1. Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication: Messages Without Words
PowerPoint Presentation to accompany Looking Out, Looking In, Tenth Edition
Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication: Messages Without Words
Presentation prepared by Dr. Michael Pearson, Gretchen Gill, and Tim Scanlon of West Chester University
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Copyright © 2002 Thomson Learning, Inc. 1

2. Nonverbal Communication: Messages Without Words
CHAPTER 6
Nonverbal Communication:
Messages Without
Words 2

3. Nonverbal Communication: Messages Without Words
Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication
Differences Between Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Types of Nonverbal Communication 3

4. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication exists
All nonverbal behavior has communicative value
Much nonverbal communication is culture-bound
Male and female nonverbal communications differ in
some ways
Nonverbal communication is primarily relational
Nonverbal communication serves many
functions
Nonverbal communication is ambiguous 4

5. Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication serves
many functions
Repeating
Substituting
Complementing
Accenting
Regulating
Contradicting
Deceiving 5

6. Differences Between Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Single vs. Multiple Channels
Intermittent vs. Continuous
Clear vs. Ambiguous
Verbal vs. Nonverbal Impact
Deliberate vs. Unconscious 8

7. Types of Nonverbal Communication
Kinesics
A area of nonverbal communication that involves body position and motion.
Body Orientation
Type of nonverbal communication characterized by the degree to which we face toward or away from someone
Posture
The way in which individuals carry themselves (e.g. erect, slumping, and so on) 9

8. Types of Nonverbal Communication
Gestures
Motions of the body, usually hands or arms, that have communicative value
Illustrators – movements that accompany speech and that can’t stand alone
Emblems – deliberate nonverbal behaviors that stand alone and have a very precise meaning
Adaptors - movements in which one part of the body grooms, massages, rubs, holds, or otherwise manipulates the body 10

9. Types of Nonverbal Communication
Face and Eyes
Ekman & Friesen identify six basic emotions of facial
expression: surprise, fear, anger, disgust, sadness and
happiness
Microexpression- brief facial expressions

10. Types of Nonverbal Communication
Voice
Paralanguage – nonverbal vocal messages that have
communicative value: emphasis, rate, pitch, volume
tone, disfluencies
Touch
Touch can communicate many
messages and signal a variety of
relationships 11

11. Types of Nonverbal Communication
Physical Attractiveness
Perceived physical attractiveness affects interaction between people
Clothing
Clothing conveys 10 types of messages to others
Economic level Educational background
Economic background Social position
Educational level Level of success
Social background Level of sophistication
Trustworthiness Moral character 12

12. Types of Nonverbal Communication
Proxemics - the way people and animals use space
Intimate Distance - ranging from skin contact to 18 in.
Personal Distance - ranges from 18 in. to 4 ft.
Social Distance - ranges from 4 to 12 ft.
Public Distance - running outward from 12 ft. 13

13. Types of Nonverbal Communication
Territoriality
Territory - a stationary area claimed by an individual (e.g. your room, desk, or work area)
Physical Environment
Home designs and interiors can communicate impressions
Environments can shape the interaction that takes place in them 14

14. Types of Nonverbal Communication
Time
Chronemics - the study of how humans use and structure time 15