N O N V E R B A L C O M M U N I C AT I O N

CHAPTER 4

OBJECTIVES

• Distinguish between verbal and nonverbal communication• Use body language to reinforce your verbal

message• Recognize when someone is not telling the truth• Explain how the same gesture can have different

meanings in different cultures

INTRODUCTION

• What is a nonverbal message?• How much of our

communication is nonverbal?

BODY BASICS

• Different cultures have different understandings• Can be helpful

when sending messages

BODY LANGUAGE

• Also called the silent language• DEF: way we use

our bodies to send messages• Body language

always wins over verbal communication

BODY LANGUAGE

• Why so important?• People remember

what they see• Helps us recognize

the truth

BODY LANGUAGE

• Often, complicated feelings spill out in the form of body language• “No mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent,

he chatters with his fingertips”- Sigmund Freud• Facial expressions a leakage of feelings• Body language is also diverse

READING BODY LANGUAGE

• Must be careful on how you interpret body language• Positive Body

Language:• Relaxed posture• Good eye contact• Nodding agreement• Smiling at humor• Leaning closer

READING BODY LANGUAGE

• Negative Body Language:• Body tension• Arms folded• Speaking hand to

mouth• Fidgeting• Yawning

USING BODY LANGUAGE EFFECTIVELY

• Change your body language, feelings will change as well• Can look at feel

better by using more positive body language• Body language is

contagious

INTERPRETING NONVERBAL MESSAGES

• People express and interpret nonverbal messages differently• May sometimes put on a false front• We have learned to behave and hide our true

feelings• Reading the true meaning of nonverbal messages• Don’t just look- observe• Be alert for variations of the norm• Remember that one signal alone may mean nothing,

what you are looking for are clusters of signals

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

• Pay a great deal of attention to other people’s faces• Example: babies• Six emotions are the most popular• Surprise• Fear • Anger• Disgust• Happiness• Sadness

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

• No single area of the face best reveals emotions• Certain features are important to certain

emotions• Disgust: nose cheek mouth• Fear: eyes and eyelids• Sadness: brows and forehead• Happiness: cheeks and mouth

TONE OF VOICE

• Tone can offer a valuable clue into a speaker’s feelings• Pitch, pauses, and rhythm important• What meanings can the word “oh” have?• Rate of speech can tell us about the speaker’s

feelings

HOW TO TELL WHEN SOMEONE IS LYING

• Control some parts of our bodies better than others• Easiest parts to control are the ones we are most

aware of• Like smiles and frowns

• General body postures can be revealing• Desmond Morris Study• Decreased hand activity• Increased face touching• Stiff and rigid posture• Increased body shifting

MULTICULTURAL MESSAGES

• Body language is not universal• Examples:• Thumbs up• Hug

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

• We expect to communicate face to face better• But with cultural

differences, nonverbal is not always better

GESTURES AROUND THE WORLD

• Why do humans use the same gestures?• Examples:• Nodding• Tapping your head with forefinger• Scratching your head

GESTURES AROUND THE WORLD

• Signs of greeting• Handshakes• Gentle, firm, Texan

• Kisses• Close friendships

• Bows • Many Asian

countries

TOUCHING CUSTOMS

• Touching is a language of physical intimacy• Can be the most powerful of communication

channels• Affects sexes differently • Women respond more positively• Men respond negatively

WATCHING MY SPACE

• All like a bubble of personal space• Represents our personal territory• Americans- about 2 feet• Latin Americans and Middle Easterners- much

closer• Types of space:• Intimate• Personal• Social• Public