NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Dec 28, 2015
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Nonverbal communication
Basically it is sending and receiving messages in a variety of ways without the use of verbal codes (words)
Non verbal communication
It includes • Personal appearance• Facial expression• Movement • Posture • Gesture• Eye contact• Voice
Why is non-verbal communication important?
• Nonverbal communication, or body language, is a vital form of communication — a natural, unconscious language that broadcasts our true feelings and intentions in any given moment, and clues us in to the feelings and intentions of those around us.
Personal appearance • Physical appearance is a type of non verbal
communication. It is usually associated with one’s dress sense, hairstyle – basically anything on the physical side.
Personal appearance
• According to R.A. Hinde “Before any formal introduction is made, we are programmed to prejudge our counterparts strictly by their initial appearance: a practice committed by almost every person on the planet”
Personal appearance
• Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles and other factors affecting appearance are also considered a means of nonverbal communication.
• Appearance can also alter physiological reactions, judgements and interpretations
Facial Expression• Facial expressions are probably the easiest form of nonverbal
communication to interpret• Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of
nonverbal communication. Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown
• While nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger and fear are similar throughout the world.
Facial expression
Body movements
• perceptions of people are affected by the way they sit, walk, stand up, or hold their head.
• The way you move and carry yourself communicates a wealth of information to the world.
Body movement• Tightly clenched hands indicate pressure and
stress.
• If you have your palms open and legs comfortably placed apart while sitting, it means that you are relaxed.
• Tapping your fingers or leg indicates that you may be tense.
• Crossed arms send a message that you are an uptight and unapproachable person
• if you have your hands at your back while talking with another person, it conveys that you are listening and open to new ideas.
Posture
• Maintaining an erect posture conveys confidence.• Never slouch while sitting or walking as this
posture may portray a negative impression about your personality
• If someone has turned his body completely towards you while you both have a conversation, it means that he is interested in what you are saying. If his feet are also turned towards you, it means that you have him in rapt attention.
Posture
Gestures • Gestures can be some of the
most direct and obvious body language signals
• Gestures are communications like facial expressions, hand signals, eye gazing, and body postures. Examples include smiles, handshakes, waving, and raising certain fingers to say something
Gestures
• Waving, pointing, and using the fingers to indicate numerical amounts are all very common and easy to understand gestures.
Gestures • The following examples are just a few common gestures and
their possible meanings• A clenched fist can indicate anger or solidarity.• A thumbs up and thumbs down are often used as gestures
of approval and disapproval.• The V sign, created by lifting the index and middle finger and
separating them to create a V-shape, means peace or victory
Eye contact• The eyes are frequently referred to as the "windows to the soul"
since they are capable of revealing a great deal about what a person is feeling or thinking
• Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially important type of nonverbal communication
• The way you look at someone can communicate many things, including interest, affection, hostility.
Eye contact
• Eye contact is a type of nonverbal communication that is strongly influenced by social behavior.
• Eye contact is also important in maintaining the flow of conversation and for gauging the other person’s response
Eye contact• Eye contact can indicate how interested a
person is in the communication taking place. It could also suggest trust and truthfulness. Often, then people are being untruthful, they tend to look away and resist eye contact
Voice • The voice is an extraordinary human instrument.• Every time we speak, our voice reveals our gender, age,
geographic background, level of education, native birth, emotional state, and our relationship with the person spoken to
• The people we speak to listen not only to the text of what we say but also to the paralanguage with which we say it.
• Vocal paralanguage is a powerful, subtle, and vital part of human communication
Paralanguage• Para linguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate
from actual language• This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection
and pitch. Consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence
• Paralanguage includes the pitch, volume, and, in some cases, intonation of speech.
VoiceThe voice is used to infer personality traits.• An increased rate of speaking generally infers that the individual is more animated and extroverted. • A flatness in the tone of voice generally indicates more withdrawn and masculine characteristics. • A nasal sound in one's voice is generally thought of to be undesirable.