UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Congruence means that verbal and nonverbal signals support each other. In the example, the words express appreciation, but the tone and facial expression convey irritation. Students are likely to trust nonverbal cues more than spoken words, interpreting the overall message as negative. This inconsistency creates confusion and can damage trust.

Option A:
Option A, redundancy, is the deliberate repetition or reinforcement of a message; that is not the issue here. The problem is conflicting signals, not repeated content.

Option B:
Option B correctly points to lack of congruence between verbal and nonverbal channels, which makes students doubt the sincerity of the verbal statement and weakens the teacher’s credibility.

Option C:
Option C, use of visual aids, is unrelated to the mismatch described and does not address the emotional contradiction.

Option D:
Option D, formality of language, is not central; the content of the words is positive, but the tone and expression are at odds with it.