A Basic Overview

 Nonverbal communication evolved long before language. grunts,, clicks, mouth sounds, vocal inflection Earliest languages were the “click” languages  Animals rely on nonverbal communication dogs growl, show their teeth cats purr horse’s put their ears back

 Nonverbal communication is an infant’s first form of communication. Infants rely on touch, sound, smell “motherese” sing-song pitch variation (vocalics)

 In most cases, if you are talking you are aware of it.  People choose their words (though, not always carefully)  Nonverbal is less mindful blushing, fidgeting  Cussing in words versus sounds “Oh s#%*!” vs. “Aaagghhh!” Swearing actually increases pain tolerance

 nonverbal communication can be highly conscious and strategic Food server touch and tip size Husbands do the dishes as “foreplay.” Mirroring behavior in retail sales

 People have an innate capacity for language, but it must be learned. Feral children Identical twins  Reading and writing must be taught, learned. Complete illiteracy is always just one generation away.  Nonverbal communication is partly learned, partly instinctive  There are some universal nonverbal cues (smiling, laughing, crying)

 Nonverbal is the primary channel for communicating emotion.  Nonverbal cues convey the relationship dimension in an interaction Content dimension Relationship dimension What inferences could you reliably make based on the nonverbal cues of these two people?

 Nonverbal behavior is perceived to be more genuine, authentic the eyes are the “window to the soul.” Bush about Putin, “I looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul.”  People presume that nonverbal cues are more spontaneous are less intentional operate at a lower level of awareness  Nonverbal primacy When there is a perceived conflict between a verbal and nonverbal message, listeners assign more weight to the nonverbal message. The majority of the affective (emotional meaning) of a message is conveyed nonverbally. The majority of the “relational meaning” of a message is conveyed nonverbally. But not always…