Nonverbal Communication Chapter 4 Nonverbal Communication

Chapter Outcomes Describe the power of nonverbal communication Outline the functions of nonverbal communication Describe the set of communication symbols that are nonverbal codes Illustrate the influences culture, technology, and situation have on our nonverbal behavior

Nonverbal Communication The process of intentionally or unintentionally signaling meaning through behavior other than words

The Nature of Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is Communicative Often spontaneous and unintentional Ambiguous More believable than verbal communication (channel discrepancy)‏

Functions of Nonverbal Communication Reinforcing verbal messages Repeating or mirroring verbal messages Complementing verbal behavior by reinforcing it Accenting specific information in a verbal message

Functions of Nonverbal Communication (cont.) Substituting verbal messages Occurs in situations where words are unavailable, inappropriate, or unintelligible

Functions of Nonverbal Communication (cont.) Contradicting verbal messages May be unintentional or intentional (teasing, joking, sarcasm)‏ Managing impressions and regulating interactions Interaction management occurs throughout a relationship Nonverbal cues regulate back-and- forth flow of communication

Functions of Nonverbal Communication (cont.) Creating immediacy, or closeness, with another Eye contact, smiling, appropriate touching, mimicry Deceiving others to believe something that is false

Nonverbal Communication Codes Nonverbal codes are symbols we use to send messages without, or in addition to, words.

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Gestures and body movements that send nonverbal messages (kinesics)‏ Emblems have direct verbal translations within a group or culture. Illustrators help visually explain what is being said. Regulators help manage our interactions.

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Kinesics (cont.)‏ Adaptors satisfy a physical or psychological need. Affect displays convey feelings, moods, and reactions.

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Facial expressions

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Facial expressions (cont.) Several specific expressions are common across all cultures. Masking: replacing an expression that shows true feeling with an expression that shows appropriate feeling for a given interaction

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Eye behavior Oculesics is the study of the use of the eyes to communicate. Accepted norms differ across cultures.

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Voice Paralanguage: vocalized sounds that accompany words; includes Pitch (variations), tone (modulations), volume (loudness), pauses, vocal quality, rhythm, rate Vocalizations: cues about emotional or physical state Back-channel cues include “ah,” “um,” “uh”

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Physical appearance Attractiveness has advantages. Artifacts (accessories) convey different messages that may change over time.

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Space and environment include – Proxemics: the study of the way we use and communicate with space Intimate Personal Social Public

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Space and environment (cont.)‏ Territoriality: the claiming of an area through continuous or implied occupation Environment: arranging our surroundings to encourage or discourage interactions

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Touch (haptics) may include Functional-professional touch Social-polite touch Friendship-warmth touch Love-intimacy touch Sexual-arousal touch

Nonverbal Communication Codes (cont.) Time orientation Chronemics: the ways people perceive and value time, structure time, and react to time Sending a message using time may be confusing in certain situations.

Influences on Nonverbal Communication Culture Contact and noncontact cultures have different levels of sensitivity to touch. Sex and gender influence a person’s degree of touch, eye contact, or how nonverbal communication is interpreted.

Influences on Nonverbal Communication (cont.) Mediated nonverbal communication Loss of paralinguistic cues that offer information Emoticons and use of font sizes, punctuation, and capitalization help convey meaning.

Influences on Nonverbal Communication (cont.) The situational context determines rules of behavior and roles people must play under different conditions. Public-private dimension: physical space affecting nonverbal communication Informal-formal dimension: perceptions about personal versus impersonal situations