Understanding Nonverbal Messages
Preview Why Focus on Nonverbal Communication? The Nature of Nonverbal Communication Codes of Nonverbal Communication How to interpret Nonverbal Cues More Accurately
Nonverbal Communication Defined Communication other than written or spoken language that creates meaning for someone Sign language is one exception to this definition
Why focus on Nonverbal Communication? Nonverbal messages communicate feelings and attitudes Most significant source of emotional information is the face (Albert Mehrabian) Vocal cues Approximately 93% of emotional meaning is communicated nonverbally.
Why focus on nonverbal communication? Nonverbal messages are critical to successful relationships Nonverbal messages serve various functions for verbal messages: Substitute Complement Contradict Repeat Regulate Accent
The Nature of Nonverbal Communication Culture-Bound Rule-governed Ambiguous Perception checking Continuous Non-linguistic Multi-channeled
Codes of Nonverbal Communication Appearance artifacts
Codes of Nonverbal Communication Body movement, Gestures, and Posture Kinesics refers to the study of human movements, gestures, and postures Emblems Illustrators Affect displays Regulators adaptors (People En Espaňol Magazine, Aug 2004, pg 20)
Codes of Nonverbal Communication Kinesics Research Quasi-courtship behavior – nonverbal actions we consciously and unconsciously exhibit when we are attracted to someone: Courtship readiness Preening Positional cues Appeals to invitation
Codes of Nonverbal Communication Eye contact Facial expressions Touch (haptics) Touch ethic The Voice Paralanguage or vocalics Back-channel cues Response latencies
Codes of Nonverbal Communication Environment, Space, and Territory Physical environment Space (proxemics) Intimate space Personal space Social space Public space
Edwin T. Hall’s Zones of Space
Codes of Nonverbal Communication Territory Territoriality Territorial markers
How to Interpret Nonverbal Cues Immediacy Immediacy Cues Proximity:……………………………. Close, forward lean Body Orientation:……………… Direct, could be side-by-side Eye Contact:……………………….. Eye contact & mutual eye contact Facial Expression:…………….. Smiling Gestures:……………………………. Head nods, movement Posture:………………………………. Open, relaxed, arms oriented toward others Touch:………………………………….. Cultural-and-context appropriate Voice:…………………………………… Higher pitch, upward pitch
How to Interpret Nonverbal Cues Immediacy Arousal Dominance
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