ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Meta-communication

Meta-communication is when you say something, but you also say how you feel about what you said. It's like talking about talking.

For example, if you say "I'm happy," you may also be smiling or laughing. This shows that you feel happy about what you just said. In this case, your smile or laughter is your meta-communication.

Meta-communication can be really helpful because it helps people understand each other better. If someone is upset about something but says they're fine, their body language and tone of voice might tell a different story. By paying attention to these things, you can tell that the person might not actually be fine and you can ask them what's going on.

So, meta-communication is like a tool that helps you understand better what someone is really trying to say, not just the words they use. It's like having a superpower that helps you read between the lines and figure out what's really going on.