Non-verbal Communication Flashcards
Dominant Gestures v. Acquiescing Gestures
Dominant Gestures
- Wider stance or posture: Taking up more space, whether standing or sitting, can signal authority and dominance.
- Steepling of hands: Forming a triangle with the fingers (palms apart, fingertips touching) is often seen as a gesture of control or authority.
- Direct eye contact: Maintaining strong eye contact can indicate confidence and assertiveness.
- Chin up: Holding the head high with the chin slightly lifted is a gesture of self-assurance.
- Pointing or using hand gestures while speaking: Pointing at people or things or using large hand gestures can demonstrate control or emphasize importance.
- Firm handshake: A strong handshake is often associated with confidence and dominance in social interactions.
Acquiescing Gestures
- Lowering the head: Bowing or tilting the head downward can be a sign of submission or deference.
- Crossed arms or legs: This can sometimes indicate a closed or passive stance, although context matters (it can also indicate comfort or defense).
- Nodding frequently: Excessive nodding can signal agreement or acquiescence, even if the person doesn’t fully agree.
- Avoiding eye contact: Looking down or away can be interpreted as a lack of confidence or submissiveness in certain contexts.
- Smiling excessively: While smiling can be positive, smiling too often in some settings may convey submissiveness, especially if it is used to placate or ease tension.
- Leaning back or away: Leaning away from the speaker or situation can indicate withdrawal or lack of engagement.
Human Communication
The process of one person stimulating meaning in the mind of another person (or persons) by means of verbal and/or nonverbal messages
Definition of nonverbal communication (NVC)
the process of one person stimulating meaning in the mind of another person or persons by means of nonverbal messages
FM-NVC
Female-male nonverbal communcation - Refers to nonverbal communication patterns that arrise when women communicate with men
Relationship Between verbal and non-verbal communication
Nonverbal behavior CAN (but does not always) influence the meaning of verbal communication
NVC does not necessarily connect to verbal language.
NVC exists even when you do not use words at all.
*Even speaking on the phone still relies on nonverbal messages. Tone, pauses, accent, vocal fillers, etc.
NVC perspective on the phrase “read you like a book”
It simply isn’t possible. Every person is different, best we can do is identify common patterns. Even then it doesn’t determine total understanding
It’s your interaction over time with a person that determines your understanding of their unique nonverbal communication behaviors. And even then, it isn’t perfect
NVC perspective on the myth that “a person avoids eye contact when they are lying “
It used to be true, but only is Western culture (outside of western culture, people avoid eye contact as a sign of respect.) but not anymore. Liars in Western culture now make a point of maintaining eye contact so they do not immediately appear dishonest.
Meaning of a smile in NVC
Approval seeking behavior.
International sign of friendship and understanding
Interpretations can be gender dependent
Factors in understanding NVC (what makes is so hard to assign generalized meaning?)
Top level understanding:
1) Varies from person to person
2) NVC varies across culture (This is why ALL aspects of NVC should be put in the context of CULTURE. It influences all communication modes)
Lower-level understanding
1) NVC varies based on a person’s genetics (especially when it comes to things like stride and posture that are influenced by skeletal structure and breast size)
2) NVC varies based on a person’s environment (people often learn their nonverbal behaviors from the people around them)
3) NVC varies based on which behaviors have been conditioned (especially by culture)
*Means you need to pay attention and learn the cues exhibited by a particular person
NVC perspective on the idea that “Nonverbal behavior has an intrinsic meaning “
It does not. We assign meaning to these cues as a society, but they do not have an intrinsic meaning
Five distinctions between Verbal v. NVC
1) Linguistic Distinction: Verbal communication and NVC have different “coding systems”
a. NVC does not have its own coding system
b. In verbal communication, certain words have certain meaning and we learn to operate within that particular meaning (it is created to have the same ‘denontational’ meaning)
2) Continuity Distinction: Verbal language has starts and stops. NVC is continuous. Everything you do is something from which someone can derive meaning
3) Processing Distintion: Learning how to ‘read’ NV
4) Outcome Distinction: Nonverbal messages operate with more relational, emotional meaning
a. Verbal creates information content
b. NVC creates effective/relational/emotional function (the tone that someone uses can say something somepletely different from the verbal message
5) Absolute Distinction: NVC is more ambiguous than verbal
a. Verbal has definitive meaning
b. NVC has more questionable meaning and can have many interpretations
Three models of communication
1) The linear model is the simplest and most limited, useful for understanding one-way communication but inadequate for interactive or complex exchanges.
2) The interactive model introduces feedback and recognizes that communication is more than just sending and receiving messages; however, it still treats communication as a back-and-forth exchange rather than a simultaneous process.
3) The transactional model is the most comprehensive and realistic, viewing communication as a continuous, dynamic process where both parties are actively involved in shaping the exchange, making it the best model for understanding real-world, interpersonal communication.
Key aspects of the transactional model of communication
Each communicator is relying on signals from the other (which are continuous due to the continuous nature of NVC) and using it as feedback.
These signals can become cluttered by noise from the environment (or the conversation partners)
These signals must be put into the context of the field of experience (the totality of each communicator’s experience… largely dependent on their culture and their childhood)
The “field of experience”
The shared background or knowledge that facilitates understanding between communicators.
*All the models of communication should be put into this context
“Noise” in communication
Any interference that can disrupt the message, whether internal or external.
It is a part of all messages, whether verbal or non-verbal
Eye contact during conversation in the US
People find it frustrating to communicate with someone who is looking everywhere but in one’s eyes. When someone is not looking at you while conversing, you feel as if you are not really a part of the conversation.
Six functions of non-verbal communication
1) ‘complement’ the verbal message
2) ‘contradict’ the verbal message
3) ‘accent’ the verbal message
4) ‘repeat’
5) ‘regulate’
6) ‘substitute’
Physiognomy
The study of appearance/appearance-based messages
Albert Mehrabian
Key Contribution: Mehrabian is well-known for his work on non-verbal communication, particularly the 7-38-55 rule, which suggests that communication of emotions is 7% verbal, 38% vocal tone, and 55% facial expressions. He also developed the Mehrabian Arousal-Seeking Scale (MASS), which examines individual tendencies to seek or avoid sensory stimulation and arousal.
Influence: His work is foundational in understanding how non-verbal cues and arousal-seeking behaviors differ between men and women and how these differences impact social interaction.
Major Works: Silent Messages (1971)
Judith A. Hall
Key Contribution: Hall’s research focuses on non-verbal communication, particularly the accuracy with which men and women can read and express emotions. Her work has shown that women tend to be better at decoding non-verbal cues, which has broad implications for understanding gender differences in emotional and social interactions.
Influence: Hall’s studies provide key insights into the experience-seeking dimension of the MASS, as women’s greater emotional sensitivity may reflect a higher tendency to engage in complex emotional experiences.
Major Works: Nonverbal Sex Differences: Communication Accuracy and Expressive Style (1984)
Albert E. Scheflen
Contribution: the concept of quasicourtship cues in the 1960s and 1970s. These cues refer to non-verbal behaviors that individuals exhibit, often unconsciously, to signal interest, attraction, or readiness for social interaction—particularly in contexts related to courtship or social bonding. However, Scheflen referred to these as “quasi” cues because, in many cases, these behaviors are not intended to explicitly initiate romantic or sexual interaction but can still convey openness to it.
Influence: Scheflen’s research on quasicourtship cues was significant in advancing the understanding of non-verbal communication, particularly in terms of how individuals unconsciously signal availability and interest in social settings. His work showed that human interaction is deeply influenced by subtle, often unconscious behaviors that go beyond verbal communication.
Scheflen, A. E. (1965). Quasi-Courtship Behavior in Psychotherapy. Psychiatry, 28(3), 245-257.
Quasicourtship
Courtship typically involves intentional actions aimed at initiating or progressing a romantic relationship.
Quasicourtship, in contrast, is a more subtle, often unintentional display of similar behaviors that enhance social bonding or rapport without necessarily aiming for romantic involvement.
Key Aspects of Quasicourtship:
Unconscious Nature: Quasicourtship behaviors often occur automatically without conscious intent to flirt or engage romantically. People might exhibit these behaviors when they want to make a positive impression, appear likable, or simply signal that they are open to interaction.
Non-Sexual Contexts: Although the cues may resemble courtship behaviors, quasicourtship can take place in non-romantic interactions, such as during conversations between colleagues, friends, or acquaintances. The behaviors aim to foster positive social bonds rather than to initiate courtship.
Phases of Quasicourtship: According to Scheflen, these behaviors can be grouped into stages, such as courtship readiness (showing physical vitality and alertness), preening (grooming behaviors like adjusting clothes or hair), positional cues (body orientation showing openness), and actions of appeal or invitation (gestures that invite closer interaction, like smiling or touching).