Transcript File
It’s what you say…
and what you don’t
Verbal and Nonverbal Messages
in Communication
Part 2
Nonverbal Messages in Communication
Why look at nonverbal messages?
Up to 93% of emotional meaning is taken from
nonverbal messages
What is nonverbal communication?
All the behaviors and elements of people, other
than words, that convey meaning
Examples of nonverbals…
The Nixon Kennedy Debates
Those listening to the debates on the radio overwhelmingly
agreed that Nixon had won; those audiences watching on
television pegged Kennedy as the sure victor. Nixon’s weaker
body language signals were not a factor for the radio audience.
Characteristics of Nonverbal
Communication
Nonverbal messages are not easily
controlled
When nonverbal and verbal messages
conflict, nonverbals are usually more
accurate
Nonverbal is more effective than verbal
communication for expressing messages
in a less confrontational manner
Appearance
Types of clothing
Skin color
Height
Weight
Attractiveness
Artifacts – makeup, glasses, jewelry,
tattoos, piercings
Appearance
Appearance
Appearance…
Appearance
Appearance in Other Cultures
Kinesics (Body Movement)
Emblems – directly translate into words/phrases
(OK sign)
Illustrators – accompany and illustrate a verbal
message (size of fish you caught)
Affect displays – emotional meaning (fear,
happiness, anger, etc.)
Regulators – monitor, maintain, or control the
speaking of another (hand gesture to slow
down)
Adaptors – satisfy some need (scratching your
head)
Distractors – no function (nervous habits)
Facial Expressions
Eye contact and movements
Avoidance
Pupil dilation – more dilated, more interested
Eye contact is often the most telling of all
nonverbal communication. We have an
extremely difficult time controlling the
unconscious movements of our eyes.
Physical Environment
Many organizations pay a lot of attention
to the physical environment where
communication takes place
Room color (see handout on color meanings)
Room arrangement
Temperature
Paralanguage
How something is said; anything that
affects the content of what is said
Stress
Pitch
Rate
Volume
Rhythm
Fillers
Pauses
Distractors – yawning, laughing, moaning, etc.
Proxemics
Study of Space
Edwin T. Hall’s Zones of Space
Intimate Distance – 0 to 18 inches
Personal Distance – 18 inches to 4 feet
Social – 4 to 12 feet
Public – 12 to 25 feet
Proxemics (cont.)
Social
Intimate
Personal
Public
Other Nonverbal Communication
Haptics – the study of touch
Olfactics – the study of smell
Territoriality – personal space and territory
Temporal Communication
Cultural time
technical – actual time
formal – made for convenience (day, week, semester)
Informal – soon, forever, later, sometime
Psychological time
Importance you place on the past, present and future
Colors…how do you feel??
Colors…how do you feel??
Colors…how do you feel??
Colors…how do you feel??
Room Design / Arrangement
Room Design / Arrangement
Room Design / Arrangement
Room Design / Arrangement
Room Design / Arrangement