Chapter 1: Nonverbal communication Flashcards
Physical Characteristics or appearance
Odors and artifactual cues
Odors
- Conscious level: perfumes, aftershaves, and body odor indicate hygiene
- Subconscious level: Pheromones influence attraction and behavior (e.g. infants recognizing mothers’ scent)
Artifactual Clues
- Jewelry - indicates someone’s socioeconomic and marital status
- Clothing - signals income, group membership, respect for occasions
- Glasses - associated with intelligence
Functions of nonverbal
i. Define communication
ii. Regulate communication (backchannel)
iii. The message itself
Structures and Properties of Nonverbal Communication
i. Contains rules (can change meaning)
ii. Not always intentional
iii. Nonverbal comm is more covert which less controlled
Who proposed the 6 ways which verbal and nonverbal communication relate?
Ekman and Friesen
i. Ekman and Friesen proposed six ways in which verbal and nonverbal comm relate
- Repeat
- Substitution
- Contradict
- Compliment
- Regulate
- Accent
Who studies Nonverbal Communication?
i. Sociologist, psychology, anthropology, communication, art, criminal science and justice, etc.
ii. Ancient Greek culture
Why is nonverbal communication important?
Nonverbal behaviors are part of the “hidden dimension” of communication, a silent language
What is the estimated amount of information communicated nonverbally of messages conveyed?
ranges between 65%- 95%
What is nonverbal communication also known as and through who’s book?
Body language & Julius Fast’s 1970 book
What is nonverbal communication?
defined by researchers as nearly all human communication excluding spoken or written words.
What does nonverbal communication involve?
converting messages without words through facial expressions, body language, gestures, tone, appearance, and environment. It regulates and complements verbal communication, often carrying more weight in interactions.
Textbook definition of nonverbal communication (easy)
communicating without words
NC: Environment or content
Fast food restaurants vs elegant restaurants vs gambling casinos (the set up of these places have hidden meanings)
NC: Physical characteristics or appearance
Includes physical appearance, smell, height, weight, skin tone, hair
Dynamic: what is changeable during an interaction
Face, voice, and body
What are the 8 nonverbal cues?
- facial expressions
- gestures
- posture
- eye contact
- proxemics (space between others)
- haptics (touch, physical contact)
- appearance
- paralanguage (tone, pitch, pronunciation, pauses)
What is the difference between behavior and cue?
behavior is more broad and however our body is putting out messages but cue is what we are using or engaging with
(1) substitution
nonverbal communication can replace verbal communication
(2) repetition
nonverbal communication can repeat verbal communication
(3) contradiction
verbal and nonverbal signals can contradict each other
Ex: sarcasm
(4) complement
nonverbal com can complement verbal com
(5) accent
nonverbal com can emphasize parts of verbal com
(6) regulation
nonverbal com can regulate verbal com
T/F: nonverbal communication is intentional
false:
We assume nonverbal communication is intentional but also people are less aware when they are doing it
What are rich sources of info about individual personalities?
Personal environments
Stereotypes…
can affect judgments, but do not fully account for accuracy or consensus
What is the purpose of the textbook?
- Bridges scientific research with practical applications.
- Provides evidence-based insights for both researchers and practitioners.
Importance of Context in Nonverbal Communication
- Context clarifies the meaning of behaviors and prevents misinterpretation.
- Overreading cues without context leads to errors in judgment.
Scientific vs. Practitioner Approaches
- Scientific books: Research-focused, evidence-based.
- Practitioner books: Experience-based, may misrepresent findings.
Influence of Room Design on Perception and who is the researcher?
- Gosling et al. (2002) found that people form personality judgments based on room design.
