Experiments with school classes where offensive remarks were no longer tolerated in the school building showed significantly fewer acts of violence. Despite the young people's justification: "You know, these sayings aren't meant like that. Young people talk like that today. Are you living in a world of yesterday?", the teachers consistently demanded that words be taken seriously, literally, so to speak. not allowed to utter swear words, it was recognized that there really is a connection between choice of words and behavior. Of course, colors, smells, music and voices also shape and influence (see also blog post from January 21, 2020 ).
Anyone who deals with communication and rhetoric should definitely deal with the manipulative power of words. During my studies, during the "Autogenic Training" module, I became aware austria rcs data that when words, images, tone of voice and narrative elements are combined, words develop suggestive power. During coaching, I usually fell asleep within a few minutes, which was not the purpose of the exercise. The quiet, sonorous voice contributed a lot to this, with phrases like: "You are lying by a quiet lake and feel the warm rays of sunshine on your skin - dark fir trees are reflected on the calm surface of the water - everything is quiet - complete peace - you breathe in and out slowly - it smells of moss and resin - peace - pleasant warmth ..."
The psychoanalyst Virginia Satir (1916-1988) summed it up when she wrote: "Words have no energy until they trigger an image." Let us be aware that the power of words can also be abused. Just as a doctor knows the effects of strong medication and must always handle it responsibly, words must also always be handled carefully. Everywhere: in education, in politics. We must never abuse this manipulative power in the media either.