The consistency between current and past patterns of behavior, as wel…

The correct answer is Option (4) → Congruency

Option (1) Communication — Incorrect. Communication is the whole process in which feelings and ideas are expressed as verbal and/or non-verbal messages that are sent, received and understood. It is the broad process, not the consistency between behaviour and words that the question describes.

Option (2) Cluster — Incorrect. While reading body language, a single non-verbal signal does not carry complete meaning; gestures, postures, eye contact, clothing and body movement have to be considered together, in a cluster. Cluster is about reading many signals at once, not about consistency with past behaviour.

Option (3) Paraphrasing — Incorrect. Paraphrasing means the listener restates in her/his own words a summary of what was said. It shows how much of the message was understood.

Option (4) Congruency — Correct. When we analyse body language, a person’s background and past patterns of behaviour are also considered. The consistency between current and past patterns of behaviour, together with harmony between verbal and non-verbal communication, is termed congruency.

Note: Congruency in reading body language was there in the chapter ‘Developing Psychological Skills’ of the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2022, and is not there in the NCERT book (2025-26).