Chapter 5

Encoding Messages:Nonverbal Communication

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Nonverbal Communication

The study of communication systems that do not involve words.

“nonverbal communication (as) any instance in which a stimulus other than words creates meaning in either a sender’s or a receiver’s mind” (p. 104).

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Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication

May be unintentional or intentional

Consists of multiple codes

Is immediate, continuous, natural, fake & genuine

Both universal and cultural

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What Meanings are Best Conveyed Nonverbally?

Making initial judgments

Relational Information liking status responsiveness

Emotional expression -nonverbal is more effective than verbal communication.

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Nonverbal Codes and Verbal Messages

Repeating Contradicting Substituting Complementing Accenting Regulating

(see table 5.2)

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The Nonverbal Codes

Kinesics Code I : body movement and gestures

Kinesics Code II: Facial expressions and eye behavior

Paralinguistics: vocal behavior

Chronemics: study of time

Proxemics: study of space

Physical appearance and object language (Table 5.1)

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Kinesic Code I : Body Movement and Gestures

Our bodies are an important source of nonverbal meaning.

Kinesics – study of body movement

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Types of Body Movements

Emblems – kinesic behaviors whose direct verbal translations are known to all of the members of a social group.

Yes, no, “shame on you”, “Wait a minute”, “Sit down next to me”, Peace, thumbs up, etc.

They are culturally defined.

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Illustrators

Describe your favorite . . . . With just your words.

Accompany words and add to the meaning.

Using gestures to indicate a size and shape of an object.

Using a gesture for indicating a new point as in a public speech.

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Regulators

“traffic signals” during the interaction.

Head nods, eye and hand movements that allow us to maintain, request, or deny others a turn to talk.

Friends: “Okay!”

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Affect Displays

Body movements that convey emotional states.

Looking at both the face and the whole body.

When people lie, some body stances may provide a “leakage cues” or “strategic cues” that attempt to dissociate themselves from the message.

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Adaptors

Behaviors that people use to adapt to stressors and satisfy personal needs.

Tapping pen, kicking foot, scratching, twirling hair, etc.

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Facial Expressions & Eye Behavior The face is the area most

people turn to for information about others.

“The eyes are the window to the soul”

People’s character are “written all over their faces”

Facial Displays

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Facial Displays

Part innate and part learned.

Culture – certain expressions are encourages and certain discouraged.

Intensifying vs. Deintensifying emotions

Neutralizing Cultural display rules Professional display rules Personal display rules

Externalizers vs. internalizers

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Eye Behaviors

Eye behaviors serves to maintain social position.

Eye behavior is a good indication of both positive and negative emotions.

Eyes also signal our willingness to respond to one another.

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Paralinguistics: Vocal Behavior

The study of sounds that accompany words.

Vocal Qualities – tone, pitch, intonation

Vocalizations – special sounds that convey meaning, such as groans, cries, moans, giggles, yawns)

Vocal segregates – pauses and fillers – “um” and “uh”

Accents – “prestige speech”

Silence

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Chronemics = Time

The study of time as it affects human behavior Psychological time orientation

Present, hedonism orientation Present, fatalism orientation Future orientations

Work-motivation, goal seeking, pragmatic-action, daily planning Time sensitivity orientation – anxious about self and

others punctuality (pressure)

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Time – Chronemics (cont.)

Biological time orientation Daily rhythms Are you a morning or evening

person? Seasonal affective disorder

Cultural time orientation “Sioux” indians have no words

for “late” and “waiting”

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Territory and the use of space

Proxemics – the study of space Territory

Home territories – owned and controlled by individuals (may also include public territories)

Interaction territories – socially marked

Body territories

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Spatial arrangement & Personal Space

Spatial arrangement – consider your favorite hang out or restaurant versus the library or a classroom.

Personal space – how close we prefer to be to other people

Touch – haptics – culture, type of touch, messages

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Physical Appearance

Designers have a whole industry to produce an effect through fashion.

Body Type

Dress Comfort-protection Modesty Cultural display

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Object Language

All intentional and unintentional displays of material things, such as implements, machines, art objects, architectural structures, (as well as) the human body, and whatever clothes or covers it.

Our possessions act as public symbols of our values, status and financial success, informing others of our identity and reinforcing our own sense of self.

Built environments, materials (decorations), lighting and even colors used.

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How do we know what nonverbals mean? Check the context

Compare current behavior to baseline behavior

Ask for verbal feedback

Perception or perspective checking

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Increasing Nonverbal Skills

Be cautious in interpreting nonverbal messages

Give proper attention to nonverbal cues

Become aware of the messages you may be inadvertently sending

Remember that nonverbals you consider to be perfectly innocent can be invasive and even threatening to others.

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