Communicating Nonverbally

1Chapter 5Chapter 5

Defining Nonverbal Communication

• Nonverbal communication – refers to all behaviors (other than the spoken word) that communicate messages and have shared meaning between communicators

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• Excludes electronic communication• Culturally shared meaning • Verbal and nonverbal communication

works together to create meaningInteraction Adaptation Theory –

individuals simultaneously adapt their communication behaviors to each other

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Defining Nonverbal Communication

Principles of Nonverbal Communication

• Nonverbal communication is often ambiguous

• Nonverbal communication regulates conversations– Turn taking

• Nonverbal communication is more believable than verbal communication

• Nonverbal communication may conflict with verbal communication– Mixed messages

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Nonverbal Communication Codes

• Visual-Auditory Codes– Kinesics – body movement (from the

Greek word meaning movement)• Delivery gestures• Citing gestures• Seeking gestures• Turn gestures• Body orientation

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Visual-Auditory Codes

• Physical appearance– Physical characteristics– Body artifacts

• Facial communication – Eye contact– Smiling

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Contact Codes

• Touch (haptics)– Used for positive affect– Used as a playful function– Used to control or direct behavior– Used for ritualistic or everyday touch– Used for task functions– Used as a hybrid touch – for both

greetings and to show affection– Some touches are accidental

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• Space or proxemics is the study of how people use distance or space– Personal space is the distance we put

between ourselves and others– Expectance-violations theory states that

we expect individuals to maintain a certain distance from us when communicating

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Contact Codes

Edward T. Hall’s 4 Types of Personal Distance

• Intimate distance (0-18”) reserved for intimate relationships

• Personal distance (18”-4’) reserved for normal conversational distance

• Social distance (4’-12’) reserved for professional or formal interactions such as business transactions

• Public distance (12’-25’+) reserved for public audiences

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Proxemics and Territoriality

• Personal space is the bubble we carry around from interaction to interaction

• Territoriality is when we claim and defend space as our own– Territory markers

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Place and Time Codes

• The environment– Color– Lighting– Room design

• Chronemics (time communication)– Technical time– Formal time– Informal time

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Culture Variations in Nonverbal Communication

• Kinesics• Facial expressions• Proxemics• Haptics

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Choices for Increasing Nonverbal Effectiveness

• Recall the nonverbal-verbal relationship

• Be tentative when interpreting nonverbal behavior

• Monitor your nonverbal behavior• Ask others for their impressions• Avoid nonverbal distractions• Place nonverbal communication in a

context

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