Nonverbal Communication

nonverbal communication

is a process of generating meaning using behavior other than words

is typically governed by the right side of the brain and verbal, the left

tends to do the work of communicating emotions more than verbal

paralanguage

is a vocal element of nonverbal communication

nonverbal communication

can convey much meaning when verbal communication isn’t effective because of language barriers

language barriers are present when a person hasn’t yet learned to speak or loses the ability to speak

babies who have not yet developed language skills make facial expressions, at a few months old, that are similar to those of adults and therefore can generate meaning

usage

useful in a quiet situation where verbal communication would be disturbing

for example, you may use a gesture to signal to a friend that you’re ready to leave the library

mixed message

in which verbal and nonverbal signals contradict each other

leads to uncertainty and confusion on the part of receivers, which leads us to look for more information to try to determine which message is more credible

influence people 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

nonverbal communication affects relationships

tie signs

are nonverbal cues that communicate intimacy and signal the connection between two people.

can be objects such as wedding rings or tattoos that are symbolic of another person or the relationship, actions such as sharing the same drinking glass, or touch behaviors such as hand-holding

immediacy behaviors

are 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

artifacts

which are the objects and possessions that surround us, also communicate our identities

include our clothes, jewelry, and space decorations

kinesics

gestures

comes from the root word kinesis, which means “movement,” and refers to the study of hand, arm, body, and face movements

There are three main types of gestures

emblems

illustrators

adaptors

are touching behaviors and movements that indicate internal states typically related to arousal or anxiety

are gestures that have a specific agreed-on meaning

are the most common type of gesture and are used to illustrate the verbal message they accompany

oculesics

own branch of nonverbal studies

haptics

study of communication by touch