Unit 1 - NonVerbal Communication Flashcards
Define:
Verbal Communication
Non-Verbal Communication
Verbal Communication
Communicating through words and sounds, e.g through speech.
Non-Verbal Communication
Communicating without words, through gestures, postures and eye contact.
What are paralinguistics?
Vocal features that accompany speech, such as:
- Tone of voice
- Emphasis
- Intonation
Paralinguistics involve features of verbal and non-verbal communication.
Define the following:
Communication
Intonation
Emphasis
Tone of Voice
Communication
Passing information from one person to another.
Intonation
The rise and fall of the voice while speaking.
Emphasis
Giving prominence to some words more than others.
Tone of Voice
The way words are spoken to convey emotion
Describe the aims, methods, results and conclusions of Argyle et al’s study on tone of voice.
Aim
To see if tone of voice has any affect in interpreting a verbal message.
Method
Different groups of participants listened to either friendly or hostile messages spoken in either a friendly or hostile tone of voice.
Results
When participants were asked to assess the messages, it was found that tone of voice had about five times the effect of the verbal message itself.
Conclusion
Tone of voice (paralingusitics) is extremely important in communicating messages.
What are some uses of Non-Verbal Communication?
- To express emotions
- To express interpersonal attitudes
- To manage the cues of interaction between speakers and listeners
- To present your personality
- For greeting someone
What are 4 types of Non-Verbal Communication?
- The role of eye contact
- Facial expression
- Body language (posture, gesture, touch)
- Personal Space
Define
‘Eye Contact’
When two people in a conversation are looking at each other’s eyes at the same time. This can convey that they are paying attention.
Describe the aims, method, results and conclusion of Argyle’s study on Eye Contact.
Aim
To see how interrupting eye contact affects conversation.
Method
Pairs of participants were observed (watched) having conversations. In half of the conversations, one participant wore dark glasses so that the other couldn’t receive eye contact.
Results
When one of the participants wore dark glasses, there were more pauses and interruptions than when dark glasses were not worn.
Conclusion
Eye contact is important in ensuring the smooth flow of conversation.
What are Osgood’s 7 universal facial expressions?
- Surprise
- Disgust
- Happiness
- Anger
- Fear
- Sadness
- Interest
Describe the aims, method, results and conclusion of Sackheim’s study on Facial Expressions.
Aim
To look at the relationship between facial expressions and the hemispheres of the brain.
Method
Pictures of 70 faces (male and female) showing different emotions were cut down the middle. New pictures were made with half face and its mirror image. Each pair of new faces was shown to participants. They were asked which picture they liked better.
Results
The majority of participants said they preferred the picture of the left half face and its reflection. When asked ‘why’ they said the person looked ‘warmer’.
Conclusion
The left side of the face seems to express emotion much more than the right side.
Define the following terms:
Open Posture
Closed Posture
Postural Echo
Open Posture
An open posture has the shoulders back, often with the arms and legs uncrossed. This implies self confidence and being relaxed and comfortable.
Closed Posture
A closed posture has the shoulders more stooped with the arms across the body. We often opt for a closed posture when feeling threatened, for example during an argument. This is defensive body language and suggests a lack of self-confidence and being nervous. It can also be seen as aggressive.
Postural Echo
Mirroring another person’s body position. This often demonstrates feeling at comfort or at ease.
Identify and explain one feature of non-verbal communication in this picture (2 marks)
Crossed Arms - Closed Posture - They are feeling defensive/aggresive
Facial expression - They are both angry
Eye Contact - They are engaged in the conversation
Describe the aims, methods, results and conclusions of McGinley et al’s study on open/closed posture.
Aim
To examine the effects of open and closed posture during conversations.
Method
In an appropriate social situation individuals were approached by a confederate who began to talk to them. The confederate either adopted an open posture or a closed posture during the conversation. Individuals were asked afterwards for their views on the confederate.
Results
Individuals said that when the confederate showed an open posture they appeared more friendly and more attractive. When the confederate showed a closed posture they appeared less friendly and less attractive.
Conclusion
Posture can determine how friendly or attractive a person appears to other people.
Describe the aims, methods, results and conclusions of McGinley et al’s study on postural echo.
Aim
To examine the effects of postural echo during conversations.
Method
In an appropriate social situation individuals were approached by a confederate who began to talk to them. The confederate either echoed the posture of the person being spoken to or did not echo their posture. Individuals were asked afterwards for their views on the confederate.
Results
Individuals felt more comfortable when the confederate used postural echo and reported that they had got on well together. Individuals felt less comfortable when postural echo had not been used and reported that their conversation seemed more awkward.
Conclusion
Using postural echo gives an impression of being more friendly.
What are gestures?
Most people use gestures when speaking.
They often add emphasis to the message we wish to communicate.
Gestures may involve the face, hands or whole body.
Some gestures are deliberate to emphasise what we want to say and others are unconscious give away that we may not realise for example tapping nervously or shaking a foot.
