Transcript Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal
Communication
The transfer of information
between persons without the
use of speech.
Nonverbal communication includes not
only visual cues (gestures/appearances)
but also vocal features (volume/pitch),
and environmental factors
(space/position).
 These cues may be intentional or
unintentional.

“I didn’t say you stole the wallet”
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Can you figure out the six different
suggestions made by this sentence?
I didn’t say you stole the wallet.
I didn’t say you stole the wallet.
I didn’t say you stole the wallet.
I didn’t say you stole the wallet.
I didn’t say you stole the wallet.
I didn’t say you stole the wallet.
Functions of Nonverbal
Communication
Supplements verbal communication
 Social interaction is regulated by it (we let
people know whether or not we want to
talk to them)
 Establishes relationships with others
(whether we like them or not)

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DEMEANOR AND DEFERENCE
Demeanor: is how we behave or conduct
ourselves…related to social power.
 Deference: is the symbolic means by
which subordinates give a required
permissive response to those in power.

Facial expression, Eye Contact,
and Touching
Response to text
(Facial Expression, Eye Contact, and
Touching)
1.Who smiles more…men or women…why?
2. Men and women have different patterns
of eye contact …why?
3. How is “touching” different amongst men
and women?

Lip biting
It could mean: She's flirting.
But it might mean: She's shy or feels pressured.
What the experts say: Suspects sometimes do this when
they're trying to remember an event or concoct a story,
says private investigator Steven Tavlin. It's a sign of
discomfort. To put the person at ease, avoid direct staring
and lower your voice. You might even back up or turn away
slightly. "The idea is to take the pressure off," says Givens.
Frowning
It could mean: She's unhappy or uncomfortable.
But it might mean: She's concentrating.
What the experts say: Some people frown without
realizing it, so don't comment on the frowning directly, says
anthropologist David Givens. If it happens during a job
interview, you might ask, "Did that answer the question?"
With a friend, just ask if she's OK.

Rolling eyes
It could mean: She's trying to be funny.
But it might mean: She is frustrated, doesn't like you, or doesn't respect
you.
What the experts say: "Eye rolling is one of the nonverbal signs that is
pretty much always aggressive," says executive coach Steve Watts. He
recommends politely confronting the eye-roller, asking, "Do you disagree?"
to get negative feelings out in the open.
Personal Space

Is the immediate area surrounding a
person that the person claims as private.
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There are distance zones:

“Intimate distance” (contact to ½ a meter)
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“Personal distance” (0.5 to 2 meters)
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Friends and acquaintances (ordinary conversation)
“Social distance” (1.2 to 3.6 meters)
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Spouses, “lovers”, close friends (comforting and protecting)
Impersonal relationships (business transactions)
“Public distance” (beyond 4 meters)
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Formal relationships- interpersonal communication difficult
Power differentials are reflected in personal space
issues.
Example: Adults often enter the personal space of
a child.
In sum…
All
forms of nonverbal
communication are
influenced by gender,
ethnicity, social class, and
the personal contexts in
which they occur.
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Video: How to interpret body language