Nonverbal communication Chapter 4 Objectives Distinguish between verbal

Nonverbal communication Chapter 4

Objectives: Distinguish between verbal and nonverbal Use body lang. to reinforce verbal mess. Recognize when someone is NOT telling the truth Same gesture=different meaning in diff. country

Body Language The way in which we use our bodies to send messages. Experiment? ? Ready? Why is b. l. important? 1. people usually remember more of what they SEE than hear 2. recognize the truth “Body language always wins out over our verbal communication. ”

B. L. = diverse Humans produce up to 700, 000 different physical signs. FACE=capable of 250, 000 alone! 5000 hand gestures 1000 kinds of postures Body language is CONSTANT!

Positive Body language cues= are distal (directed towards others) Relaxed posture Arms relaxed Good eye contact Nodding agreement Smiling at humor Leaning closer Using gestures *** When these movements are exaggerated, they become a negative, not a positive

Negative Body lang. = proximal (directed toward your own body) Negative body movements may be interpreted as nervous too Body tension (wrinkled brow, jerky movements) Arms folded Speaking hand to mouth Fidgeting yawning

Factoid: If you change your body language, your feelings will begin to change as well. You make self look/feel better by using more positive body lang. Vince Lombardi “You’ve got to look good getting off the bus. ” Body Lang. is contagious. You begin to mirror what the other person is doing.

Section II: interpreting Don’t just look, but observe Consider their “normal” physical/verbal patterns and be alert for new ones One signal alone may mean nothing, look for clusters of signals to indicate meaning.

Facial Expressions: Six emotions: surprise, fear, anger, disgust, happiness, and sadness mainly appear on face. Nose-cheek-mouth=disgust Eyes and eyelids=fear Brows/forehead=sadness Cheeks/mouth=happiness **** You can disguise your face more easily than any other part of the body.

Tone of Voice Pitch/tone (timbre)/pauses and rhythm can express things above and beyond words. “OH” experiment. (don’t write this) Rate=fast=excited/anxious Slow=depressed, disgusted, or tired

Lying: Desmond Morris’ book THE NAKED APE experiment about nurses lying about a movie. 1. Decreased hand activity. (hide them, clasp them, sit on them, stuff them in pockets) 2. increased face touching. 3. stiff/rigid posture (most people move LESS when lying) 4. body shifting/squirming

Section III: Multicultural When cultural differences are involved…sometimes more nonverbal information is NOT always better When you don’t know a lang. , you lose control over nonverbal expression.

Nonverbal dilemmas Nodding head yes in U. S. means No in Bulgaria, parts of Greece, Turkey, and Iran. Handshake/outstretched hand= hand to forearm back in the day to indicate no weapon Hug=in Mediteranean countries=no weapon (frisking? )

Cont’d Handshakes: 3 categories gentle, firm, Texan. Kisses: French people, close relationships require warm greetings, men kiss, squeeze shoulders, slap backs, punch kidneys, pinch cheeks. Women: kiss on cheek Bows: most polite greeting of all. Indicates respect and humility, often reflects social status, person of lower rank bows first and LOWER.

Touching: Women sometimes react more FAVORABLY. Surgery/nurses study pg 89 Salesmen think it’s harder to say no to someone when they have touched you? Crowded elevators /shoulder to shoulder/arm to arm usually ok

Space: see pg 91 Under 18 inches: intimate space (close friends, family, significant others) 1. 5 – 4 feet: personal distance (friends) 4 -12 feet: social distance (social/business) Over 12 feet: public (shopping mall, on the street) HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT!!!!!!! This is a fun one!!!!!!!