1. Understanding Nonverbal Messages

2. Preview Why Focus on Nonverbal Communication?
The Nature of Nonverbal Communication
Codes of Nonverbal Communication
How to interpret Nonverbal Cues More Accurately

3. Nonverbal Communication Defined
Communication other than written or spoken language that creates meaning for someone
Sign language is one exception to this definition

4. Why focus on Nonverbal Communication?
Nonverbal messages communicate feelings and attitudes
Most significant source of emotional information is the face (Albert Mehrabian)
Vocal cues
Approximately 93% of emotional meaning is communicated nonverbally.

5. Why focus on nonverbal communication?
Nonverbal messages are critical to successful relationships
Nonverbal messages serve various functions for verbal messages:
Substitute
Complement
Contradict
Repeat
Regulate
Accent

6. The Nature of Nonverbal Communication
Culture-Bound
Rule-governed
Ambiguous
Perception checking
Continuous
Non-linguistic
Multi-channeled

7. Codes of Nonverbal Communication
Appearance
artifacts

8. Codes of Nonverbal Communication
Body movement, Gestures, and Posture
Kinesics refers to the study of human movements, gestures, and postures
Emblems
Illustrators
Affect displays
Regulators
adaptors
(People En Espaňol Magazine, Aug 2004, pg 20)

9. Codes of Nonverbal Communication
Kinesics Research
Quasi-courtship behavior – nonverbal actions we consciously and unconsciously exhibit when we are attracted to someone:
Courtship readiness
Preening
Positional cues
Appeals to invitation

10. Codes of Nonverbal Communication
Eye contact
Facial expressions
Touch (haptics)
Touch ethic
The Voice
Paralanguage or vocalics
Back-channel cues
Response latencies

11. Codes of Nonverbal Communication
Environment, Space, and Territory
Physical environment
Space (proxemics)
Intimate space
Personal space
Social space
Public space

12. Edwin T. Hall’s Zones of Space

13. Codes of Nonverbal Communication
Territory
Territoriality
Territorial markers

14. How to Interpret Nonverbal Cues
Immediacy
Immediacy Cues
Proximity:……………………………. Close, forward lean
Body Orientation:……………… Direct, could be side-by-side
Eye Contact:……………………….. Eye contact & mutual eye contact
Facial Expression:…………….. Smiling
Gestures:……………………………. Head nods, movement
Posture:………………………………. Open, relaxed, arms oriented toward others
Touch:………………………………….. Cultural-and-context appropriate
Voice:…………………………………… Higher pitch, upward pitch

15. How to Interpret Nonverbal Cues
Immediacy
Arousal
Dominance

16. What questions do you have?
Homework:
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