CHAPTER 6Nonverbal Communication

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Section 1 NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION, DEFINED

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Nonverbal Communication: What Does It Mean?

Nonverbal communication, defined: “messages expressed by nonlinguistic means.”

Why is “communicating without speaking” not an accurate definition for nonverbal communication?

Why is “body language” not a sufficient definition for nonverbal communication?

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Research shows…

Mehrabian (1972): 93% of emotional impact of a message come from a nonverbal source.

Birdwhistell (1970): 65/35 split of actions and words.

Social scientists: Nonverbal communication shapes perceptions.

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Section 2CHARACTERISTICS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

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All Behavior Has Communicative Value

Discuss your agreement or disagreement with the statement “you cannot not communicate.”

Research: We aren’t always

conscious of what we and others are communicating nonverbally.

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Nonverbal Communication is Primarily Relational

Nonverbal communication serves in social function.

Defines the relationship we want/have with others.

Convey emotions we are unwilling/unable to express or unaware of.

How does technology impact the relational aspect of nonverbal communication?

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Nonverbal communication is ambiguous.

Describe the various interpretations of silence.

Research: “Positive nonverbal communication is easier to identify than negative nonverbal communication.”

Use perception-checking to clarify others’ nonverbals.

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Nonverbal communication is influenced by culture.

Emblems: Culturally understood substitutes for verbal expression.

Identify some of the cultural similarities and differences in nonverbal behaviors and rules.

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Section 3FUNCTIONS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

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Creating and Maintaining Relationships

What are the functions of nonverbal behaviors in the early stages of relationships?

Nonverbal cues reveal our attitude about others.

How do nonverbal behaviors gauge the emotional climates in ongoing relationships?

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Regulating Interaction

Regulators: Cues that help control verbal interaction.

What cues reveal that a speaker is finished talking?

How does eye contact regulate nonverbal communication?

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Influencing Others

Nonverbal behavior helps us: Capture attention Show or increase

liking Generate power Boost credibility

What other ways do we use nonverbal communication to influence others?

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Concealing/Deceiving

What do the authors mean by, “The majority of messages we exchange are not completely truthful”?

High self-monitors are better at hiding their deception.

No surefire nonverbal clues indicate deception. Liars make fewer hand and finger movements,

have more speech disturbances, and pause longer before offering answers.

Beware of jumping to conclusions!

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Managing Identity

Nonverbal cues: May be more important than verbal messages in creating impressions.

Manner: The way we act, stand and move, control facial expressions, vocal adjustments.

Appearance: The way we dress, artifacts we wear, hair, makeup, scents, etc.

Setting: Physical items we surround ourselves with i.e., personal belongings, vehicles, place we live. Interplay, Eleventh Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/Proctor

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Section 4TYPES OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

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Face and Eyes

Complicated channel to interpret.

Research: At least 8 distinguishable

positions of the eyebrows and forehead

8 more of eyes and lids 10 lower face

Oculesics: Study of how the eyes communicate. Gazing Interest Conversational turn-

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Body Movement

Kinesics: Study of how people communicate through body movement.

Posture sends conscious and unconscious messages.

Ambiguous gestures Fidgeting Manipulators

Sign of discomfort… But not necessarily

Gestures measure power and status

Increase persuasiveness/mirroring

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Touch

Haptics: Study of touching. Touch boosts mood,

increases liking, improves compliance.

Research: “Fleeting touches on hand or

forearm can result in larger tips for restaurant servers.”

Beware unwanted touching: Concern/legal action.

Why do the authors say that the amount of touching decreases with age?

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Voice

Paralanguage: The way a message is spoken Vocal rate Pronunciation Pitch Tone Volume Emphasis

Disfluencies: Reinforce/ contradict message that words convey.

What types of paralanguage contradict content? Research:

Communicators more likely to comply when speakers have same rate as their own.

People often miss vocal nuances of sarcasm. Young children can’t make sense of mixed messages.

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Distance

Proxemics: How communication is affected by use, organization, and perception of space and distance.

We all have a bubble of personal space.

Research: Distance = Good

indication of prejudices. Edward T. Hall:

Intimate distance: Skin contact to 18”

Personal distance: 18” to 4’.

Social distance: 4’ to 12’. Public distance: 12’ to

farthest zone.Interplay, Eleventh Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/Proctor

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Distance

What barrier behaviors occur when your “spatial bubble” is invaded?

Territoriality: The area that serves as an extension of our physical being. How we respond to

breaches of territory depends on who enters, what territory is entered, why they enter, and how they enter.

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Time

Chronemics: How humans use and structure time.

Waiting can be an indicator of status.

Use of time is culturally-based, yet rules of time vary within a culture.

Rules of time can vary within the same geographic area.

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Physical Attractiveness

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of being perceived as attractive?

How may perceptions of attractiveness change?

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Clothing

Clothing can convey: Economic level Educational

level Trustworthines

s Social position Level of

sophistication

Economic background

Social background

Educational background

Level of success Moral character

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Clothing

Research: Clothing =

credibility College students

perceive TA’s as having less expertise, based on dress.

Beware of cultural perceptions based on clothing.

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Physical Environment

Research: Impressions of home

designs = remarkably accurate.

Environment shapes interactions within it.

Professors = well-decorated work areas, more credibility.

No doctor’s desk = increase patient comfort.Interplay, Eleventh Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/Proctor

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END OF SECTIONInterplay

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