Nonverbal Notes

•Nonverbal Communication

•Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication

•About 80-92% of communication is considered to be nonverbal

•Characteristics

–continuous

–can be intentional or unintentional

–ambiguous

–multichanneled

–based on culture

•Kinesics: communication through body movement

•5 different types of body movement

–Emblems: substitute for words

•thumbs up

–Illustrators: actions that accompany and reinforce a word 

•when catching a fish you say, “it was this big,” shake head

–Regulators: they control interaction

• looking away, stepping away

–Adaptors: unconsciously satisfy a personal need/body tension

•adjusting of glasses, yawning, tap the desk, shake our leg

–Affect Display: showing of emotions and feelings

•Eye Contact

•“the windows to the soul”

•how you look at someone and how long says a lot as to the type of relationship you have

•eye contact rarely lasts long because it arouses emotion

–US average gaze is 2.95 second

–mutual gaze is 1.18

•Functions of eye contact

–It tells you what the other person is thinking

–how you get your feedback

–how you control the conversation

–shows how you feel

•Facial Expressions

•6 universal Facial Expression

–Happiness raising of mouth corners & cheeks

–Sadness lowering of mouth corners raise inner portion of brows

–Surprise brows arch eyes open wide to expose more white jaw drops slightly

–Fear brows raised, eyes open, mouth opens slightly

–Disgust upper lip is raised nose bridge is wrinkled cheeks raised

–Anger brows lowered lips pressed firmly eyes bulging

•Proxemics

•The study of spacial communication

–Intimate space: 0 - 1 ½ feet  

–Personal space: 1 ½ - 4 feet

–Social space: 4 – 12 feet

–Public space: 12 feet - beyond

•Physical Appearance

•your attractiveness level, clothing, shape, hair color, etc.

•people that are viewed as attractive are seen as outgoing, kind, interesting

•body types:

–ectomorph: lean, thin, fragile looking, long limbs

•shy, anxious, reserved

–mesomorph: athletic, hourglass shape/v-shaped, good posture

•leaders, good communicators

–endomorph: overweight, round, soft

•warm

•Paralanguage

•Not what we say, but how we say it

•Vocal expression that accompanies the spoken words

–Pitch

–Rate

–Tone

–Volume

–Accent

–Silence

•Haptics: study of communication through touch

•Types

–Affectionate: It conveys closeness and affection.  Partners touch each other more as their relationship becomes more intimate.

–Caregiving: Care or service

–Power and control: High-status people are more likely to touch those of lower status than vice versa.

–Aggressive: Impose physical harm

–Ritualistic: Part of custom or tradition

•Quasi Courtship Behavior

•Nonverbal flirting stages

–Courtship readiness: suck in our stomach, stand up straighter,  tense muscles 

–Preening: combing hair, applying make up, straightening a tie, double checking appearance in mirror 

–Positional cues: making sure we are seen 

–Appeals to invitation: Exposed skin, direct eye contact, open body positions