much, if not more, than the words themselves. A mismatch between your tone, gestures, and facial expressions can undercut what you are trying to convey, often leading others to trust your nonverbal cues over your spoken message. This is especially critical for leaders or anyone handling sensitive topics, where nervous habits or flat delivery can send the wrong signal. It is a reminder that truly effective communication often requires presence and alignment across body language, voice, and words.
So do not take this rule as gospel, but do try to make sure than when you speak you do so with mindfulness, and trying to control your body language, as it will help you make the most of your interactions.