1. Nonverbal Messages

2. Principles of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal messages interact with verbal messages
Accent
Complement
Contradict
Control
Repeat
Substitute

3. Principles of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Nonverbal messages help manage impressions
To be liked
To be believed
To excuse failure
To get help
To hide faults
To be followed
To confirm and communicate self-image

4. Principles of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Nonverbal messages help form relationships
Nonverbal messages structure conversation
Nonverbal messages influence and deceive (“Security” t-shirt)
Nonverbal messages express emotions

5. Channels of Nonverbal Communication
Body gestures, movement – kinesics
Emblems (body movements w/specific verbal translations, ex: signs for “OK” or “Peace”)
Illustrators “illustrate” verbal messages (ex: the hand movement for “The fish was THIS big.”
Affect displays communicate emotional meaning (ex. Expressions of happiness, surprise, anger, disgust)
Regulators maintain the speaking of another (ex. Facial expressions and gestures indicating “keep going” or “hold on”)
Adaptors satisfy some need (scratching head, chewing on pencil)

6. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Body appearance
Facial communication

7. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Eye communication – occulesis
Functions of eye contact
Monitor feedback
Secure attention
Regulate conversation
Signal nature of relationship
Signal status (staring contest)
Compensate for distance

8. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Eye communication (cont.)
Eye avoidance
Maintains privacy
Civil inattention
Lack of interest
Pupil size
Cultural and gender variations

9. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Touch, tactile communication – haptics
Highly primitive and essential
Varies with age and relationship
Has multiple meanings
Positive emotions
Playfulness
Control (hand on shoulder)
Ritual (shaking hands)
Task-relatedness (checking someone’s forehead for fever)

10. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Touch communication (cont.)
Touch avoidance is related to communication apprehension or anxiety
Rules of touch vary culturally

11. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Paralanguage and silence
Paralanguage – vocal but nonverbal
Rate
Volume
Pitch
Ex. “Is this the face that lauched a thousand ships?” vs. “Is this the face…” etc.)
We form impressions of people based on their paralanguage
Paralanguage affects persuasiveness
Norms for paralanguage vary culturally

12. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Paralanguage and silence (cont.)
Silence communicates
Functions of silence
Time to think
Hurt others
Respond to personal anxiety
Prevent communication of conflict or certain topics
Communicate emotions
Achieve certain effects (dramatic pause)
You have nothing to say

13. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Paralanguage and silence (cont.)
Spiral of silence
We’re more likely to voice your opinion if you agree with the majority on a controversial topic
The minority view stays silent and the majority view gets stronger
Different cultures view silence differently

14. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Spatial messages, territoriality – proxemics
Proxemic distances
Intimate – 0 to 18 inches, within touching distance
Personal – 1 ½ feet to 4 feet, surrounded by protective bubble, touch only by stretching
Social – 4 feet to 12 feet, conduct business or social interactions
Public – 12 feet to 25+, keep your distance, people blend into the background

15. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Spatial messages, territoriality – proxemics

16. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Spatial messages (cont.)
Territoriality
Primary/home territories
Secondary territories (your classroom seat)
Public territories (a restaurant)
Home field advantage (ppl take leadership role in their own home or office)
Territorial markers
Central markers (items you place in your territory)
Boundary markers (armrests on chairs in cinemas)
Ear markers (identifying marks on your possessions– ex. your phone cover)

17. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Spatial messages (cont.)
Encroachment – right of invasion (my boss can come into my office; I can’t use his)
Unwritten rule
Usually granted to higher status

18. Channels of Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Artifactual communication
Messages conveyed by objects made by human hands; includes color, clothes, hairstyle, jewelry, perfume
Space decoration
Color communication (colors for skittles)
Clothing and body adornment
Cultural display (Hong Kong hairstyles)
Scent (olfactory communication)