Nonverbal components of empathic communication

Examined the relative contribution of verbal and nonverbal behaviors to the judged level of empathy in a repeated measures analysis of variance design. 26 counselors with an average of 1,500 hours counseling experience viewed films of 48 counselor-client dyads. Ss then rated the 48 combinations of eye contact, trunk lean, body orientation, distance, and predetermined verbal empathy message on a modification of empathy scale developed by C. Truax and R. Carkhuff. Results show that 4 of the 5 main effects and 11 of 26 interactions significantly accounted for variability of counselor ratings. Further, the nonverbal effects accounted for twice the variability as compared to verbal message. Results are discussed in terms of a compensatory model of the communication of empathy and subsequent implications for counseling practice and counselor training. (31 ref.)