1. Nonverbal Communication
“The World Beyond Words”

2. What is Nonverbal Communication?
“Messages expressed by nonlinguistic means.”
Includes silent behaviors, environment, artifacts, and vocal intonation
Is a powerful mode of communication

3. Characteristics/Principles of Nonverbal Communication

4. All Behavior has Communicative Value
Because we “cannot not communicate”
May be intentional, but is often unconscious
Although we’re always sending messages through our nonverbals, these messages aren’t always received.
We especially pay attention to nonverbals when they contradict verbal communication.

5. Nonverbal Communication is Primarily Relational
Responsiveness
Communicates our interest in others’ communication
Women are generally more responsive than men
People in lower-power positions tend to be better at reading nonverbals
Liking – Positive or negative feelings about others
Power
Touch
Violence and Abuse
Space
Silence

6. (A little more about the relational nature of nonverbals)
Nonverbals are especially important:
For identity management
In defining our relationships (e.g., level of intimacy)
For expressing emotions we don’t want to express, can’t express, or don’t know we’re feeling

7. Nonverbal Communication is Ambiguous
The same nonverbal can have multiple meanings
For example:
“I’m feeling content” smiles
“I’m feeling a little stressed” smiles
“I’m a bit sad” smiles
“I can’t believe you just did that” smiles
“How do I get out of this conversation?” smiles

8. Nonverbal Communication Reflects Cultural Values
Some Examples…
Space
Americans tend to value more personal space than many other cultures
Men tend to value more personal space than women
Touch (Knapp, 1972)
Americans – 2 touches per hour
British – 0 touches per hour
Parisians – 110 touches per hour
Puerto Ricans – 180 touches per hour
Eye-Contact
In North-America: frankness, assertiveness, honesty
In many Asian and northern-European countries: abrasive & disrespectful
In Brazil: more intense eye-contact is the norm

9. Nonverbal Communication – (Continued)

10. The Interplay Between Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Repeating
Your nonverbals simply repeat what you’ve said
Substituting
Your nonverbals replace language
Emblems (e.g., nodding)
Complementing & Accenting
Your nonverbals add depth and meaning to your language
Illustrators/Affect displays
Regulating
Your nonverbals help regulate the conversation
Contradicting
You say one thing, but your nonverbals say another

11. Different Types of Nonverbal Communication

12. Face and Eyes Over 1000 distinct facial expressions
Eyes can be especially expressive
“Windows to the soul”
Men and women have been found to be equally expressive
Men show the most emotion in the lower left quadrant of their face
Women show emotion over their whole face

13. Body Movement/Kinesics
Body posture
Gestures
Manipulators/Fidgeting
An aside…

14. Touch Touching is considered essential and therapeutic
Touching can influence liking and compliance
Is used to show intimacy or power/control
People with high status touch others/invade others’ spaces more than people with lower status

15. Voice/Paralanguage
Consists of vocal tone, speed, pitch, volume, number and length of pauses, and disfluencies (“um”s, “ah”s), etc.
Paralanguage tends to be more powerful than language
Affects how other’s perceive us
Stereotyping (e.g., accents, vocabulary, grammar
Influenced by culture, gender, class (intentionally or unintentionally)
An illustration…

16. Try saying “You love me” to convey the following meanings:
You really do? I hadn’t realized that.
That ploy won’t work. I told you we’re through.
You couldn’t possibly love me after what you did!
Me? I’m the one you love?
You? I didn’t think you loved anyone.

17. Silence
Can communicate contentment, awkwardness, anger, respect, thoughtfulness, empathy
Can also be disconfirming

18. Space/Proxemics Personal Space Intimate distance Personal distance
Social distance
Public distance
Barrier behaviors and territory
You are here

19. Time/Chronemics Our use of time reflects: Power/status Cultural norms
Expectations
Interpersonal priorities

20. Physical Appearance “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”
We tend to notice obvious things first (gender, race), then note attractiveness
Physically attractive people generally are perceived better
Importance placed on physical appearance can be very damaging
It’s what we do with it that’s most important

21. Artifacts
Include clothing, jewelry, personal belongings, accessories, etc.
Communicate economic level, educational level, trustworthiness, social position, level of sophistication, economic background, social background, educational background, level of success, moral character, masculinity/femininity, cultural background
Important part of first impressions

22. Environment Communicates something about you
We surround ourselves with things that are important/meaningful to us
Use artifacts to define our territory
Can influence interactions
How people use an environment communicates something about them

23. Some Guidelines for Improving Nonverbal Communication

24. Monitor Your Nonverbal Communication
Be Tentative When Interpreting Others’ Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbals are personal and ambiguous
Personal Qualifications:
Take responsibility for your interpretations
Use “I” language to check your perceptions of nonverbals
Contextual Qualifications:
Be aware of how the context might be influencing others’ nonverbals
Be aware of how different cultural norms might influence others’ nonverbals
Be careful not to jump to conclusions based on your own cultural norms