Importance of Nonverbal Communication
- Enhance verbal messages
- Aids message creation
- A form of constant communication
- Multi-channelled
Nonverbal behavior v. Nonverbal Communication
Behavior: all nonverbal actions
Communication: the behavior must be assigned meaning
- some argue it requires intention too
Similarities of nonverbal and verbal communication
- rule guided
- culturally bound
- contextually restricted
Four Influences on Nonverbal Communication
- Culture: eye contact
- Relationship: nodding in class
- Familiarity: impacts interpretation
- Gender: women smile more
Nonverbal Codes (Defenition and 6 Types)
means of expression that include both symbols and usage rules
Kinesics, paralinguistics, chronemics, proxemics, haptics, appearence/artifacts
Kinesics (5 types)
The use of the body and the face
- Illustrators: accompany words
- Emblems: substitute words
- Adaptors: release tension
- Regulators: control communication flow
- Posture, movement, and face and eye behavior
Paralinguistics
Vocal behavior
Voice qualities: Rate, pitch, rhythm, vocal range, articulation
Vocalizations: “um”
Chronemics
How we use and perceive time
Monochronic: one task at a time
Polychronic: multitasking
Proxemics
The study of physical space
Hall’s Personal Space Zones
1. Intimate
2. Personal
3. Social
4. Public
Territoriality: altering spaces through personalization
Haptics
The use of touch
5 types:
1. professional/functional touch: doctor
2. social-polite touch: handshake
3. Friendship touch: hug
4. Love-intimate touch: kiss
5. Demand touch: push
Appearance and Artifacts
Looks and accessories
Attraction:
1. Physical appearance
2. Task (competence)
3. Social behavior
4. Homophily (similarity)
5 functions of nonverbal messages
- Communicates information
- Regulates interaction
- Express and manage intimacy
- Social control
- Service-task functions (doctor)
Power and Prejudice
Nonverbal behavior can refelect prejudice and cause power imbalances
Ex:
- refuse to maintain eye contact
- cross the street when someone approaches
- Demand touch
Improving nonverbal skills (4)
- aim for congruency between non-verbal and verbal messages
- adapt to the context
- recognize individual, contextual, and cultural influences
- assess behaviors as groups
