Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is a process of generating meaning using behavior other than words.
Principles of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication has a distinct history and serves separate evolutionary functions from verbal communication.
For example, nonverbal communication is primarily biologically based while verbal communication is primarily culturally based.
Conveys Important Interpersonal and Emotional Messages
We may rely more on nonverbal signals in situations where verbal and nonverbal messages conflict and in situations where emotional or relational communication is taking place.
More Involuntary than Verbal
There are some instances in which we verbally communicate involuntarily.
For example, we say “owww!” when we stub our toe or scream “stop!” when we see someone heading toward danger.
More Ambiguous
More Credible
As with verbal communication, most of our nonverbal signals can be linked to multiple meanings, but unlike words, many nonverbal signals do not have any one specific meaning.
Although we can rely on verbal communication to fill in the blanks sometimes left by nonverbal expressions, we often put more trust into what people do over what they say.
Functions of NV Communication
Conveys Meaning
A primary function of nonverbal communication is to convey meaning by reinforcing, substituting for, or contradicting verbal communication.
Nonverbal communication is also used to influence others and regulate conversational flow.
Nonverbal communication conveys meaning by reinforcing, substituting for, or contradicting verbal communication.
Vocal variation can help us emphasize a particular part of a message, which helps reinforce a word or sentence’s meaning.
Nonverbal communication can convey much meaning when verbal communication isn’t effective because of language barriers.
Facial expressions reinforce the emotional states we convey through verbal communication.
convey meaning by contradicting verbal communication: a person may say, “You can’t do anything right!” in a mean tone but follow that up with a wink, which could indicate the person is teasing or joking.
In terms of reinforcing verbal communication, gestures can help describe a space or shape that another person is unfamiliar with in ways that words alone cannot.
Influences Others
Nonverbal communication can be used to influence people in a variety of ways, but the most common way is through deception.
Deception is typically thought of as the intentional act of altering information to influence another person, which means that it extends beyond lying to include concealing, omitting, or exaggerating information.
Affects Relationships
Regulates Conversational Flow
Conversational interaction has been likened to a dance, where each person has to make moves and take turns without stepping on the other’s toes.
Expresses our Identities
Nonverbal communication helps us regulate our conversations so we don’t end up constantly interrupting each other or waiting in awkward silences between speaker turns.
The nonverbal messages we send and receive influence our relationships in positive and negative ways and can work to bring people together or push them apart.
Expresses who we are --- Our identities (the groups to which we belong, our cultures, our hobbies and interests, etc.) are conveyed nonverbally through the way we set up our living and working spaces, the clothes we wear, the way we carry ourselves, and the accents and tones of our voices.
Three of many examples that illustrate how nonverbal communication affects our relationships.
Expressions of Emotions
Immediacy Behaviors
Tie Signs
nonverbal cues that communicate intimacy and signal the connection between two people.
verbal and nonverbal behaviors that lessen real or perceived physical and psychological distance between communicators and include things like smiling, nodding, making eye contact, and occasionally engaging in social, polite, or professional touch.
nonverbal communication is our primary tool for communicating emotions and was the channel through which we expressed anger, fear, and love for thousands of years of human history.
AUTUMN IRONS
I Thought it was very interesting how Nonverbal Communication is More Involuntary than Verbal and how when we stub our toe and yell "owww!" that we are verbally communicating involuntarily. Learning this, it has made me realize that I do yell something in the terms of "owww!" when hurting myself without even thinking of what I was going to say. It's like a habit to yell something when you get hurt.