Compassionate Communication (also known as Non Violent Communication or NVC) focuses on shared human values and needs. It encourages the use of thoughts and language that increase good will and mutual understanding, and avoidance of thoughts and language that contribute to resentment, judgment, ill will or defensiveness.
Compassionate Communication emphasizes taking personal responsibility for choices and improving the quality of connections with others as a primary goal.
Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. the creator of the model and processes of NVC, believed that enriching life is the most satisfying motivation for doing things, rather than being motivated by fear, guilt, blame, or shame.
Rosenberg based his work on the principles of Non Violence, which he called the natural state of compassion, when no violence is present in the heart. He assumed that we are all compassionate by nature and that violent strategies, whether verbal or physical, are learned behaviours taught and supported by the prevailing culture.
Compassionate Communication assumes that we all share the same, basic human needs, and that each of our actions are a strategy to meet one or more of these needs.
People who practice Compassionate Communication have found greater authenticity and deeper understanding in their communication. They find it also fosters the flow of communication needed to resolve differences peacefully. Practitioners find it effective even when other people involved are not familiar with the process.