Chapter 4: Nonverbal Communication (Lessons 5 & 6) Flashcards
Nonverbal Communication
generation of meaning using behaviour other than words
Do verbal and nonverbal communication work separately or together?
-together, they should be seen as part of the same system
Nonverbal communication tends to communicate _______ more than verbal communication.
emotions
No ______ _________ govern nonverbal communication
official guides (ie. dictionaries, thesauruses)
___ to ___% of meaning comes from nonverbal cues
60-95%
Effects of nonverbal communication
-greater success in work and relationships
Vocal Element (Verbal)
-element of verbal communication
-spoken words
Paralanguage (Vocal Nonverbal Element)
-a vocal element of nonverbal communication
-verbal but not part of the message
-ie. rate, volume, pitch
Nonvocal Verbal Element
-element of verbal communication
-using unspoken symbols
-ie. writing and ASL
Nonvocal Nonverbal Element
-facial expressions, body language, eye contact, gestures
Nonverbal communication is primarily _____, while verbal communication is primarily ______ based.
biological; culturally
Convincing
-nonverbal communication is more convincing
-due to spontaneous nature
Continuous
-nonverbal communication is continuous
-people interpret you even when you are not speaking
Contextual
-nonverbal communication is highly contextual
-meaning depends on situation and interaction
Informally Learned
-nonverbal communication is learned by watching others and based off your own interpretations
Involuntary
-nonverbal communication is more below our consciousness
-can be difficult to control
Ambiguity
-nonverbal communication is ambiguous
-many misunderstandings
-multiple meanings
Credibility
-nonverbal communication is more credible
-we trust more of what people do than what they say
-nonverbal communication is harder to fake
Functions of Nonverbals
-reinforce meaning
-substitute meaning
-contradict verbal communication
-influence others
-conversational flow
-relational communication
-expressing identity
Technology
-nonverbal communication
-visual and vocal dimensions
-enhances communication and understanding
Complementing
-nonverbal behaviour paired with the verbal portion of a message
-used to emphasize meaning
-ie. pointing to the door when asking someone to leave
Contradiction
-nonverbal contradicts verbal
-mixed messages
-when persistent, hurt credibility
-ie. saying something mean but following it with a wink
Accenting
-emphasizing a word or message
-may change the meaning
-ie. gestures, vocalic cues, pauses
Repeating
-nonverbal communication that repeats the meaning of verbal communication
-reinforces
-ie. nodding head while saying “yes”
Pitch
-cues others into our conversational intentions
Rising Pitch
-typically indicates a question
Falling Pitch
-usually indicates closure
Eye Contact
-conversational flow regulator
Leave-Taking Behaviours
-nonverbal behaviours used when trying to exit a conversation
-ie. checking time
Substituting
-when nonverbal substitutes verbal
-language barriers
-communicating with babies
-lost language skills
-when verbal communication is not available
-ie. waving your server down
Deception
-the intentional act of altering information to influence another person
-extends beyond lying
-includes concealing, omitting, exaggerating
-not always intentionally hurtful
Relationships are affected by what 3 nonverbals?
-tie signs
-immediacy
-emotional expressions
Tie Signs
-nonverbal cues that communicate intimacy and signal connection
-ie. wedding rings, tattoos, holding hands
Immediacy Behaviours
-behaviours that lessen the real or perceived distance between communicators
-ie. smiling, nodding, touch
Cultural Influences on Nonverbals
-nonverbal language differs from culture to culture
-ie. kissing in France to say Hello
Universal Nonverbals
-smiling, laughter, crying
Kinesics
-the study of hand, arm, body, and face movements
Body Orientation
-the degree to which we face towards or away from someone with our body, feet, and head
Posture
-the way we carry ourselves
Gestures
-movement with our arms and hands
-3 types: adaptors, emblems, illustrators
Adaptors
-touch behaviours and movements
-indicate arousal, anxiety, boredom
-may result when we are not in control of our surroundings
-ie. clicking pen
Emblems
-gestures with an agreed upon meaning (culturally)
-not formal like ASL
-ie. middle finger
Illustrators
-most common gestures used to illustrate the verbal message they accompany
-cannot stand independently, don’t typically have meaning
-ie. indicating size/shape of an object
SURETY Model
Sit
Uncrossed legs and arms
Relax
Eye contract
Touch
Your intuition
Haptics
-the power of touch
-the study of communication by touch
-several types of touch
Vocalics
-the study of paralanguage
-includes pitch, volume, intensity, quality, rate
Pitch
-helps convey meaning
-regulates conversational flow
-communicates the intensity of a message
Volume or Intensity
-how loudly or softly an individual speaks
Speaking Rate
-how fast or slow a person talks
Tone
-controlled with pitch, volume, emphasis
Verbal Fillers
-sounds that fill in gaps in our speech as we think about what to say next
Proxemics
-the study of how space and distance influence communication
Chronemics
-the study of how time affects communication
Public Space
-3 meters+
-the least personal
Social Space
-1-3 meters
-professional or casual interactions
Personal Space
-1.5m or less
-personal bubble
Intimate Space
-less than 1m
-sometimes comforting sometimes annoying
Territoriality
-an innate drive to take up and defend spaces
Primary Territories
-marked or official spaces under our control
-ie. house
Secondary Territories
-do not belong to us
-not exclusively under control but still available to us when needed
-ie. desks in a classroom
Public Territories
-open to all people
-use markers to show when in use
Personal Presentation
-our physical characteristics
-body shape, height, weight, attractiveness
-role in initial impressions
