It’s what you say… and what you don’t Nonverbal Messages in Communication

Why look at nonverbal messages?  90-93% of emotional meaning is taken from nonverbals What is nonverbal communication?  All the behaviors and elements of people, other than words, that convey meaning

Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication Emotions and feelings are more accurately and easily communicated nonverbally Nonverbals are not easily controlled When nonverbal and verbal messages conflict, nonverbals are usually more accurate Nonverbals indicate how you should interpret messages

Characteristics of Nonverbal Continued… People remember more of what they see then what they hear People from different cultures may attach different meanings to the same gestures Nonverbal communication helps us understand how others react to us and our ideas (feedback)

Types of Nonverbal Communication Appearance Kinesics (body movements) Facial Expressions (Gaze) Physical Environment Paralanguage Artifacts Proxemics Temporal Other (Haptics, Olfactics, Territoriality)

Kinesics (Body Movement) Emblems – directly translate into words/phrases (OK sign) Illustrators – accompany and illustrate a verbal message (size of fish you caught) Affect displays – emotional meaning (fear, happiness, anger, etc.) Regulators – monitor, maintain, or control the speaking of another (hand gesture to slow down) Adaptors – satisfy some need (scratching your head) Distractors – no function (nervous habits)

Facial Expression Studies Many facial expressions and sequences of nonverbal behavior have been found to be universal Flirting, embarrassment, submission, happiness, sadness, anger, disgust Can you guess what emotion the following people are expressing?

Gaze An individual’s looking behavior Gaze is used to regulate and monitor communication It is also used to express willingness or lack of desire to communicate

Paralanguage How something is said; anything that affects the content of what is said  Stress  Pitch  Rate  Volume  Rhythm  Fillers  Pauses  Distractors – yawning, laughing, moaning, etc.

Space & Proximity The distance we choose in a given conversation is a function of our cultural and personal expectations for appropriate distance Intimate – physical to 18 inches Casual/personal – 2 feet to 4 feet Impersonal business – 4 to 12 feet Public – 12 feet and beyond