Module 2

Question 1

Define non verbal communication

Answer 1

The bodily actions and vocal qualities that typically accompany a verbal message. Non linguistic components of communication

Question 2

Kinesics

Answer 2

• The study of communication that occurs via body movement or appearance
• Emblems- used in place of words
• Illustrators- provide picture to accompany words (widely recognised across cultures)
• Affect displays- express emotion
• Regulators- regulate turn taking
• Adaptors- satisfy a physical or psychological need

Question 3

Paralanguage

Answer 3

• Vocal but non verbal aspects of speech (vocalics)
• How you say something rather than what you say

People form impression on you based on paralanguage:
- Personality
- SES
- Gender
- Age
- Poor encoding

Question 4

Face

Answer 4

• Some facial expressions (happiness, sadness, fear etc) are biologically determined, universal and similarly learned across cultures
• Context is important for emotional expression. Some cultures have difficulty decoding certain emotions as expression of some emotions is discouraged in certain cultures

Question 5

Eyes

Answer 5

Functions of Eye Contact:

• Monitoring feedback
• Securing attention
• Regulating or controlling the conversation
• Signalling the nature of the relationship
• Signalling status and aggression
• Compensating for physical distance

Question 6

Touch

Answer 6

• Positive emotion- can communicate range of emotions e.g. appreciation, affection, sexual interest/intent, inclusion, support
• Playfulness- can communicate desire to play, aggressively or affectionately. Can lighten interaction and communicate that the emotion is not to be taken seriously
• Control- can be used to control the behaviours, attitudes and feelings of the other person (e.g. “move over”). Can communicate dominance and possession
• Task related- can be associated with performing functions (e.g. checking temperature)

Question 7

Proxemics (spatial messages)

Answer 7

• Intimate- up to 50cm. Can make physical contact, pick up cues from sight, smell, sound, body temperature and heart rate
• Personal- 50cm to 1m. Usual distance from friends and others daily. Possible to touch, but info from other factors is not readily available
• Social- 1-2m. For people we don’t know well and business interactions
• Public- 3m+. Common for lectures etc where interaction with other people is not the primary focus

Question 8

Factors influencing distance

Answer 8

• Gender- women closer to women than men with men; people approach women more closely than men
• Age- tend to be closer with people of similar ages
• Personality- extroverts closer than introverts; familiarity
• Some cultural groups require more or less space

Question 9

Listening blocks

Answer 9

1.Comparing

2.Rehearsing

3.Dreaming

4.Judging

5.Placating (people pleasing)

6.Mind reading

7.Filtering

8.Identifying

9.Derailing (it’s the ‘joke off’ or quip to change the subject)

10.Being Right

11.Advising

12.Sparring (making snap judgements and becoming competitive)