Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Glossary
A Guide for Commonly Used Terms in NVC
I was teaching in the local jail and noticed several times the participants were not understanding the word nonviolent the way I intended. I searched for an NVC glossary and did not find one. I decided to create one. These are my understandings of the terms and I looked for Marshall's interpretation as the main source. Another source is Mediate Your Life by Ike and John. If you think you have a better definition or would like some terms added please contact me.
NVC nonviolence passive violence observations feelings needs requests empathy self empathy expressing honestly 4 Ds of disconnect jackal giraffe strategy play fake feelings mourning process NVC Focus Questions 2 Questions moralistic judgments value judgments life-alienating communication shoulds inner educator pulling ears compromise NVC mediation enemy image healing and reconciliation classic NVC street giraffe interrupting tracking
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) A process created by
Marshall Rosenberg that involves using observations, feelings, needs and requests to express what
is alive in us. He found this process created connection and a natural desire to give from the heart.
more on the NVC model
Nonviolence Mohandas K. (Mahatma) Gandhi understood nonviolence from its Sanskrit root “Ahimsa”.
Ahimsa is just translated to mean nonviolence in English, but it implies more than just avoidance of physical violence. Ahimsa implies total nonviolence,
no physical violence, and no passive violence. Gandhi translates Ahimsa as love. This is explained by Arun Gandhi in an interview thus; “He (Gandhi) said
ahimsa means love. Because if you have love towards somebody, and you respect that person, then you are not going to do any harm to that person.” In the
face of violence and injustice, Gandhi considers violent resistance preferable to cowardly submission. There is hope that a violent man may someday be
nonviolent, but there is no room for a coward to develop fearlessness (From
mkgandhi.org.) Marshall said he means nonviolent the way Gandhi used it.
Passive Violence The type of violence that is more emotional. What we say or how we act when we don't
demonstrate love and respect. All of us are violent to some degree, out of our ignorance we are not aware of our violence. Passive violence generates
anger in the "victim," who as an individual or part of a collective, responds violently.
Observation What we perceive from the five physical senses, separate from our evaluations. Skill: Differentiating what we perceive, separate from our evaluations and specifying
behaviors and conditions that are affecting us. Note: We can also observe our thoughts and memories (internal observations.) However if our intent is to create connection, expressing our thinking is less likely to create connection than just external observations.
Skill Differentiating observations from evaluations and expressing only the observation. If we can't stop ourselves from
expressing an evaluation at least take responsibility that it is your thought. Example; When you turned into the one way street the wrong
way, I thought you weren't paying attention.Observation Page
Feeling (Emotion) The emotion we are experiencing, as caused by, but separate from
what we are thinking. Also the physical feelings associated with emotions. Emotions are negative if needs are unmet and positive if needs are met.
Skill Differentiating and expressing emotions in a way that does not imply judgment, criticism, blame or punishment. We feel an emotion because we have a met/unmet need. If negative emotion is expressed, end with a request so the other person knows what you are wanting.
Feelings Page
Needs Universal human needs/values that are expressed as being met or not met. Is not associated with
any individual needing to do something. Does not involve a strategy. Needs and strategies are frequently confused. Skill:
Identifying and expressing needs without turning them into strategies. Note: My experience is that most people have quite a challenge just saying the need without adding extra, such as who "should" meet the need.
Needs Page
Request
Asking for what we would like in a clear and specific manner of what we do want
(instead of what we do not want) and truly a request and not a demand. Marshall says we only want people to honor our requests if they can do
so with the joy of a young child feeding hungry ducks.
Request Page
Empathy Being fully present for another and only hearing observations, feelings needs and requests.
Empathy can be done silently. In NVC we demonstrate our understanding by paraphrasing what we have heard in the form of a question unless they have
specifically expressed feelings and needs, then we can acknowledge the feelings and needs. What empathy is not; Reassurance:
It's not that bad,
it could have been worse. Advice: This is what you should have done …One upping: Wait till you hear what happened to me …Educating:
If you could just learn to …Consoling: You did your best! Story telling: When I was a kid …Sympathizing: I feel awful for you.
Shutting Down: Just get over it. It's not that bad. Interrogating: What, where, when, why and how did … Explaining/Justifying: I was
only … Correcting: That's not true! Fixing: You are a wonderful person. (After someone puts themselves down.) Analyzing (psychiatrist):
When do you feel this way? Perhaps this is from childhood trauma. Using but: But, that's not what I meant. Needs associated with empathy;
acceptance (non-judgment), compassion, to be known, heard, seen or understood, presence, to matter
Empathy Page
Self Empathy Identifying our own observation, feeling, need and request without necessarily
expressing. If we do this we are much more likely to be able to give empathy. Important Skill: Being able to do this when we are triggered
and feeling anger, guilt, depression or shame. If we are feeling any of these we are not connected to our needs.
Self Empathy Exercise
Expressing Honestly Saying what we are observing, feeling, needing and requesting.
Four Ds of Disconnect Diagnosis - judging , labeling or criticizing. Denial of Responsibility
- Denial of choice or blaming. Demand - implies threat of punishment. Deserve - Links behavior with punishment and/or reward.
Jackal Represents someone speaking using the four Ds of disconnect.
Jackal language is the way a person in "jackal" mode communicates.
Enjoying the jackal show is, allowing yourself
to vent internally before connecting with feelings and needs. This can be helpful if you are stuck but be careful and only do it briefly. Jackal Ears - someone wearing "jackal ears" will turn everything into jackal language inside their head.
Giraffe Used to represent someone speaking in observation, feelings, needs and requests.
Giraffe language is speaking NVC. Baby Giraffe - someone learning the process. Often say uh or umm. Will fall down a lot.
Requires lots of love and patience to believe it is worth the effort to get better at giraffe language. Giraffe Ears - No matter
what is said, only hearing the observations, feelings, needs and requests. Sometimes before expressing a scary honesty message, someone
might ask the listeners to put on your "giraffe ears."
Strategy A specific
action or method to fulfill a need. All requests are strategies. Strategies are not necessarily requests. Often confused with needs. Example; I need you
to clean up after yourself. This is a strategy. Possible needs are; order, cleanliness, independence, interdependence, support, respect, consideration.
Conflicts arise at the strategy level due to specificity. Needs are general and do not conflict until specificity is introduced, at which point they are
no longer needs but strategies. Sometimes people think strategies are "bad." Strategies are neutral, it is our attachment to specific strategies that can
lead to pain.
Evaluative Words Confused with Feelings (Fake Feelings) Words expressed as though they are
emotions but are actually descriptions of someone else's behavior. These are thoughts or opinions. Some examples are; Abandoned, abused, betrayed,
rejected, misunderstood, intimidated, ignored, invisible, manipulated. A more accurate way of expressing would be to use the word think instead of
feel. I think I have been betrayed instead of I feel betrayed.
Mourning Process(Instead of Apology) Identify the feelings/unmet needs of the person in pain.
Express how you feel hearing the unmet needs. Express the needs you were trying to meet that kept you from meeting the other's needs. See if the other
has a request they would like to express. Do you have a request you would like to express?
NVC Focus Questions What is alive in us? What would make life more wonderful?
The 2 Questions What would we like people to do differently? Why do want them to do it?
We want the answer to the second question to be that they want to enrich life and not out of fear of punishment, guilt or obligation.
Moralistic Judgments Thoughts of rightness or wrongness. What allows violence (punishment) to feel good. Think of watching the superhero beat up the bad
guy.
Value Judgments When we judge whether a behavior meets our needs or not.
Life-alienating Communication Some forms; Moralistic Judgments, making comparisons, denial
of responsibility, demands, deserving of rewards or punishment, should language, have to, wrongness, when we look to an outside authority for definition
of what constitutes right, wrong, good or bad.
Don't Do Anything That Isn't Play Make choices out of a desire to contribute to life instead of out of fear,
guilt, shame, duty or obligation.
Should/Have to When we do things because we believe we have to or should we most likely feel
resentment and are doing them to avoid depression, guilt or shame. Be aware you are doing them because you choose to. Get in touch with your
intention by completing this sentence. I choose to . . . because I want . . .
Inner educator Our self-talk when we make a mistake. Unless we have been trained to be compassionate
to ourselves it is usually expressed with strong jackal language. The inner educator means well and wants to help us learn from our experiences. The
method usually evokes guilt, shame or even depression. Empathize with the inner educator to uncover the needs.
Pulling
by the Ear Asking for acknowledgment of feelings and needs when a person is reluctant to repeat
what another party has said.
Compromise In NVC the desired outcome is to get all the parties needs met. A compromise asks everyone
to give up something, leading to resentment. Compromise comes from a belief in lack. Collaboration comes from a belief in abundance. The conflict is at
the strategy level. There is no conflict at the need level.
Compromise Sucks
NVC Mediation A mediation where Nonviolent Communication is used to create connection, understanding and safety to explore solutions. Contexts:
- Internal - Mediating an internal conflict. For example; I enjoy smoking and do smoke. I think it is bad for my health to smoke
- Between Self and Other - When you are a party in a conflict. Jeff's comment: In my experience, this is the most difficult as you are playing two roles, mediator and participant.
- Informal (Buttinsky) - When someone mediates a conflict without the parties requesting his/her involvement
- Formal - When someone has been asked to act as mediator between two or more parties in conflict
Enemy Image
When we have judgments of wrongness about another person. Especially if we are in conflict
with that person. Enemy Image Process - A process of looking at our own needs about the enemy image and then guessing the feelings and needs of
the person we hold an enemy image of. In NVC mediation this is done separately before bringing the parties together.
Healing and Reconciliation A process where a skilled practitioner of the NVC process, role plays the person
who was the stimulus for pain as if they spoke NVC, for the person in pain.
Classic NVC Clearly speaking so it is obvious you are expressing observation, feeling, need
and request. When you said…., I felt…., because I am needing…, would you be willing to….?
Street Giraffe Speaking with the spirit of NVC in a more natural language. Jeff's comment: Many people seem to think it is important to speak in street giraffe so you don't come across as a psychologist. My personal experience is the flow and cadence is more important than whether it is classical or street. The pauses to think and the struggling for feelings and needs seems more stimulating, in my experience, than the format used.
Interrupting When you have heard more words than you want to hear. Interrupt the person by bringing focus to their feelings and needs. Usually done by saying "excuse me" repeatedly until you have the other person's attention enough they stop talking, so you can ask about their needs. In extreme cases Marshall says you can put your hands over your ears. Often people who are talking become nervous and talk more to fill the space. They don't even know why they are talking. I would say this is the question I am asked the most, "How do you stop someone who won't stop talking?"
Tracking This is not a term specific to NVC but is an important skill. Keeping track of what has been expressed is a demonstration of how present you are to the other party or parties. This can be demonstrated by acknowledging feelings and needs that have been clearly expressed and guessing feelings and needs that have not been clearly expressed. This seems nitpicky but in my experience it is very important to the person receiving empathy. When I am receiving empathy I am very aware of the difference and how it feels in my body.
NVC Police in Action
by (Sorry, no one will take responsibility for this)
Meanwhile back at the ranch
Empathy Clinic
Meanwhile, one floor down.
Gosh giraffe, I am not
comfortable talking with you. I go around and make sure everyone is doing NVC just right. Now I am trying to do it in front of you and I might
not get it right.
Are you a little nervous and
want to know you will be accepted even if you are not perfect?
Why yes, that would be great!
What would you like me to do so
you will be comfortable believing your needs for acceptance and trust will be met?
I think you are doing a good job so far. I am ready to start.
What do want to tell me?
Well this has been some day.
Those jackals sure know how to cause trouble. I'm just trying to do my job and make sure people are using NVC the way it was intended. If they would
just mind their own business things would be a lot better. I can't understand why jackals have to be so jackally. I work hard at saying things in an
NVC way.
Are you irritated?
Irritated, irritated!
why if I wasn't practicing nonviolence I 'd teach those jackals a thing or two .... or three.
A little stronger than irritated,
are you livid?
Well I don't know if I'm quite
livid, but I am pretty mad when I think of the stunt they pulled. Pretending to be a giraffe and then showing me they were fooling me.
So, you are pretty mad.
Would you like to be treated with respect?
Yes I would like respect but I
am not going to get it from those jackals.
(Silent pause)
It's not just respect. I want
them to get along with everyone without stirring up stuff just for their amusement. Pulling pranks like we're in a frat house. It's just sophomoric.
So you value harmony.
(In a much softer tone.) Yes, I
would like everyone to get along without bothering anyone else.
Do you want ease too?
(Softly again.) Yes, ease would
be nice.
Ease
harmony
respect
Why yes you've got it giraffe.
I feel much better thinking about the needs.
Take some time and just imagine those
needs being met.
( L o n g p a u s e )
Do you have any requests you would like to make of yourself or the jackals, pretending the jackals had learned NVC skills.
I want the jackals to stop
bothering everybody.
Well, you are telling me what
you don't want—what is it you do want to meet you needs for ease, harmony and respect?
What would that look like?
I want them to be nice.
What is an example of something
you consider "nice?"
Not tricking people.
What do you think my next comment
will be?
Could you make it what you
want instead of what you don't want.
I wonder if the jackals are
too stimulating for you. Do you have a request you could make of yourself?
Hmmm... I'd like to be more like you.
How do you deal with the jackals and not get mad.
So it's your belief I never get mad
dealing with jackals?
Well, you never seem upset.
You see, it's not that giraffe's
don't get upset. It's what we do when we get upset that determines if we are a fully developed giraffe or not.
So, if I see someone get upset,
I can tell them they are not practicing NVC?
Would your intention be to
create connection?
No, I want them to do it
right if they are going to do it.
I'm confused. I would
like some understanding. Would you tell me how you are practicing NVC if you are not intending connection?
Doesn't following the process
create connection?
I agree that following the NVC
process helps create connection. My understanding is that if you demand that someone follow the NVC process then you are not keeping in the spirit
of NVC.
I should know that, if it is a
demand, then it is not a request.
What's alive in you now?
I'm wondering if maybe I'm a
jackal.
Are you surprised?
Yes, I never thought
I could be a jackal.
Are you wanting to be in
integrity with your values?
I don't want people
thinking I am a jackal. I don't again—what I want is respect and acceptance.
Respect and acceptance are
important to you.
What's alive in you giraffe?
I'm curious and wondering if
you would like to hear something that might help get your need for acceptance met. Would you like to hear it?
Yes of course.
My theory is there is some jackal
and some giraffe in all of us. Which one controls our behavior and talking determines how others see us.
You have a jackal in you?
Would you like to see it?
No thanks, one jackal in a
giraffe is one too many already.
Would you be willing to look
in the magic NVC mirror?
What's that?
It would be easier to
demonstrate than explain.
OK
(Softly) Crikey
When you look at the
mirror are you disturbed?
Looks like I am mostly jackal.
The mirror shows how you talk
to yourself.
I'm a jackal to myself?
What do you say to yourself
when you make a mistake?
I'd have to arrest myself if I said it.
I take it it's not NVC then.
Not quite.
It's your inner educator.
It means well, it just works through guilt and shame.
What can I do.
Empathize with your inner educator.
Would you help me with it?
I would enjoy it immensely.
What is your inner educator saying?
I shouldn't let the jackals
upset me.
What do you imagine the inner educator
is feeling and needing?
Feeling disappointment and wanting
me to stay connected to my needs so my behavior comes from a place of awareness.
(After pause)
How are you doing now?
Wow, much better.
Take a moment to think of a request
for yourself.
Next time the jackals
come around, connect with my feelings and needs before responding if I respond at all.
If you forget, what
would you like your inner educator to say?
It's not about being perfect instantly.
A gradually improvement is more realistic.
Sounds good to me.
Giraffe, I feel much better than when
we started. I appreciate your listening without judgment.
I enjoy contributing.
See ya!
Officer, I am interested in your
well being. Would you agree to come in on your own if you get upset, instead of the ambulance bringing you?
Why yes, that sounds wise.
Self-empathy Opportunity
Jimmy, this is your favorite aunt, your mother would like to see you.
No thanks. I couldn't handle another guilt trip right now.
Officer, I'm guessing you would like some respect. (officer nods) Jackal is actually doing us a favor and showing us what we don't want.
