Human Communication 100
Chapter 4 – Nonverbal Communication
Lecture Notes
1. Nonverbal communication – behavior other than written or spoken language that
creates meaning for someone.
2. Nonverbal messages communicate feelings and attitudes
- Face holds the most significant amount of emotion – 55%
- Vocal cues (volume, pitch & intensity) – 38%
- 93% of emotional meaning is communicated nonverbally
3. We believe the nonverbal more so than the verbal when they do not agree
4. Nonverbal messages are key to successful relationships
- 65% of meaning is conveyed through nonverbal communication
- Tone in relationships
- Types of language
- Tone
- Volume
5. Nonverbal messages support verbal messages
- Substitute for verbal messages (pointing, waving)
- Complement, clarify or extend ( wave while saying hello)
- Contradict the verbal message
- Repeat
- Regulate (keys in hand when leaving, picking up backpacks)
- Accent (hand movements, vocal changes)
6. The Nature of Nonverbal Communication
- Culture bound
- Rule governed
- Ambiguous in nature
- Perception check may be necessary
- Perception check – Skill of asking other observers or the person being
observed whether your interpretation of his or her
nonverbal behavior is accurate.
- Continuous
7. Codes of Nonverbal Communication
- Appearance
- Body Movement, gestures and posture
- Kinesics – the study of human movement, gesture and posture.
- Emblems – a nonverbal cue that has a specific, generally understood meaning in
a given culture and may substitute for a word or phrase. (OK sign)
- Illustrators – nonverbal behaviors that accompany verbal messages and either
compliment, contradicts or accents. (yawning to make a point)
- Affect displays – nonverbal cues that communicate emotion
o Facial expressions
o Posture
- Regulators – control the interaction or flow of communication between
ourselves and other persons.
o When we want to talk, we give eye contact, raise eye brows, lean
Forward
- Adaptors – nonverbal behaviors that help us to satisfy a personal need and adapt
to the immediate situation. (twisting hair, fidgeting)