Non verbal Communication
All the ways we communicate without using words
Kinesics
Study of body movement including both posture and gesture
Adapters
Gestures to release tension
Emblems
Substitute for words.
- Mostly widely understood meanings
- Although some emblems are not understood universally
- Can easily offend whole groups of people and lead to unpleasant consequences
Facial Expression
Face usage to communicate emotion/feeling
Neutralizing
Poker face, erase emotion
Masking
Hide expression that is connected with emotion with a more appropriate expression
Intensification
Exaggerate how you are feeling about something
Deintensification
Reduce facial expression to an emotion
Six Basic Emotions
Anger, Fear, Disgust, Sadness, Happiness, Surprise
Eye Contact
- Eyes are the window to a person’s soul
- Social and cultural Importance in communication
- Eye Behavior demands interaction, including simple eye contact or head nod
- Eyes reveal deception
- Unable to sustain eye contact is a sign of deception
Emotions
- Relates feelings
- Good rule: use them in the same interaction you would have in a face to face conversation.
- Never use in professional or academic writing
- Can have different connotations in another culture.
- Can cause terrible miscommunication.
Vocalics
- Use of voice to express yourself
- Voice major player in communication
- Vocal channels modify the meaning of what is said.
- Includes tone, volume, articulation, pitch, rate of speech and the use of silence.
Proxemics
The study of how people use space and distance to communicate
3 important reasons why it is important to make connections between people, space and work.
- Who you are as a person reveals by your referred use of distance and space at home or work
- Your verbal and nonverbal communication is influenced by distance and space.
- Use metaphors of distance and space and explain your interpersonal relationships.
Intimate Zone
Usually 0-18 inches (significant others, family, closest friends)
Personal Zone
18 inches-4 feet (casual acquaintances and friends)
Social Zone
4 feet-12 feet (strangers, conducting business)
Public Zone
Over 12 feet (Large, Formal and Public events)
Territoriality
Study of how people use space and objects to claim occupancy or ownership of space. (Coat over chair, place cards, numbered parking pass)
Environment
Refers to surroundings that shape communication context. (Architecture, Design, Doors, Windows, Temp, Cleanliness, etc.)
Violation
Entering into or using territory without permission. Ex: Siblings borrowing something without permission
Invasion
Intentionally intruding upon a specific territory. Ex: Enjoy the peace and quiet of the park when rowdy kids show up.
Combination
Making a territory with noise or pollution. Ex: People who leave trash at a campground
