Chap. 3: Non-verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication excludes

• Sign lanuage, written words

Non-verbal communication includes

• Signs, hesitance, volume, pace, laughs, other utterance

Characteristics of Non-verbal communication

• Non-verbal communication exists

• Non-verbal behaviour has communicative value

• Non-verbal behaviour is primarily relational

• Non-verbal communication is ambiguous

• Non-verbal behaviour is different from verbal communication

• Non-verbal skills are important

Non-verbal communication (Characteristics of Non-verbal communication)

• Even without understanding speech, possible to get an understanding/idea how people are feeling

Non-verbal behaviour has communicative value (Characteristics of Non-verbal communication)

• Reveals information (intentional/unintentional)

• More attune = More responsive/competent communicator

Non-verbal behavior is primary relational (Characteristics of Non-verbal communication)

Series of social functions, include:

• Identity management

• Allows define kind of relationship we want to have

• Conveys emotions we may be unwilling/unable to express verbally/aware of.

Non-verbal communication is ambiguous (Characteristics of Non-verbal communication)

• Some emotions are easier to decode

• Some people are more skilled

Those who are better senders, are better receivers (mood, context, history, your feelings

Non-verbal behaviour is different from verbal communication (Characteristics of Non-verbal communication)

• Verbal messages are pretty much intentional, nonverbal cues are unintended (sometimes unconscious)

Non-verbal skills are important (Characteristics of Non-verbal communication)

• Strong predictor of popularity, attractiveness, socio-emotional well-being

• Successful-from career to romance

• Non-verbal sensitivity = emotional intelligence

Functions of Non-verbal communication

• Deceive

• Contradict

• Substitute for

• Regulate

• Accent

• Complement

• Repeat

Repeating (Functions Non-verbal communication)

• People remember words reinforced by gesture (Nodding, pointing, waving)

  • Emblem - Deliberate non-verbal behaviour, precise meaning known within a friend group.

Substituting (Functions Non-verbal communication)

• Replacing (Ex: A shrug after a ‘how are you?"‘)

Complementing (Functions Non-verbal communication)

• Matching content of verbal message

Accenting (Functions Non-verbal communication)

• Using non-verbal devices to emphasize oral messages

Regulating (Functions Non-verbal communication)

• Control flow of verbal communication

Contradicting (Functions Non-verbal communication)

• Mixed signals

Deceiving (Functions Non-verbal communication)

• Not always malicious

• White lie

Influence of Non-verbal communication

• Culture

• Gender

Darwins survival Expressions

Universal

• Happiness

• sadness

• Fear

• disust

• surprise

• anger