It’s what you say… and what you don’t Verbal and Nonverbal Messages in Communication Nonverbal Messages in Communication Why look at nonverbal messages? Up to 93% of emotional meaning is taken from nonverbal messages What is nonverbal communication? All the behaviors and elements of people, other than words, that convey meaning Some Examples . . . Winking Smiling Shrugging Turning away Handwriting Prolonged eye contact handshake High five Nudge Waving Leaning forward Tapping toe Finger to lips Sitting at the head of table Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal messages are not easily controlled When nonverbal and verbal messages conflict, nonverbals are usually more accurate Nonverbal is more effective than verbal communication for expressing messages in a less confrontational manner Appearance is Nonverbal Communication Types of clothing Skin color Height Weight Attractiveness Artifacts – makeup, glasses, jewelry, tattoos, piercings Appearance Appearance Appearance… Appearance Appearance in Other Cultures Kinesics (Body Movement) is Nonverbal Communication Emblems – directly translate into words/phrases (OK sign) Illustrators – accompany and illustrate a verbal message (size of fish you caught) Affect displays – emotional meaning (fear, happiness, anger, etc.) Regulators – monitor, maintain, or control the speaking of another (hand gesture to slow down) Adaptors – satisfy some need (scratching your head) Distractors – no function (nervous habits) Facial Expressions Eye contact and movements Avoidance Pupil dilation – more dilated, more interested Eye contact is often the most telling of all nonverbal communication. We have an extremely difficult time controlling the unconscious movements of our eyes. Physical Environment is Nonverbal Communication Many organizations pay a lot of attention to the physical environment where communication takes place Room color Room arrangement Temperature Paralanguage is Nonverbal Communication How something is said; anything that affects the content of what is said Stress Pitch Rate Volume Rhythm Fillers Pauses Distractors – yawning, laughing, moaning, etc. Proxemics Study of Space Edwin T. Hall’s Zones of Space Intimate Distance – 0 to 18 inches Personal Distance – 18 inches to 4 feet Social – 4 to 12 feet Public – 12 to 25 feet Proxemics (cont.) Social Intimate Personal Public Other Nonverbal Communication Haptics – the study of touch Olfactics – the study of smell Territoriality – personal space and territory Temporal Communication Cultural time technical – actual time formal – made for convenience (day, week, semester) Informal – soon, forever, later, sometime Psychological time Importance you place on the past, present and future In Conclusion . . . Learn to control nonverbal communication or it will control you!