Nonverbal communication: messages beyond words

1. Nonverbal communication:messages beyond words Chapter topics • Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Influences on Nonverbal Communication • Types of Nonverbal Communication

2. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communication • Messages expressed by nonlinguistic terms • This rules out the written word and sign language • Includes all vocal means that do not involve language • Sighs, laughs, etc. • Nonlinguistic dimensions • Volume, rate, pitch

3. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Skills are Vital • Nonverbal encoding and decoding skills are strong predictor of • Popularity • Attractiveness • Socioeconomic status • Nonverbal skills are vital to emotional intelligence • All behavior has communicativevalue

4. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communication is Relational • Identity Management • Defines the kinds of relationships we want to have with others • When you’re at a party how do you act? • Which emotions are you displaying? • Friendly, attractive, easygoing

5. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communication is Relational • Nonverbal communication is better suited towards conveying emotion • How do you express the following nonverbally • You’re tired • You’re in favor of capital punishment • You’re attracted to another person in the group • You think prayer in schools should be allowed • You’re angry at someone in the room

6. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communication Serves Many Functions • Repeating • When someone asks for directions, you often repeat your answer with a gesture • Complementing • Expressions that match thoughts and emotions • Substituting • When someone asks, “What’s up?” You may just shrug your shoulders

7. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communication Serves Many Functions • Accenting • Nonverbal devices in oral messages • “It was your idea!” • Regulating • Influencing the flow of verbal communication • Contradicting • Sending mixed messages • “Angry? I’m not angry!”

8. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communicators Offer Deception Clues • Leakage • Nonverbal cues that send signals a person is deceiving you • When someone is bluffing a hand of poker, a player may nervously tap their finger or fidget in their chair • The voice also offers leakage clues

9. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communicators Offer Deceptions Clues • Three findings: • We are accurate in detecting deception only slightly more than half the time • We overestimate our ability to detect others’ lies • We have a strong tendency to judge others’ messages as truthful

10. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communication is Ambiguous • What does a kiss mean? • In some situations it can be a way of saying hello • In another situation is could be the first step to a more romantic relationship • When your significant other pulls away • Is this a sign of trouble • Or a suggestion to pursue

11. Characteristic of Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal Communication is Ambiguous • Service with a Smile • Twelve Safeway Employees filed grievances over the smile-and-make-eye-contact policy • The clerks claimed shoppers thought their smiles and eye-contact was flirting • Nonverbal Leaning Disorder (NVLD) • Reading facial expressions, tone of voice and other cues is dramatically more difficult

12. Influences on Nonverbal Communication • Gender • Research shows that, compared to men, women: • Smile more • Use more facial expression • Use more head, hand and arm gestures • Touch others more • Stand closer to others • Make more eye contact

13. Influences on Nonverbal Communication • Culture • Nonverbal behaviors can have different meanings depending on the culture • The “OK” gesture: • A cheery affirmation in American culture • Means you’re worth zero in France and Belgium • Is a vulgar sexual invitation in Greece and Turkey • Americans are comfortable conducting business at a distance of four feet • Middle Easterner’s stand much closer

14. Influences on Nonverbal Communication • Culture • The use of time depends greatly on culture • Monochronic • Emphasizing punctuality, schedules and completing one task at a time • Polychronic • Flexible schedule in which multiple tasks are pursued at the same time

15. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Body Movement • Body Orientation • The degree to which we face toward or away from someone with our body, feet and head • Posture • By paying attention to the postures around your own, you’ll find another channel of communication • Gestures • Movements of the hands and arms

16. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Body Movement • Gestures • Illustrators • Movements that accompany speech but do not stand on their own • Emblems • Deliberate nonverbal communication that has precise meaning • Adaptors • Unconscious body movements in response to the environment

17. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Body Movement • Face and Eyes • At least eight distinguishable positions of the eyebrows and forehead • Eight of the eyes and lids • Ten for the lower face • Multiplied together you can understand why it is nearly impossible to compile a dictionary of facial expressions

18. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Body Movement • Face and Eyes • Microexpressions • Expressions that happen quickly and are difficult to detect • Can be very effective in identifying emotion • Eyes • Communicate positive or negative attitude • Pupils grow larger based on the interest in the object

19. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Voice • Paralanguage • Describes nonverbal, vocal messages • Note how many meanings come from a single sentence, just by shifting the emphasis • “This is a fantastic communication book.” • “This is a fantastic communication book.” • “This is a fantastic communication book.” • Unintentional Pause • Vocalized Pause

20. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Touch • Haptics • Touch can communicate many messages • What makes a given touch more or less intense? • Several Factors: • Which part of the body does the touching • Which part of the body is touched • How long does the touch last • How much pressure is used • The situation in which the touch occurred

21. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Appearance • Physical Attractiveness • Men and women whom others perceive as attractive are rated as: • Being more sensitive • Kind • Strong • Sociable • Interesting • Physically attractive professors receive higher evaluations from their students

22. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Appearance • Clothing • One writer suggests that clothing can covey at least ten types of messages to others: Economic background Level of success Economic level Moral character Educational level Social background Educational background Social position Level of sophistication Trustworthiness

23. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Physical Space • Proxemics • The study of the way people and animals use space. • We each carry an invisible bubble of personal space wherever we go • We feel uncomfortable with this bubble is violated • Different cultures develop different bubbles • It is important to choose distances based on the receiver of your message

24. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Proxemics • Hall’s Four Spatial Zones • Intimate distance • Ranges out about eighteen inches • Personal distance • Ranges from eighteen inches to four feet • Social distance • Four feet to twelve feet • Public distance • Distances beyond twelve feet

25. Types of Nonverbal Communication • Time • Chronemics • The study of how humans structure time • In a culture that values time highly, waiting can be an indicator of status • Time can be a marker of relationships • The amount of time spent with a relational partner sends important messages about value • Time is also valued in mediated communication • Email

26. Chapter Review • Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication • Influences on Nonverbal Communication • Types of Nonverbal Communication