Non-Violent Communication

Workshop by Julia Mestres and Blanca Calonge

“An Introduction to Non-Violent Communication”

Saturday, the 12th of May, 180 minutes

(min 4, max 30 participants)

Julia and Blanca are students at Autonoma University of Barcelona, studying Culture of Peace. This is a one year full-time programme.

BACKGROUND

Non-Violent Communication (abbreviated NVC, also called Compassionate Communication or Collaborative Communication) is an approach to nonviolent living developed by Marshall Rosenberg in the 1960s. It is based on the idea that all human beings have the capacity for compassion and only resort to violence or behaviour that harms themselves and others when they do not recognise more effective strategies for meeting needs.

Habits of thinking and speaking that lead to the use of violence (social, psychological and physical) are learned through culture. NVC theory supposes all human behaviour stems from attempts to meet universal human needs which are never in the form of a conflict. NVC proposes that people identify and share needs, revealed by the thoughts and feelings that surround these needs, and collaborate to develop strategies that meet them. This creates both harmony and learning for future cooperation.

CONTENT

The workshop will examine Non-Violent Communication through role plays and discussion, specifically covering the meaning this form of communication and the scenarios in which this can be used. The workshop begins with a presentation of the concept followed by the opportunity to participate in role plays to experience how certain techniques work.