NVC Needs & Feelings Vocabulary Flashcards

Which NVC concept distinguishes between the 'stimulus' and the 'cause' of our feelings?

Answer: Emotional responsibility

NVC's principle of emotional responsibility holds that others may be the stimulus but not the cause of our feelings, which arise from our own needs.

When someone says 'I feel that you don't care,' an NVC trainer would note that this is actually:

Answer: A thought or interpretation disguised as a feeling

'I feel that...' typically introduces a thought or interpretation, not a genuine feeling, because it describes the other person's behavior.

In NVC, the word 'need' should never be followed by:

Answer: A specific person's name or a required action

When 'need' is followed by a specific person or action, it becomes a strategy rather than a universal need in NVC terms.

Which of these pairs correctly matches a feeling to a likely unmet need in NVC?

Answer: Lonely → unmet need for connection

In NVC, loneliness typically signals an unmet need for connection, making it a classic example of the feeling-need relationship.

How does NVC treat physical sensations like hunger or fatigue in relation to feelings?

Answer: They are noted as body signals connected to needs but distinct from emotions

NVC acknowledges physical sensations as body signals connected to needs, but distinguishes them from emotional feelings in the four-part process.

A certified NVC trainer teaches feelings vocabulary primarily to help participants:

Answer: Take responsibility for their emotional life and communicate it clearly

Teaching feelings vocabulary empowers participants to take ownership of their emotional experience and express it in ways that invite connection.