Issued Date: 13 February 2025
Published Date: 14 February 2025
Author Affiliations: Upasana
Abstract:
This review is a critical examination of the tenets and suggestions of the book, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg. The book offers a conceptualisation of both empathy and communication, not as mere skills, but as practices to internalise and embody in order to better improve relationships at the intrapersonal, interpersonal and even intergroup levels. Through actionable insights, examples, and exercises, the book lays out the common barriers to effective communication and the components of nonviolent communication. While its accessibility and comprehensibility in terms of explanations are its strength, it is limited by the lack of empirical evidence and questionable cross-cultural applicability due to the absence of engagement with power and resistance in different contexts. Through an analysis of contemporary research evidence testing the model as well as insights from humanistic and positive psychology, this review offers a comprehensive inquiry into the book and its relevance today for improving communication and resolving conflicts.
Keywords:
Empathy · Listening · Relational Needs · Internal Dialogue
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