When evaluating someone's message, which component should be weighted more?

Weighting nonverbal components more when evaluating someone's message is important because nonverbal cues often convey emotions, attitudes, and meanings that words alone may not express. These cues include body language, facial expressions, gestures, and posture, which can enhance, contradict, or emphasize the spoken message.

For example, a speaker may say they are confident, but if their body language—like crossed arms or avoiding eye contact—conveys uncertainty, the nonverbal signals can speak louder than the verbal content. This interplay between verbal and nonverbal communication underscores that people often communicate feelings and intentions through their actions more effectively than words can alone.

In contrast, while verbal communication provides the explicit content of the message, and paralinguistic elements such as tone, pitch, and volume add nuanced meaning, they do not replace the comprehensive impact of nonverbal cues. Written communication can also carry important information, but it lacks the immediacy and richness of interpersonal, face-to-face interactions where nonverbal signals are present.