Nonverbal
Communication
Chapter 5
Person to Person
Can you really
communicate
without using
words?
Can you ever
not
communicate?
What is
nonverbal
communication?
Nonverbal
communication
involves sending and
receiving messages
without the use of
words.
You can never not
communicate!
What is intentional
nonverbal
communication?
What is intentional nonverbal
communication?
 It is communication that
you intend, or mean, to
send.
 You make deliberate
choices to communicate
with your receivers.
What is intentional nonverbal
communication?
 It is communication that you intend, or
mean, to send.
 You make deliberate choices to
communicate with your receivers.
 Wearing a team jersey
 Wearing a concert T-shirt
 Giving someone “the cold shoulder”
What is
accidental
nonverbal
communication?
What is accidental
nonverbal
communication?
It is communication that you
unintentionally send.
 You may even be unaware
of your accidental nonverbal
communication.
What is accidental nonverbal
communication?
 It is communication that you
unintentionally send.
 You may even be unaware of your
accidental nonverbal
communication.
 Clothing you just “grabbed”
 A yawn that “sneaks out”
 A sloppy appearance
Ninety-three percent
of the
communication of
feelings comes from
nonverbal
messages.
What types of
nonverbal
communication
do we use?
Nonverbal communication
Appearance
Nonverbal communication
 Appearance
The way a person appears
or the display of the human
body and its apparel is
sometimes referred to
object language.
Nonverbal communication
 Appearance
 The way a person appears or the
display of the human body and its
apparel is sometimes referred to
object language.
Object language may indicate
occupation, culture, status or
group membership.
Nonverbal communication
Object language may indicate
occupation, culture, status or group
membership.
Clothing
Hair styles
Accessories
Nonverbal communication
Gestures
Nonverbal communication
Gestures
Obvious, intentional
physical movements
Nonverbal communication
 Gestures
 Obvious, intentional physical
movements
Used to express emotions,
to describe something, to
indicate where things are
Nonverbal communication
 Gestures
Handshakes
The palm of the had forward
with the index and middle
finger outstretched in a “V”
Drawing a finger across
one’s throat
Nonverbal communication
Posture
Nonverbal communication
Posture
Body movement and
positioning
Nonverbal communication
 Posture
 Body movement and positioning
May give helpful clues to how a
person is really feeling
May contradict the verbal
message
Nonverbal communication
 Posture
Leaning against a
storefront
Standing with hands on
hips
Slumping in a seat with
head in hands
Nonverbal communication
Eye contact and facial
expression
Nonverbal communication
 Eye contact
When the eyes of two
people meet
Nonverbal communication
 Eye contact
 When the eyes of two people meet
 The way people use eye contact
may be different in different
cultures.
 Most people use terms related to
the eyes in talking about
communication (beady eyes, cold
stares, shifty eyes)
Nonverbal communication
Facial expressions
Nonverbal communication
 Facial expressions
 These movements may be planned,
or they may occur without thought.
 Facial expressions are the nonverbal
cues that people are able to control
the best.
 Certain facial expressions can be
recognized in almost all cultures.
Nonverbal communication
Vocal cues
Nonverbal communication
 Vocal cues
 Changes in voice can reveal a
great deal about a person.
Nonverbal communication
 Vocal cues
 Changes in voice can reveal a great
deal about a person.
 Pitch - the highness or lowness of a
voice
Nonverbal communication
 Vocal cues
 Changes in voice can reveal a
great deal about a person.
Rate - how fast or slowly a
person talks.
Nonverbal communication
 Vocal cues
 Changes in voice can reveal a
great deal about a person.
Volume - the loudness or
softness of a voice.
Nonverbal communication
 Vocal cues
 Changes in voice can reveal a
great deal about a person.
Quality - the sound of voice
Nasal, raspy or whiny tones
that may communicate an
unfair image
Nonverbal communication
Silence
Nonverbal communication
 Silence
When does silence make
you uncomfortable?
Nonverbal communication
 Silence
When does silence make
you uncomfortable?
What are some of the
things silence can say?
Nonverbal communication
 Silence
 A psychologist defined
“psychologically good friends”
as people who can remain
together in silence for up to 20
minutes and not feel
compelled to talk.
Nonverbal communication
 Spatial relations
Refers to the way space
between people affects
their communication.
Nonverbal communication
 Spatial relations
 Refers to the way space between
people affects their
communication.
Americans typically carry
around a two-foot bubble of
privacy.
Nonverbal communication
 Spatial relations
 Refers to the way space between
people affects their communication.
 Americans typically carry around a
two-foot bubble of privacy.
 The comfortable distance between
people may vary across cultures.
Nonverbal communication
Time
Nonverbal communication
 Time
The use of time will vary
with culture.
Nonverbal communication
 Time
 The use of time will vary with culture.
 In the U.S., there is an emphasis on
watching the clock and doing things on
time.
 In many other cultures, people do not
feel the same pressure to be on time;
what is important will be accomplished
eventually.
What are nonverbal
strategies?
What are nonverbal
strategies?
A nonverbal strategy
involves sending a
message without
words.
What are nonverbal
strategies?
 The method you use is
chosen to have a specific
effect on another person.
What are nonverbal
strategies?
 They may involve tactics similar
to verbal strategies and are also
related to your need for social
contact and your desire to
support self-concepts.
Nonverbal strategies
are similar to verbal
strategies.
Nonverbal Strategies
 To exclude
Nonverbal strategies
 To exclude
 To include
Nonverbal strategies
 To exclude
 To include
 To put down
Nonverbal strategies
 To exclude
 To include
 To put down
 To build up
Nonverbal strategies
 To exclude
 To include
 To put down
 To build up
 To reveal
Nonverbal strategies
 To exclude
 To include
 To put down
 To build up
 To reveal
 To conceal
What are two
functions of
nonverbal
messages?
Functions of nonverbal
messages
 May repeat or support verbal
messages
Functions of nonverbal
messages
 May repeat or support verbal
messages
 May contradict verbal
messages
Functions of nonverbal
messages
 May repeat or support verbal
messages
 May contradict verbal
messages
 May replace verbal
messages
Functions of nonverbal
messages
 May repeat or support verbal
messages
 May contradict verbal
messages
 May replace verbal messages
 Can regulate verbal messages
Functions of nonverbal
messages
 May repeat or support verbal
messages
 May contradict verbal messages
 May replace verbal messages
 Can regulate verbal messages
 May change the flow of verbal
messages