Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.1 Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication

Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 1

Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication


Quotable Quote

“He that has eyes to see and ears to hear may convince himself that no mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his finger tips; betrayal oozes out of him at every pore.”

Sigmund Freud


Nonverbal Communication

DefinitionMessage components other than words

that generate meaning

60-70 percent of meaning may be nonverbal Nonverbal communication is multidimensional Nonverbal communication Includes physical

appearance, body movement, facial expressions, touch, vocal characteristics, vocal tone, etc.


Nonverbal Communication Is

Match the Nonverbal Quality

Nonverbal is:

A.Convincing

B.Continuous

C.Less Structured

D.Highly Contextual

E.Learned Informally

Examples:__ 1. I took off my hat because

everyone else did.

__2. I knew she was very upset because she cried.

__3. How did he know I didn’t like the idea; I never said a word.

__4. I though the wink meant she agreed with me.

__5. I guess it was wrong to laugh during the film’s death scene.



Nonverbal Behavior Can . . .

– Repeat verbal messages• Visually repeat a verbal message

– Complement verbal messages• Consistent with the verbal message

– Accent verbal messages• Emphasize important elements in a

message by highlighting its focus or emotional content


- Regulate verbal messages• Manage the flow of a conversation

- Substitute for verbal messages• Takes the place of verbal

language - Contradict verbal messages

• Conflicts with the meaning of spoken words

Nonverbal Behavior Can . . .


PowerPoint Quiz

When you wave hello or goodbye to someone, you are using nonverbal communication to . . .

A. repeat a verbal message.B. complement a verbal message.C. accent a verbal message.D. regulate a verbal message.

E. substitute for a verbal message.


Expectancy Violation Theory

Your expectations about nonverbal behavior affect how you interact with others and how you interpret the meaning of nonverbal messages.

Examples of Expectancy Violation•Not facing forward in a crowded elevator•_____________________________________•_____________________________________


Types of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal Communication

Physical Appearance

Vocal Expression

Time

Body Movement

Silence Attractiveness

Gestures Space Environment

Eye Behavior Distance Clothing & Accessories


Physical Appearance

Provide examples of how physical appearance affects communication

•Attractiveness: _________________________

_______________________________________

•Clothing and Accessories: ______________

•Hair: __________________________________

•Tattoos and Body Piercings: ____________

_______________________________________


Tattoos and Body Piercings

• Many people have negative perceptions of employees who display tattoos or body piercings at work.

• Most employees with tattoos or body piercings conceal them on the job.

• BUT . . . 36 percent of 18-29 year olds now have tattoos—making them middle class consumer items rather than acts of rebellion.


Gesture Examples

Types

Emblems

Illustrators

Adaptors

Examples

1. Making the okay sign2. Expresses the same meaning as a

word in a particular culture

1. Holding up two fingers and saying “She called twice”

2. Used with a verbal message that would lack meaning without the words

1. Pounding your first in anger2. Habitual gestures that help

manage and express emotions

Types of GesturesWhich type of gesture has

the following characteristics?

A. Has the same meaning as a word?

B. Used with a verbal message that would lack meaning without the word?

C. Habitual action that helps manage and express emotions?



Facial Expressions• We can produce more than 1,000 different

facial expressions.• Facial expressions allow non-speakers to

contribute to conversations. • Lack of eye contact may be seen as

rudeness, nervousness, or dishonesty.• Eye contact norms are culturally

determined.• Eye contact influences interaction.


Adapting Facial Expressions

• Masking: Conceals true emotions with false facial expressions Example: __________

• Neutralization: Shows no emotion

Example: __________

• Intensification: Exaggerates facial expressions Example: __________

• Deintensification: Reduces emotional facial expressions

Example: __________


Eye Behavior

Eye contact can . . .•aid comprehension.•signify status or leadership.•express emotion.•indicate a willingness to communicate.

Fill in the Blank:When we try to understand what someone is saying, most of us will look at a speaker more than _____ percent of the time.


Vocal Expressiveness• Volume – refers to the loudness of your

voice• Pitch- refers to how high or low your

voice sounds• Word Stress – refers to the “degree of

prominence given to a syllable within a word or words within a phrase.”

Give three different meanings to each sentence by stressing the word in italics:

– I was born in New Jersey.– I was born in New Jersey.– I was born in New Jersey.


The Dark Side ofNonverbal Behavior

• Each year, approximately 1.5 million women and 800,000 men are victims of violence from an intimate partner.

• Women hit men as often as men hit women.

• Each year, 15% of homicides in the workplace are committed by co-workers.


TerritorialityTerritoriality

The sense of personal ownership that is attached to a particular space

Examples• Your usual seat in a classroom or meeting

room• Marking your territory with objects (purse,

book, coat, food)



Improve Your Nonverbal Communication

• Be Other-Oriented: Give serious attention to, concern for, and interest in other communicators.

• Use Immediacy Strategies: Be open and approachable.– Use direct eye contact– Use natural body movements and vocal variety– Maintain closer physical distance

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Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.1 Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication