Connecting through Non-Verbal

Communication

Prepared for UHS 2052 students at UTM Malaysia by: Siti Rokiah Siwok

srsiwok@gmail.com

What is Nonverbal communication?

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Nonverbal Communication

• Nonverbal communication includes all behaviors, attributes, or objects (except words) that communicate messages that have social meaning.

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What do you think?

• Knapp and Hall found that most people rely more on nonverbal messages.

• Nonverbal behaviors are 12-13 times more powerful in impact compared to the accompanying verbal message.

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What is the relationship between

verbal and nonverbal communication?

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And, what is the importance of studying nonverbal communication?

Nonverbal communication has its special functions in our communication

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Functions of Nonverbal Communication

• Complementing verbal behavior• Repeating verbal behavior• Regulating verbal behavior• Substituting for verbal behavior• Deceiving

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Characteristics of nonverbal communication

• Occurs constantly• Depends on context• More believable than verbal• A primary means of expression• Related to culture• Ambiguous, abstract and arbitrary

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Types of Nonverbal Communication

• Facial expression, body movement (kinesics)

• Physical characteristics• Touch• Space• Time• Paralanguage• Silence• Smell• Artifacts• Environment

Kinesics and oculesics

• Kinesics is sometimes called body language, is any movement fo the face or body that communicates a message.

• ( Sieller and Beal, 2011, page 122)• Eye behavior (oculesics) is a

subcategory of facial expressions. Oculesics includes any movements of the eyes.

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Eye Behavior - Oculesics

• 45% of interaction time looking at eyes• We establish relationships with our

eyes• Eye behavior (Dale Leathers in Sieler

and Beall, 2011)– influences attitude change and persuasion– indicates degree of interest– expresses emotions– regulates interaction– indicates power and status– forms impressions in others

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Facial Expressions

Facial management techniques– Intensifying– Deintensifying– Neutralizing– Masking

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Body Movements Categories

• Emblems

• Illustrators

• Regulators

• Affect displays

• Adaptors

Note: Some body movements may be classified under more than one category

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Physical Characteristics

Body type, attractiveness, height, weight, hair color, skin tone

What is the role of physical appearance in communication in our culture?

How does physical attractiveness influence communication?

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Touch - Haptics

• Functional – professional touch• Social – polite touch• Friendship – warmth touch• Love – intimacy touch• Sexual – arousal touch

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Space - Proxemics

• Proximity Zones– Intimate: 0-18”– Personal: 18” - 4’– Social: 4’-12’– Public: 12’ plus

• Territoriality is an aspect of proxemics which explains the need for us to identify certain amount of space as our

own. To declare our space we use objects such as books or pencils etc.

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Time - Chronemics• Chronemics is the study of how people

perceive, structure, and use time as communication

• Chronemics includes, how we manage our time, time expectations related to other people and people’s approach to time.

• Some people have these time approaches– Looking to the future– Living in the present– Longing for the past

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Paralanguage - Vocalics

• We used more than the words themselves for interpretation of messages

• Paralanguage or vocalics is the way people vocalise the words when they speak.

• Vocalics include speech sounds, speech rate, accents, articulations, pronounciations, groans, yawns, counghs, laughter, crying and vocal fillers such as “um”, “aaa”, “you know” etc.

Paralanguage - Vocalics

• The use of vocal fillers is usually through out the entire speech and is usually done without thinking by the speaker. It may reflect nervousness, a particular subculture or a personal habit.

• Vocal fillers can influence our image

What about silence?

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Silence• What role does silence play in communication?• How comfortable are we with silence in our

culture?• Silence or vocal pauses are very powerful way

to convey messages.• Vocal pauses or hesitations are shorter than

silence. Silence refers to an extented period of time without sound.

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Smell - Olfactics

• What about smell?• Does smell can be part of non-verbal

communication?

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Artifacts

• Artifacts are personal adornments or possessions that communicate information about a person

• Clothes, perfume, makeup, eyeglasses, hairstyles, beards, autos, etc.

• Artifacts should be consistent with and reinforce our intended messages.

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Environment• Psychological and physical surroundings

in which communication occurs• Furniture, architectural design, lighting

conditions, temperature, smell, colors, sounds of the location, and the attitudes and perceptions of the participants.

• The best environment allows a speaker’s intended message to be delivered accurately.

Is nonverbal communication the “absolute” truth?Reveals all?

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Interpreting Nonverbal Communication

Why do we have such difficulty interpreting nonverbals?– Nonverbal cues have multiple meanings– Nonverbal cues are interdependent– Nonverbal cues are subtle

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How do we improve our nonverbal communication effectiveness?

• Be observant of nonverbal messages• Don’t jump to conclusions• Use descriptive feedback• Practice self-monitoring

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Points to consider• If verbal and nonverbal contradict, people

believe nonverbal: reflect and consider your nonverbal communication

• If you are the audience: think of what your nonverbal communication says to the speaker

• If your are the speaker: read your audience and adapt

• Since so much communicative meaning is transmitted through nonverbal behaviors – consider the implication!

Main References:

• Seiler, W. J and Beall, M. L ( 2011). Communication. Making Connections ( 8th ed). Boston: Pearson

• Verderber, R. F., and Verderber, K.S. ( 2005). Communicate! (11th. Ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

• Connecting through nonverbal communication slides. (2008). Allyn and Bacon powerpoint slides.

• http://cobweb2.louisville.edu/faculty/regbruce/bruce//mgmtwebs/commun_f98/Verbal.htm