Understanding Human Communication: Chapter 6
Functions of Nonverbal Communication
Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication
Influences on Nonverbal Communication
Building Competence in Nonverbal Communication
Types of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Communication: Messages expressed by other than linguistic means.
Nonverbal Communication is Primarily Relational
2. Nonverbal cues help define our relationships.
3. Nonverbal cues convey emotion.
1.Nonverbal cues help us manage our identities.
Affect Displays: Facial expressions, body movements, and vocal traits that reveal emotional states.
Culture-Cultures have different nonverbal and verbal languages. The meanings of gestures also vary depending on the culture. Less obvious cross-cultural differences can damage relationships. Example: "okay" in other parts of the world translates to "you're worth zero" and even in some places is considered a vulgar sexual invitation.
Gender-Media depictions dramatize stereotypical differences in masculinity and femininity. This can be seen in films like Beauty and the Beast which has 'exaggerated caricatures'. However, both gender's nonverbal communication patterns are similar. Social factors tend to have more influence than biological ones.
Accenting-Nonverbal devices to emphasize oral messages. Example: Pointing of a finger adds emphasis to criticism.
Regulating-Nonverbal behaviors that control the flow of verbal communication.
Complementing Example-When someone apologizes, the apology is often accompanied with the right tone of voice and facial expressions.
Contradicting-Expression of different and even contradictory messages in verbal and nonverbal behaviors.
Substituting Example: Wave=Hello or goodbye
Deceiving-There are no certain nonverbal cues for deception. However, some people are better at hiding deceit than others.
Repeating-People remember comments accompanied by gestures more than those made with words alone.
Touch
Space
Appearance
Environment-The physical environment that people create can both reflect and shape interaction.
Voice
Time
Body Movements
Use Perception Checking-A way to explore the significance of nonverbal cues. It is a way to note various interpretations and clarification of behavior.
Pay Attention to Your Own Nonverbal Behavior-There is value in monitoring you own nonverbal behavior. Most of us have blind spots when it comes to our own communication. Example: We overestimate how good we are at hiding our own anxiety, boredom, or eagerness from others.
Tune Out Words-Overlooking important nonverbal cues when you're only listening to the words being spoken. It is an important skill to be able to recognize nonverbal cues by tuning out the content of a speaker's language.
Can be... Unintentional: Nonverbal unconscious behavior. Example: Stammering, blushing, frowning, and sweating. I can think of a specific time when I when I was going on a first date, my palms became sweaty and I became flustered. If I could've avoided these unintentional behaviors, I would have because they can be embarrassing.
Emblem: Deliberate nonverbal behaviors with precise meanings, known to virtually all members of a cultural group.
Illustrators: Nonverbal behaviors that accompany and support verbal messages.
Kinesics: The study of body movement, gesture, and posture.
Manipulators: Movements in which one part of the body grooms, massages, rubs, holds, pinches, pick, or otherwise manipulates another part.
Affect Blend: The combination of two or more expressions, each showing a different emotion.
Paralanguage: Non-linguistic means of vocal expression: rate, pitch, tone, etc,.
Disfluences: Vocal interruptions such as stammering and use of "uh", "um", and "er".
Physical Attractiveness
Clothing
Haptics: The study of touch.
Intimate Distance: One of Hall's four distance zone, ranging from skin contact to 18 inches.
Personal Distance: One of Hall's four distance zones, raging from 18 inches to 4 feet.
Proxemics: The study oh how people and animals use space.
Social Distance: One of Hall's four distance zones, ranging from 4 to 12 feet.
Public Distance: One Hall's four distance zones, extending outwards from 12 feet.
Territory: Fixed space that an individual assumes some right to occupy.
Monochronic: The use f time that emphasizes punctuality, schedules, and completing one task at a time.
Polychronic: The use of time that emphasizes flexible schedules in which multiple tasks are pursued at the same time.
Chronemics: The study of how humans use and structure time.