Non-verbal Communication
Non- verbal communication is the process of sending and receiving wordless messages. Non-verbal messages can be communicated through gesture; body language or posture; facial expression and eyecontact ; object communication such as clothing , hairstyles or even architecture ; symbols and infographics. Speech may also contain nonverbal elements known as paralanguage, including voice quality, emotion and speaking style, as well as prosodic features such as rhythm, intonation and stress. The first scientific study of nonverbal communication was Charles Darwin's book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872). He argued that all mammals show emotion reliably in their faces.
Commonly, nonverbal communication is learned shortly after birth and practiced and refined throughout a person’s lifetime. Children first learn nonverbal expressions by watching and imitating, much as they learn verbal skills. Young children know far more than they can verbalize and are generally more adept at reading nonverbal cues than adults are because of their limited verbal skills and their recent reliance on the nonverbal means to communicate. As children develop verbal skills, nonverbal channels of communication do not cease to exist although they become entwined in the total communication process.
Some major areas of nonverbal behaviors to explore are:
Movements and gestures: Movements and gestures by the hands, arms, legs, and other parts of the body and face are the most pervasive types of nonverbal messages and the most difficult to control. It is estimated that there are over 200.000 physical signs capable of stimulating meaning in another person (some social scientists state even 700.000).
Facial expressions: Next to words the human face is the primary source of information. Facial expression involves some of the smallest body movements, but its impact may be greater than any other body language. The most dominant and reliable features of the face, the eyes, provide a constant channel of communication. They can be shifty and evasive; convey hate, fear, and guilt; or express confidence, love, and support. For example, there are 23 distinct eyebrow movements, each capable of stimulating a different meaning!!!!
Posture and body orientation: You communicate numerous messages by the way you walk, talk, stand and sit. Standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning slightly forward communicates that you are approachable and friendly. Speaking with your back turned or looking at the floor or ceiling should be avoided; it communicates disinterest.
Commonly, nonverbal communication is learned shortly after birth and practiced and refined throughout a person’s lifetime. Children first learn nonverbal expressions by watching and imitating, much as they learn verbal skills. Young children know far more than they can verbalize and are generally more adept at reading nonverbal cues than adults are because of their limited verbal skills and their recent reliance on the nonverbal means to communicate. As children develop verbal skills, nonverbal channels of communication do not cease to exist although they become entwined in the total communication process.
Some major areas of nonverbal behaviors to explore are:
Movements and gestures: Movements and gestures by the hands, arms, legs, and other parts of the body and face are the most pervasive types of nonverbal messages and the most difficult to control. It is estimated that there are over 200.000 physical signs capable of stimulating meaning in another person (some social scientists state even 700.000).
Facial expressions: Next to words the human face is the primary source of information. Facial expression involves some of the smallest body movements, but its impact may be greater than any other body language. The most dominant and reliable features of the face, the eyes, provide a constant channel of communication. They can be shifty and evasive; convey hate, fear, and guilt; or express confidence, love, and support. For example, there are 23 distinct eyebrow movements, each capable of stimulating a different meaning!!!!
Posture and body orientation: You communicate numerous messages by the way you walk, talk, stand and sit. Standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning slightly forward communicates that you are approachable and friendly. Speaking with your back turned or looking at the floor or ceiling should be avoided; it communicates disinterest.
Proximity: Cultural norms dictate a comfortable distance for interaction. There are 4 distance zones a) Intimate distance - from actual touching to eighteen inches. This zone is reserved for those with whom one is intimate. At this distance the physical presence of another is overwhelming.b) Personal distance- from eighteen inches to four feet. This is the distance of interaction of good friends.c) Social distance- exists from four to twelve feet. It seems to be an appropriate distance for casual friends and acquaintances to interact.d) Public distance outward from twelve feet a speaker becomes formal.
Para linguistics: As the popular adage goes “ What you say is not important but how you say it is important.” This includes vocal aspects like pitch, tone, loudness and rhythm. Experimental findings suggest that active feelings, such as rage, are exemplified vocally by high pitch, fast pace, and blaring sound. The more passive feelings, such as despair, ate portrayed by low pitch, retarded pace, and resonant sound. In addition, stress is often vocalized by higher pitch and words uttered at a greater rate than normal. The reverse (lower pitch, slower word pace) is likely during depression.
Some symbolic meanings in understanding of body language
Head postures:
Lowering of head: A lowered head covering the neck with the chin and hence can be a defensive posture that can occur as a result of any perceived threat (not just physical threat).
Raising of head: When the head is raised it may be a sign of interest as the person moved to looking at the point of interest. This is typically accompanied by other expressions of interest such as raised eyebrows.
Tilting of head: Tilting the head sideways can be a sign of interest, which may be in what is said or happening.
Oscillation of head (nodding and shaking): Nodding up and down signals agreement in most cultures and may well be accompanied by smiling and other signs of approval. A vigorous nodding probably indicates strong agreement, whilst slow nodding may indicate conditional agreement. Turning head from side to side indicates disagreement.
Lowering of head: A lowered head covering the neck with the chin and hence can be a defensive posture that can occur as a result of any perceived threat (not just physical threat).
Raising of head: When the head is raised it may be a sign of interest as the person moved to looking at the point of interest. This is typically accompanied by other expressions of interest such as raised eyebrows.
Tilting of head: Tilting the head sideways can be a sign of interest, which may be in what is said or happening.
Oscillation of head (nodding and shaking): Nodding up and down signals agreement in most cultures and may well be accompanied by smiling and other signs of approval. A vigorous nodding probably indicates strong agreement, whilst slow nodding may indicate conditional agreement. Turning head from side to side indicates disagreement.
Eyes:
Looking up:Looking up may also be a signal of boredom as the person examines the surroundings in search of something more interesting. Looking upward and to the left indicates recalling a piece of information. Looking upwards and to the right indicates lying.
Looking down:Looking down can thus be a signal of submission. It can also indicate that the person is feeling guilty.
Lateral movement: Eyes moving from side-to-side can indicate shiftiness and lying, as if the person is looking for an escape route in case they are found out.
Gazing: Looking at something shows an interest in it, whether its an object or a person.
Blinking: Increased rate of blinking indicates lying.
Hand gestures:
Rubbing: Rubbing the hands together can mean that the person is cold. It also means the person is feeling particularly gleeful about something.
When the fingers are pressed together forming a steeple shape, pointing upwards, the person may well be thinking, evaluating or deciding. This may also be done with just index fingers pressed together and other fingers interlinked.
Supporting position: Hands wrapped around the cheeks with elbows on the table indicate a heavy head and the person may be sleepy or bored.
Leg body language:
Widely open legs while standing: Legs that are held apart when standing indicates that the person feels grounded and confident. If the legs are held very much apart, it indicates dominance.
Sitting: Sitting with slightly open legs is a relaxed position, showing the person is comfortable.
Closed legs:
Standing/sitting: When the person is standing with feet together or while sitting if the knees are held close to each other, it indicates anxiety. Note that a closed position also happens when the person is cold.
Crossed legs: Crossing knees may indicate greater anxiety or defensiveness, particularly if the legs appear tense and even more so if one leg is wrapped firmly around the other. If there is crossing of ankles along with clenched hands, it is an indication of self- restraint.
Cultural differences in body language:
Everybody agrees that non-verbal cues are an important aspect of communication, but there is a debate as to whether these cues are universal or whether it is culture specific. It has been argued that among all forms of non-verbal communication, the most universal is the communication of emotions through facial expression. Other than this, many symbolic meaning of the cues may vary from culture to culture. E.g.: Maintaining eye contact while talking to the other person is very much expected in Western countries, but, Japanese avoid looking at the face of the person with whom they are talking especially to their superiors. This is because, they take great care to establish relationship with others by showing respect usually indicated by low tone, bowing etc. We can conclude by saying that non-verbal communication is neither innate nor leant, but it is a combination of both.
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