Chapter 7- Nonverbal Communication Skills Flashcards
Nonverbal communication
Behavior other than written or spoken language that creates meaning for someone.
Interaction adaption theory
Theory suggesting that people interact with others by adapting to their communication behaviors.
Interactional synchrony
Mirroring of each other’s nonverbal behavior by communication partners.
Turning point
Specific event or interaction associated with a positive or negative change in a relationship.
8 nonverbal communication codes
- Body movement and posture
- Eye contact
- Facial expressions
- Vocal cues
- Space
- Territory
- Touch
- Appreance
Kinesics
Study of human movement and gesture.
Categories of movement and gestures
Emblems Illustrators Affect display Regulators Adaptors
Emblems
Nonverbal cues that have specific, generally understood meanings in a given culture and may substitute for a word or phrase
Illustrators
Nonverbal behaviors that accompany a verbal message and either contradict, accent, or complement it.
Affect displays
Nonverbal behaviors that communicate emotion.
Regulators
Nonverbal messages that help to control the interaction or flow of communication between two people.
Adaptors
Nonverbal behaviors that satisfy a personal need and help a person adapt or respond to the immediate situation.
Backchannel cues
Vocal cues that signal your wish to speak or stop speaking.
Proxemics
Study of how close or far away from people and objects people position themselves.
Intimate space
Zone of space most often used for very personal or intimate interactions, ranging from 0 to 1 1/2 feet between individuals.
Personal space
Zone of space most often used for conversations with family and friends, ranging from 1 1/2 feet to 4 feet between individuals.
Social space
Zone of space most often used for group interactions ranging from 4 feet to 12 feet between individuals.
Public space
Zone of space most often used by public speakers or any one speaking to many people, ranging beyond 12 feet from the individual.
High contact cultures
Cultures in which people experience personal closeness and contact, often from warmer climates.
Low-contact cultures
Cultures in which people experience less contact and personal closeness, often from cooler climates.
Territoriality
Study of how animals and humans use space and objects to communicate occupancy or ownership of space.
Territorial markers
Tangible objects that are used to signify that someone has claimed an area or space.
Tells
Nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, body postures, or eye behaviors, that give away what we are thinking and feeling.
Immediacy
Feelings of liking, pleasure, and closeness communicated by such nonverbal cues as increased eye contact, forward lean, touch, and open body orientation.
Arousal
Feelings of interest and excitement communicated by such nonverbal cues as vocal expression, facial expressions, and gestures.
Dominance
Power, status, and control communicated by such nonverbal cues as a relaxed posture, greater personal space, and protected personal space.
Dimensions for interpreting nonverbal behavior
- Immediacy
- Arousal
- Dominance
Expectation violation theory
Theory that you interpret the messages of others based on how you expect others to behave.
Perception checking
Asking someone whether your interpretation of his or her nonverbal behavior is accurate.
Emotional contagion theory
Theory that emotional expression is contagious; people can “catch” emotions just by observing others emotional expressions.
How to check your perceptions of others nonverbal cues?
- Observe their nonverbal behavior
- Form a mental impression of what you think they mean
- Ask questions to check whether your perception is accurate.
Improving skill in expressing nonverbal messages
- Be mindful
- Observe others reactions
- Ask others about your nonverbal behavior.
- Practice your nonverbal behavior
