Nonverbal communication 1

The basic distinction:

• Non-verbal communication

• Verbal communication

Distinguishing between verbal and vocal communication

• Four types of communication• 1. Verbal/vocal communication

communication through the spoken word• 2. Verbal/nonvocal communication

words are involved but no speaking takes place• 3. Nonverbal/vocal communication

interjection• 4. Nonverbal/nonvocal communication

nonlinquistic messages, involves only gestures and appearance

• Nonverbal communication has a biological basis.

• Human nonverbal communication is linked with certain patterns of animal behavior.

• During human evolution – before genesis of a speech -humans used nonverbal communication.

• Many nonverbal expressive means are not voluntary controlled.

• Many nonverbal expressions are linked with vegetative reactions and reflexes.

• Some features of nonverbal communication do not depend of a particular culture, others appear only within specific social groups or societies.

Interest in nonverbal communication

• The research in the fields of etology and social anthropology in the 20th century.

• Importance of nonverbal information channel.

• Proportion of verbal and nonverbal message in communication.

• Power of nonverbal communication.• Use of knowledge about nonverbal

communication.

Proportion of verbal and nonverbal message in communication

• Mehrabian (1972): 93 percent of social meaning in face-to face communication is conveyed through nonverbal cues.

• Birdwhistell (1970) 65 percent.

The basic elements of nonverbal communication

• The basic expressive means:– facial expressions (facial gestures)– Gestures (body language)– Postures– Actions

• Spatial behavior• Contact behavior• Mutilation behavior• Behavior in time

Spatial behavior (proxemic)

• Proxemic – research of spatial behavior

It covers:

• Personal space

• Orientation in space in relation to other people

• Occupation of a space (table, office)

Territorial behavior

• Territorial behavior - naturalness of animals and human beings.

• Territory in animals - a part of area, which is protected against invaders (aliens) of the same species.

Territory in humans

• Two types of human territory:

• Official act. The territory is fenced (fences, barriers) and it is warned that the territory is private property.

• Spontaneous genesis of a territory. It is based on unwritten agreements and/or nonverbal communication.

Temporary territory

• Temporary territory – the human demands a space, which is not his/her permanent property.

• Space, which is used transiently (e.g. a chair or a desk in a classroom, a seat in public transport)

Spatial zones

Four areas of spaces

• Hall (E.T. Hall, The Silent Language, New York, Fawcett, 1959)

• On the basis of observation of human behavior he distinguishes between four areas of space. Criterion – spatial distance.1. Intimate space2. Personal space3. Social space4. Public space

Intimate space

• Distance approximately 0 - 45 cm

• Narrow intimate space

It starts with bodily contact and ends in distance 15 cm or less.

• Broad intimate space

Distance approximately 15 - 45 cm.

Narrow intimate space

• It starts with bodily contact and ends in distance 15 cm or less.

• Other persons can enter the zone in the case of protection or intimate contact.

• Unintentional space violation – in public transport – an apology. A person could interpret our behavior as an attack.

Broad intimate space

• Distance approximately 15 - 45 cm.

• Relatives, partners, close friends can enter.

• Details of skin, make-up, perspiration is very well visible. Therefore the contacts with alien persons is not agreeable.

Intimate space – the difference between urban and rural population

• There is the difference in extent of intimate zone between urban and rural population.

• Intimate space is more narrow in urban population than in rural one.

• In rural population is intimate space approx. twice as broad as in urban inhabitants.

• Countrymen shake hands in distance 1 m, while citizens in distance 45 cm.

Personal space

• Distance approximately 45 - 120 cm

• Narrow personal space

Distance approximately 45-90 cm. • Broad personal space

Distance approximately 75-120 cm

Narrow personal space

• Distance approximately 45-90 cm.

• Close friends and relatives can enter. People can not enter to this space without permission.

• Discussion with the other person is confidential.

Broad personal space

• Distance approximately 75-120 cm.

• To keep distance from people.

• Contact with friends, social activities.

• In the case of violation of our personal space we often involuntary shrink back – innate defensive reaction.

Social space

• Distance approximately 1,2 - 3,6 m.(Greater distance is not appropriate for communication closed places.)

• Narrow social space Distance 120-210 cm.

• Broad social space Distance 210-360 cm.

Narrow social space

• Distance approximately 1,2-2,1 m.

• Meeting with alien people and for impersonal acts.

Broad social space

• Distance approximately 2,1-3,6 m.

• Teaching in school, meetings. It enables communication of several people.

Cultural differences:

• Near distances

Arab, Japan, South America, France, Grees, Italy, Spain

• Intermediate distances

Great Britain, Sweden, Swiss, Germany, Austria

• Large distances

North America (white), Australia, New Zeeland

Public space

• Distance 3,6 m and more.• This distance is maintained by politicians,

commanders, officials.

• It is called also “an escape area“.

Factors influencing extent of personal space

• An extent of personal space depends on certain personal traits.

• Introverts tends to keep a greater distance compare to extraverts.

• The research in a jail (Kinzel, 1968):• Violent prisoners (violent offence) had personal space

twice as broad as non-violent prisoners• Violent prisoners had feeling of danger, if somebody

came near, they expected physical attack.

Communication with spatial behavior

• Violation or observance personal space is involuntary perceived and estimated.

• It results in correct or wrong understanding to intention of other persons.

• It can help with our effort to get confidence and contact wit other person.

• The distance, from which we shake hand with other person can play an important role our our effect to other person.

• It can cause fear, anger or misunderstanding (without saying a word).

Positive effect of violation of personal space

• In certain circumstances violation of personal space can increase common sympathy.

• It must be complemented with verbal praise or other friendly nonverbal signals (smile).

• In this case decrease of distance increases common sympathy, interest and willingness to cooperate.

• Recommendation:

• Be able to use whole scale of distances!

• The skill of manipulation with zones of other people.

• To respect individual and cultural differences.

Spatial orientation

• The angle between two persons.

Gender differences

• Males occupy mostly frontal position, if they speak to a friend.

• Females occupy mostly lateral position, if they speak to a friend.

Seating preferences at a rectangular table

• Preffered kinds of a position choice in a table depend of an activity and relation between people setting around the table.

• A situation affects the choice of orientation in a space.

The office of a boss – expression of dominance

• Roundtable – there are not more or less important positions

Activity in a classroom• Knapp (1978) – students sitting in front and

central part of a classroom are more active and more participate to the other students.

Behavior in time (chronemic)• Temporal characteristics of

communication.

• Those characteristics can hold a nonverbal message.

– Answer to a letter or a mail – how early? – Arrangement of an appointment. How early

(several days or a hour)?– How long we wait in the office of our boss?

• Timing causes certain expectations.

• Thos expectations influence subsequent verbal communication.

Late arrival

• Late arrival, which disturbs rules of a social behavior.

• It sends a nonverbal message. A subsequent verbal message has to refute it (or to confirm).

• Cultural difference - Anglo-saxonian culture respect a rule „Time is money“, importance of punctuality. Italian and Spains - approximation, early or late.

Monochronic a polychronic concept of time

• Monochronic and polychronic concept of time (Hall, 1984).

• Monochronic concept of time – we are doing one think in a time.

• Polychronic concept of time - we are doing more thinks in a time.

Cultural differences in concept of time

• Anglo-saxonian a West-European culture is monochronic, while many cultures of South are polychronic. When representants of the both culures meet each other – misunderstanding.

• Each country has its own time and¨tempo (French sociologict Gurvitch, 1964). Time in France is not identical to time in Norway etc.

Mutilation behavior and its function in nonverbal communication

• Mutilation behavior – results in change of extent, shape or color of human body.

• Mutilation and accessories seemingly have not a communicative meaning. They reflect aesthetics feeling, social norms, beliefs, attitudes.

• Communicative meaning: an individual transmits information about himself /herself.

Irreversible changes

• „hard“– Teeth zuby: vkládání ozdob, pilování– Bones of sole (China)

– "soft“ – tatto

Reversible changes

• Changes of color of the skin

• Changes of extent and shape of human body.

Changes of color of the skin

• Animals – changes of shapes and color of body occur.

• Ancient times – warriors colored their faces.

• Recent women – rouge, make-up, powder, creams.

• Change of hair color.

Changes of extent and shape of the body.

• Animals – changes of shapes and color of body occur.

• Fight, courtship.

• Female haircuts. The differences between extent and arrangement. Female haircuts had been very large.

• Males – cut of clothes. Jacket with broad shoulder.

Clothes and accessories in nonverbal communication

• Colors

• Nonverbal communication with meaning of colors.

Meaning of colors

• Meaning of certain colors is equal in various cultures.

• Red – alarm function, a symbol of power, fight (color of a blood). Clothes – dictators, kings, bishops.

• Black – agression, evil. • White – a symbol of a peace, innocence.

• „Warm“ colors activate autonomous neuronal system, increase heart beat and blood pressure.