Adler/Rodman Copyright © 2006 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Chapter 5

Adler/Rodman Copyright © 2006 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

Chapter 5

Understanding Human Communication, Ninth Edition Adler/Rodman Copyright © 2006 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

It’s impossible not to communicate nonverbally

Why?


There are many types of nonverbal communication including…

•Posture and gesture•Face and eyes•Voice•Touch•Physical appearance & attractiveness•Distance and territory•Time•Physical environment


Why are nonverbal skills important?

•Nonverbal sensitivity is a key part of emotional intelligence.

•Good nonverbal communicators are more persuasive than people who are less skilled.

•They have a greater chance of success in life.


Social functions of nonverbal communications:

•Identity management: Project an image•Relations: Gestures you use when meeting someone•Conveying emotions.

Especially useful in suggesting how others feel about you and the relationship.


Nonverbal messages are more ambiguous than verbal communication. Why? How?


Nonverbal communication has several important characteristics:

• It’s always present when people encounter each other and in many situations where they aren’t physically present.

• It has great value in conveying information about others.

• Much of that information isn’t what others intentionally want to reveal.


Nonverbal communication serves many functions, when compared to verbal messages.

• It can repeat, complement, and accent spoken words. How?

• It can substitute for speech.

• It can regulate conversations. How?

• It can contradict spoken words, or even deceive others. How?


Functions of Nonverbal Communication

•Repeating

•Emblems: •Pointing – deliberate nonverbal behaviors that have precise meanings (directions)

•Shrugging shoulders



•Complementing:•Facial expressions match what’s being said (apology)

•Illustrators: Nonverbal behaviors that support spoken words



•Accenting•Pointing

•Regulating•Sending unconscious send/receive cues•Taking a breath ready to talk

•Contradicting•Verbal and nonverbal don’t match


•What might be the signs of someone deceiving you?

•Tend to make more speech errors (stutter, hesitate, false starts, etc)

•Vocal pitch may rise

•Eye may blink more

•May rapidly shift their posture

•May fidget more


•Culture shapes many nonverbal practices. How?

• Gender plays a role in the way we communicate. How?


How could you show the following in a nonverbal way:

•You’re bored•You’re interested•You’re happy•You don’t understand•You’re nervous•You’re sad


Impact of the Internet Misunderstandings

E-mail

Examples

How can you avoid e-mail misunderstandings?


Types of nonverbal communication

•Face and eyes•Voice•Touch•Physical attractiveness•Clothing•Distance•Time•Territory•Environment


FACE AND EYES

Researchers Ekman and Friesen ID six basic emotions that facial expressions reflect:

•Surprise•Fear•Anger•Disgust•Happiness•Sadness


FACE AND EYES

•Smiling cocktail waitresses get more tips

•Influence of a smile


POSTURE AND GESTURE

•How you sit

•“Kinesics”

•See someone slumping into a room, what might that mean?


VOICE

“Paralanguage” is ….nonverbal, vocal messages.

Listeners respond more to people who talk at the same rate as the listener.


TOUCH

•Touch increases a child’s mental functioning as well as physical health.

•Touch affects how we respond to others.

•Touch can communicate what?

•Positive, playful, control, aggression


TOUCH

•Factors: Area being touched, how long touch lasts, how much pressure used, movement after touch, anyone else present, relationship between the two people


PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS

•Research shows it does make a difference in how people perceive others

•Women who are perceived as more attractive get more dates

•Children rate good looking children as having positive social characteristics


CLOTHING

•Clothing can be used to display economic status, educational level, social status, moral standards, athletic ability, etc.

•We are more likely to obey people dressed in a high-status manner.


DISTANCE

The study of the way people and animals use space is called….

“proxemics.”


DISTANCE

Research indicates we choose a distance depending upon how we feel toward the other person at a given time, context of the conversation, and our personal goals.


DISTANCE

Choosing the optimal distance can have a powerful effect on communication. WHY?


DISTANCE

•Imitate distance: skin – 18 inches•Emotionally close, doctor, dentist, etc

•Personal distance: 18 inches – 4 feet•We can be uncomfortable in this zone. Why?

•Social distance: 4-12 feet•Business situations

•Public distance: 12 feet+•Two-way communication more difficult


TIME

• What do we call the study of how humans use and structure time?

• “Chronemics”

• Our culture values time• In others---it may be barely

considered• “Hawaiian” time


TERRITORY

•Territory is a fixed space: Room, house, neighborhood, country.

•How people use space can communicate a good deal about what?

•Power and status.

•High status people tend to be granted more territory and greater privacy. (Boss at work)


ENVIRONMENT

Physical environment affects communication. It creates perceptions.

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Adler/Rodman Copyright © 2006 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Chapter 5