CHAPTER 8 The Nonverbal Code

Non-Verbal Communication Non-verbal communication are messages that do not involve spoken words, such as messages sent through body motions, vocal qualities, use of time, space, artifacts, dress, and even smell. (p. 269)

How Nonverbal Communication is used with Verbal Communication Complements Accents Substitutes Repeats Contradicts

Nonverbal vs. Verbal Communication More primitive Partly unconscious Informal Unlearned signals Cultural Requires thought Formal Learned symbols

Kinesics Body movement--including gestures, hand/arm movement, leg movement, facial expressions, eye gaze, and stance/posture.

Categories of Kinesics Emblems—primarily hand gestures with direct literal verbal translation. Illustrators—typically hand and arm movements that accent/complement what is being said. Affect displays—facial expressions of emotion, with universal and cultural characteristics. (10,000 facial expressions, p. 279) Regulators—behaviors/actions that govern, direct, or manage conversation. (hand gestures, eye contact, nodding, etc.) Adaptors—actions that satisfy physiological or psychological needs.

Paralanguage Vocal qualities that typically accompany speech. Two categories: Voice qualities Examples: pitch, rhythm, tempo, articulation. Vocalizations Laughing, crying, sighing, snoring. Also, Silence is considered paralanguage.

Proxemics Perception and use of space. Territoriality—physical geographical space. Personal space—perceptual or psychological space. Population size and socioeconomic factors affect perception of space.

Haptics Tactile communication; the use of touch. Opposite sex touch in cultures. Touch avoidance. Prohibited touch.

Olfactics Sense of smell. Humans detect up to 10,000 different compounds by smell. Scent comes from two glands: sebaceous and apocrine. Scent can function as: A sex attractant A marker for social class distinctions.

Physical Appearance and Dress Can communicate age, sex, and status within culture. Masai Islamic cultures India

Chronemics Nonverbal channel of time. Monochronic-time. Polychronic-time.

Individualism vs. Collectivism More distant psychologically. Suppress affect displays. More synchronized body movements. More distant proximally. Smile more. More nonverbally “affiliative” (brings people closer)

Power Distance and Nonverbal Communication Low power distance cultures are less aware of vocalics (eg. noisy, exaggerated). High power distance cultures avert eye contact more to show respect.

Context and Nonverbal Communication Low-context cultures are more direct and talkative. High-context cultures pay more attention to nonverbal behavior in interactions.

Nonverbal Expectancy Violations Theory Premise—people hold expectancies about the appropriateness of nonverbal behaviors in others. These expectancies are learned and culturally driven. When violations are committed, arousal is triggered, and an evaluation is made. Evaluation is dependent upon: The communicator. Implicit messages associated with violation. Evaluations of the act.