Non verbal communication

Question 1

Define Non-verbal communication

Answer 1

Telling others what we are thinking, feeling, or planning by body movement

Question 2

What is body language?

Answer 2

Communicating something physically with our body

Question 3

What are facial expressions?

Answer 3

Communicating by moving muscles in the face

Question 4

Name the core theory of non verbal communication

Answer 4

The Social learning theory (learnt behaviour)

Question 5

How is NVC learnt according to the core theory

Answer 5

1. Observation - observing NVC of significant others
2. Imitation - we imitate NVC of role models who either care for us, are in authority, or ar similar to us
3. Reinforcement: reward (more likely to NVC) Punished (less likely to repeat NVC)

Question 6

How does cultural variation support NVC?

Answer 6

In different cultures, NVC would be different as we learn from those around us. therefore behaviour would be custom in a certain country but unusual in another (give France example)

Question 7

What are some criticisms of the social learning theory?

Answer 7

1. Theory doesnt explain why some behaviours persist even when they are punished
2. Some people cannot learn new behaviours (as core theory suggests)
3. Children of same upbringing can differ
4. Ignores role of nature

Question 8

Name the alternative theory

Answer 8

The evolutionary theory (nature)

Question 9

What is the alternative theory?

Answer 9

A theory that states we’re born with an instinct to survive and reproduce and NVC has evolved to help with these

Question 10

How does NVC relate to survival?

Answer 10

1. Warding off enemies or potential threats - bearing teeth
2. reducing conflict or threat - avoiding eye contact
3. Allowing people to co-operate so they can help each other to survive - touching people to reassure them

Question 11

How does NVC relate to reproduction?

Answer 11

1. Flirting to attract opposite sex - widening eyes
2. Making male seem more attractive - puffing out chest
3. Helping people to communicate within a relationship - using open body language

Question 12

NAME the core study of NVC

Answer 12

Yuki et al (2007)

Question 13

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 13

To investigate whether different cultural groups pay attention to different facial cues when communicating with one another

Question 14

Who were the participants of the study?

Answer 14

118 american student and 95 Japanese students at Ohio uni

Question 15

What was the method of the study?

Answer 15

A Questionnaire

Question 16

What was the procedure of the study?

Answer 16

1. Used a combination of happy and sad eyes and mouths on emoticon
2. Asked to rate the emoticons on how happy it is on a scale of 1 - very sad to 9-very happy

Question 17

What were the results of the study?

Answer 17

The Japanese students have higher rating for the emoticons with happy eyes and vice versa

Question 18

What is the conclusion of the study?

Answer 18

The study supports cultural variations and therefore learnt NVC

Question 19

What are criticisms of the study?

Answer 19

1. lacked ecological validity (not real faces)
2. Sample not representative (small age range)
3. Used a very simple way of measuring DV (by rating them).

Question 20

How does social skills training relate to NVC?

Answer 20

Social skills training - research helps psychologists understand how people interact. SST has been developed to help people interact more successfully with each other

Question 21

What are the 4 main steps of SST?

Answer 21

• Modelling = trainor demonstrated positive behaviour
• Practice = The student imitates the behaviour (roleplay)
• Feedback = the trainor comments on the students practise and would and reinforces it
• Homework = The student practises the behaviour in real-life situations

Question 22

What situations can these 4 steps be used in?

Answer 22

1. Managing conflict = social skills training helps employees deal with conflict in their work place (e.g. school)
2. Customer service = Helps manage conflict and create a good impression when dealing with public
3. Rehab of offenders = Teach offenders how to interact with people using NVC. This allows them to manage difficult situations more effectively and risk of re-offending is reduced