5: Inter-Act, 13th Edition Nonverbal

Nonverbal Communication Verbal Communication Spoken or written words Bodily actions and vocal qualities that support, modify, or contradict accompanying verbal messages

Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication Intentional or unintentional Primary Ambiguous Continuous Multichanneled

Functions of Nonverbal Communication To provide information To regulate interaction To express or hide emotion and affect To present an image To express status, power, and control

Regulate Interaction Facial expressions or gestures that are used to control or regulate the flow of a conversation Microsoft Photo

Express Emotion or Affect Facial expressions and gestures that augment the verbal expression of feelings Microsoft Photo

Types of Nonverbal Communication Body language Paralanguage Spatial usage Self-presentation Everything except words!

Body Language: Kinesics Eye contact Facial expressions Gesture Posture Touch

Body Language: Touch Touching and being touched are essential to a healthy life. Touch can communicate power, empathy, understanding. Microsoft Photo

Paralanguage Pitch Volume Rate Quality Intonation

Vocal Interferences Extraneous sounds or words that interrupt fluent speech: “uh,” “um” “you know,” “like” Place markers Fillers

Spatial Usage Personal space: the space that surrounds a person, moves with that person, and changes with the situation as well as moment to moment Intimate distance: up to 18” Personal distance: 18”-4’ Social distance: 4’-12’ Public distance: more than 12’

Spatial Use Acoustic space: area over which your voice or other sounds can be comfortably heard Territory: space over which we claim ownership Artifacts: objects we use to adorn our territory and communicate about our space

Personal Space at Work Your office Your desk A table in the cafeteria where you sit regularly Microsoft Photo

Color Influences Communication Yellow cheers and elevates moods Red excites and stimulates Blue comforts and soothes In some cultures black suggests mourning In some cultures white suggests purity

Self-Presentation Cues Physical Appearance Race and gender Facial features Size and shape of body Clothing and personal grooming Body art

Self-Presentation What message do you wish to send with your choice of clothing and personal grooming? Microsoft Photo

Use of Time Chronemics Time Orientation Monochronic Polychronic Past Present Future

Time How do we manage and react to others’ management of time? duration activity punctuality Microsoft Photo

Use of Smell Olfactory Communication through: Perfume Cologne Aromatherapy Body odor Microsoft Photo

Cultural and Gender Variations Eye contact Facial expressions Gestures Touch Paralanguage Space Self-presentation

Nonverbal Signals Vary from culture to culture Microsoft Photo

What does this symbol mean to you? In the United States it is a symbol for good job In Germany the number one In Japan the number five In Ghana an insult In Malaysia the thumb is used to point rather than a finger -Atlantic Committee for the Olympic Games

Improving Nonverbal Sending Skills Be mindful of your nonverbal behavior. Adapt nonverbal behaviors to your purpose. Adapt nonverbal behaviors to the situation. Align nonverbal and verbal communication. Make sure nonverbal cues do not distract from your message. Eliminate distracting nonverbal behaviors.

Improving Nonverbal Interpretation Skills Be mindful that most nonverbal cues do not have set meanings. Recognize culture, gender, and other diversity when interpreting nonverbal cues. Pay attention to all of the nonverbal cues and their relationship to the verbal message. Use the skill of perception checking.