Appropriate use of you-messages
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EmailAvoid using you-messages that criticize or cast blame on another person for how you are feeling. Learn five ways to appropriately use you-messages.
“You-messages” are used inappropriately when they criticize, accuse or cast blame on another person for how we are feeling. In this unconstructive way of communicating, we are not taking responsibility for our own feelings or actions.
An example of a blaming you-message is saying “You made me so angry.” Also beware of starting sentences with “You always” or “You never.” These sentence starters can cause the listener to become defensive and halt communication rather than help to clearly address an issue and successfully solve a problem.
Using I-messages, on the other hand, is a more constructive non-blaming, uncritical method for expressing our strong feelings and for leading toward problem solving. I-messages include how you are feeling, why you felt that way and suggest a problem solution.
An example of an I-message is: “I was worried when you didn’t get home on time. I was afraid you had car trouble. Next time, could you please call me when you will be late?”
There are, however, appropriate uses of you-messages. Within the “Community Based Nurturing Parenting” curriculum, five appropriate uses of you-messages are presented.
These include:
- To give choices, use in combination with consequences
“Carson, you have a choice. You can clean your room now, or you can clean your room later. However, if your room is not cleaned by 6:00 p.m., you can’t watch TV tonight. It’s your choice.” - To give praise
“You must feel very proud.” - To gain clarification on whether your perceptions of
what another person thinks, feels, or needs is accurate
“You seem to be very angry.” - To ask questions
“Are you hungry?”
- To reflect feelings by identifying another’s feelings
or communicating that you are aware of that other person’s feelings
“Maggie, you seem to be feeling very sad.”
Remember to use I-messages when expressing how we feel, or what we need or think. You-messages are our perceptions about how someone else feels or what they need or think. Avoid using you-messages in a blaming or critical way and instead use you-messages appropriately in one of the above five ways. Learning to utilize these tips will improve the success of your communication efforts.
