Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication Flashcards
Messages expressed by other than linguistic means
Nonverbal communication
What are six functions of nonverbal communication?
Repeating, complementing, substituting, accenting, regulating, contradicting
Nonverbal behaviours that duplicate the content of a verbal message
Repeating
For example, pointing when giving instructions
Nonverbal behaviour that reinforces a verbal message
Complementing
Complementing non-verbal behaviours match the thoughts and emotions that the communicator is expressing verbally.
For example, saying thank you with a smile and sincere tone of voice rather than saying the same words in a monotone manner
Nonverbal behaviour that takes the place of a verbal message
Substituting
Example, when a friend asks, “what’s up?“You might shrug your shoulders or make a face instead of answering in words
Often used when communicators are reluctant to express their feelings – instead, they sigh, roll their eyes, it yawn
Nonverbal behaviours that emphasize part of a verbal message
Accenting
For example, pointing an accusing finger adds emphasis to criticism. Or accenting certain words with the voice such as “your” in “it was your idea“
A function of nonverbal communication in which nonverbal cues control the flow of verbal communication between and among individuals
Regulating
For example, parties in a conversation unconsciously send and receive turn-taking cues through their voice. When you’re ready to yield the floor, you create a rising vocal intonation pattern, then a falling one, or you draw out the final syllable at the end of your statement. Then you stop speaking.
Conversations are also regulated by nodding “I understand“ or “keep going“, looking away – lack of attention, or moving toward the door – ending the conversation
Nonverbal behaviour that is inconsistent with a verbal message
Contradicting
A common example of this sort of mixed message is the experience we’ve all had of hearing someone with a red face and bulging veins yelling, “angry? No, I’m not angry!“. In situations like these, we tend to believe the nonverbal message instead of the words
Nonverbal behaviours that reveal information a communicator does not disclose verbally
Leakage
Nonverbal behaviours that signal the untruthfulness of a verbal message
Deception cues
For example, pupil dilation and vocal cues for lying
What are three facts about detecting deception?
We are accurate in detecting deception only slightly more than half the time – only a shade better than leaving it to chance
We overestimate our ability to detect others’ lies
We have a strong tendency to judge others’ messages as truthful – we want to believe people wouldn’t lie to us, which biases our ability to detect deceit
Describe the influence of gender on nonverbal communication
Women are more expressive and better at recognizing others’ nonverbal behavior. Women smile more, use more facial expressions, use more head, hand, and arm gestures, touch others more, stand closer to others, are more vocally expressive, make more eye contact
Describe the influence of culture or nonverbal language
Some cultures people speak more with their hands, like Francophones
Some nonverbal behaviours have different meanings across cultures. The OK gesture, made by joining the tips of them and forefinger to form a circle, is a cheery affirmation to most Canadians but means “you’re worth zero“ in Belgium and France
Eye contact patterns vary around the world. A direct gaze is considered appropriate for speakers seeking power in Latin America, the Arab world, and southern Europe. On the other hand, Asians, Indians, Pakistanis, and northern Europeans gaze at a listener peripherally or not at all
The use of time also varies. North Americans emphasize punctuality, schedules, and completing one task at a time known as monochromic. In South America and Mediterranean cultures, they are more polychronic, with flexible schedules and multitasking
Some nonverbal behaviours are universal – smiles and laughter are signals of positive emotions
What are the different types of body movement or body positions of nonverbal behaviour? 4
Body orientation, posture, gestures, face and eyes
The study of body position and motion
Kinesics
A type of nonverbal communication. The degree to which we face toward or away from someone with our body, feet, and head
Body orientation
Facing someone directly generally signals your interest and facing away signals a desire to avoid involvement
A type of nonverbal communication. The way people carry themselves
Posture
Tenseness denoted status: the lower-status person is generally the more rigid, tense-appearing one, whereas the higher-status person is more relaxed
A type of nonverbal communication. Motions of the body, usually hands or arms, that have communicative value
Gestures
The most common forms of gestures are called illustrators- movements that accompany speech but don’t stand on their own. For example, pointing your fingers and gesturing with your hands to illustrate how to get to somewhere
Emblems – deliberate nonverbal behaviours that have a precise meaning, known to virtually everyone within a cultural group. Can stand on their own and often function as replacements for words. For example, we all know that a head nod means yes and a headshake means no, a wave means hello or goodbye
Manipulators or adaptors – consists of unconscious bodily movements in response to the environment. Such as fiddling with your hands, clicking a pen, or shivering
Nonverbal behaviours that accompany and support verbal messages
Illustrators
Such as pointing in a direction to give directions to someone
Deliberate nonverbal behaviours with precise meanings known to virtually all members of a cultural group
Emblems
Giving the middle finger, thumbs up means good
Movements in which one part of the body groups, massages, rubs, holds, fidgets, pinches, picks, or otherwise manipulates another part
Adaptors or manipulators
Clicking a pen, twirling hair
A type of nonverbal communication. Brief facial expressions
Microexpression
Those brief expressions that flit across the subject’s face in a short a time as it takes to blink an eye. Happiness and surprise in the eyes and more face, anger in the lower face brows forehead
Nonverbal communication in the face and eyes. The eyes themselves can send several kinds of messages. Meeting someone’s glance with your eyes is usually a sign of involvement, whereas looking away is often a sign of a desire to avoid contact
The eyes can communicate positive or negative attitude. Long glances can be interpreted as being interested in someone.
The eyes can communicate dominance and submission.
Individual factors that are related to nonverbal communication (3)
Voice, touch, and physical attractiveness
Nonlinguistic means of vocal expression: rate, pitch, tone, and so on
Paralanguage
A non-linguistic verbalization; for example, stammering or saying “um” “er” or “ah”
Vocal filler
The study of touching
Haptics
Describe touch in nonverbal communication
Touch can communicate many messages and signify a variety of relationships:
- functional/professional – dental exam, haircut
- social/polite- handshake
- friendship/warmth – clap on back
- sexual arousal – kisses, strokes
- aggression – shoves, slaps
What makes touch more or less intense depends on a number of factors:
The part of the body doing the touching; the part of the body being touched; the length of the touch; the pressure of the touch; whether anyone else is present; the situation in which the touch occurs; the relationship between the persons involved
Please a powerful role in our responses to others: people are evaluated more positively when they are touched. Besides increasing liking, also increases compliance.
What are the two dimensions to appearance in nonverbal communication?
Physical attractiveness and clothing
Physical attractiveness: both men and women whom others find attractive are rated as being more sensitive, kind, strong, sociable, and interesting
Clothing: conveys 10 types of messages to others – economic level, economic background, educational level, social background, trustworthiness, educational background, social position, level of success, level of sophistication, moral character.
We are more likely to obey people dressed in a high-status manner. Uniforms and formal attire carry influence
What external factors are related to nonverbal communication? (4)
Distance (physical space), environment, smell, and time
The study of how people and animals use space
Proxemics
One of anthropologist Edward Hall’s four distance zones, ranging from skin contact to 45 cm
Intimate distance
One of anthropologist Edward Hall’s four distance zones, ranging from 45 cm to 1.2 m
Personal distance
One of anthropologist Edward Hall’s four distance zones, ranging from 1.2 to 3.6 m
Social distance
One of anthropologist Edward Hall’s four distance zones, extending outward from 3.6 m
Public distance
What are the two dimensions of physical space or proxemics in nonverbal communication?
Distance and territoriality
Distance: you can often tell how people feel about one another by noting the distance between them. It is the distance that we voluntarily put between ourselves and others that gives a nonverbal clue about our feelings and the nature of the relationship.
We use intimate distance with people who are emotionally very close to us, mostly in private situations.
Most couples use personal distance in public.
Social distance is usually in business. For example between sales people and customers and people who work together.
Public distance is used by teachers in the classroom for the closer distances.
Territoriality – territory remains stationary. Any geographical area, such as a workstation, room, house, or other physical space, to which we assume some kind of “rights“ is our territory. Generally, we grant people with higher status more personal territory and greater privacy
The notion that an area is claimed by an individual or a group of individuals
Territoriality
Describe the role of physical environment in nonverbal communication
Physical settings, architecture, and interior design affect our communication. Some homes are very warm and make you feel comfortable, while others have unliving rooms where you can’t touch anything, can’t put your feet up, and can’t get too comfortable.
Environment can also shape the kind of interaction that takes place in it – subjects working in a “beautiful“ room we’re more positive and energetic than those working in an average or ugly space
Describe the role of smell in nonverbal communication
Smell is related to attractiveness. Also associated with memory in that it helps this form and recall events and information. Buyers looking at new homes are influenced by how they smell
The study of how humans use and structure time
Chronemics
Describe the role of time in nonverbal communication
How we handle time can express both intentional and unintentional messages. Waiting can be an indicator of status, for example when you wait for important people such as doctors by appointment only
Also serves as a relationship marker. The amount of time spent with a relational partner sends important messages about valuing that person
