Chapter 4

1. Chapter 4 Nonverbal communication

2. objectives • Distinguish between verbal and nonverbal communication • Use body language to reinforce your verbal message • Recognize when someone is not telling the truth • Explain how the same gesture can have different meanings in different cultures

3. introduction • What is a nonverbal message? • How much of our communication is nonverbal?

4. Body basics • Different cultures have different understandings • Can be helpful when sending messages

5. Body Language • Also called the silent language • DEF: way we use our bodies to send messages • Body language always wins over verbal communication

6. Body language • Why so important? • People remember what they see • Helps us recognize the truth

7. Body language • Often, complicated feelings spill out in the form of body language • “No mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips”- Sigmund Freud • Facial expressions a leakage of feelings • Body language is also diverse

8. Reading body language • Must be careful on how you interpret body language • Positive Body Language: • Relaxed posture • Good eye contact • Nodding agreement • Smiling at humor • Leaning closer

9. Reading body language • Negative Body Language: • Body tension • Arms folded • Speaking hand to mouth • Fidgeting • Yawning

10. Using body language effectively • Change your body language, feelings will change as well • Can look at feel better by using more positive body language • Body language is contagious

11. Interpreting nonverbal messages • People express and interpret nonverbal messages differently • May sometimes put on a false front • We have learned to behave and hide our true feelings • Reading the true meaning of nonverbal messages • Don’t just look- observe • Be alert for variations of the norm • Remember that one signal alone may mean nothing, what you are looking for are clusters of signals

12. Facial expressions • Pay a great deal of attention to other people’s faces • Example: babies • Six emotions are the most popular • Surprise • Fear • Anger • Disgust • Happiness • Sadness

13. Facial expressions • No single area of the face best reveals emotions • Certain features are important to certain emotions • Disgust: nose cheek mouth • Fear: eyes and eyelids • Sadness: brows and forehead • Happiness: cheeks and mouth

14. Tone of voice • Tone can offer a valuable clue into a speaker’s feelings • Pitch, pauses, and rhythm important • What meanings can the word “oh” have? • Rate of speech can tell us about the speaker’s feelings

15. How to tell when someone is lying • Control some parts of our bodies better than others • Easiest parts to control are the ones we are most aware of • Like smiles and frowns • General body postures can be revealing • Desmond Morris Study • Decreased hand activity • Increased face touching • Stiff and rigid posture • Increased body shifting

16. Multicultural messages • Body language is not universal • Examples: • Thumbs up • Hug

17. Cultural differences • We expect to communicate face to face better • But with cultural differences, nonverbal is not always better

18. Gestures around the world • Why do humans use the same gestures? • Examples: • Nodding • Tapping your head with forefinger • Scratching your head

19. Gestures around the world • Signs of greeting • Handshakes • Gentle, firm, Texan • Kisses • Close friendships • Bows • Many Asian countries

20. Touching customs • Touching is a language of physical intimacy • Can be the most powerful of communication channels • Affects sexes differently • Women respond more positively • Men respond negatively

21. Watching my space • All like a bubble of personal space • Represents our personal territory • Americans- about 2 feet • Latin Americans and Middle Easterners- much closer • Types of space: • Intimate • Personal • Social • Public