Chapter 3 Nonverbal Communication
1. 2. 3. Nonverbal Communication Kinesics Space and Distance
1. Nonverbal Communication
1.1 Definitions 1.2 Importance 1.3 Functions
Categories of Distance
• Intimate Distance (0-45cm) - for the closest relation, e.g. a couple • Personal Distance (45-120cm) - friends, old classmates, acquaintance and relatives
2.3 Postures
• With two arms up in the air: arrogance • Standing firmly face-to-face: start to fight • Hands on the waist - direct intrusion into others’ affairs • Shrugging shoulders - indifferent, powerless, having no secret to conceal
Definitions (cont’d)
Nonverbal communication is the interaction that is carried out by our bodies, gestures, and tones of voice, in other words, everything except the actual words.
Direct eye contact • Chinese: avoid • North Americans: appreciate • The British: avoid
Eye Contact (cont’d)
• Looking at the person • Looking sideways
Eye Contact (cont’d)
Personal Territory
Private space and personal space Refers to the space people have for their own activities
Proxemics
• The use of space is directly linked to the value system of culture. • Personal territory can be large or small, depending on place, sex, age, and character. • Hold your ground and not back away.
Facial Expressions (cont’d)
Regardless of culture, these expressions are the same: fear, anger, surprise, contempt, disgust, happiness, and sadness.
2.2 Gestures
Level of Meaning
• Cognitive content - stated messages, what is said openly • Affective content - feelings, attitudes, and behaviors 7% through words, 38% through voice, and 55% through looks and behaviors
Summary
Nonverbal Communication - definition, functions Kinesics - definition, facial expression, gesture, posture Space and Distance - categories of distance, attitudes toward crowding, way of queuing
Duration of eye contact (in US): 2.95 seconds and 1.18 seconds • Shorter: shy, uninterested, absent-minded • Longer: with unusually high interest
3. Space and Distance
Others – The Dog Call Sign
• Curl the index finger and tell someone to come to you. • Acceptable in the UK and US, but rude in many Asian countries * Philippines: used only for dogs * Singapore: death
Categories of Distance (cont’d)
• Social Distance (1.3-3m) - colleagues, business partners, people at social gatherings • Public Distance (beyond 3m) - speaking in public
The “V” sign
• Palm outward: - two, victory, general approval, peace or friend • Palm facing yourself - two, insulting (up yours)
Others – The Stop Sign
The Thumb Upn and European countries - great, approve • Australia and Nigeria - up yours • Some Asian and Islamic countries - rude and offensive
2. Kinesics
Kinesics is the nonverbal behavior related to movement, either of parts of the body, or of the body as a whole, including facial expressions, gestures, postures, eye contact, etc. Kinesics is “body language” .
• The “OK” sign • The thumb up and thumb down sign • The “V” sign • Other signs
The “OK” Sign
• America: agree or everything is ok • Latin America: offensive, similar to showing your middle finger • France: you’re worthless • Turkey: one is homosexual • Australia: zero
The Thumb Down Sign
• Sth is bad or sth you do not approve of. • Sth or someone has failed. • Not used as often as the thumbs up sign. It is a rude and arrogant way to indicate failure.
Facial Expressions (cont’d)
Examples of feelings that can be expressed are: fear, anger, surprise, contempt, disgust, happiness, sadness, concentration, confusion, desire, excitement, frustration, glare, and snarl.
1.2 Importance
Reasons:
• Accounts for much of the meaning we derive from conversations. • Spontaneously reflects the speaker’s subconsciousness. • Always present
Postures (cont’d)
• Follow one’s natural habits so often go unnoticed (subconscious in nature) • May damage your image if you neglect your postures
2.4 Eye Contact
1.1 Definitions
Nonverbal communication is the process by which nonverbal behaviors are used, either singly or in combination with verbal behaviors, in the exchange and interpretation of messages in a given situation or context.
3.1 3.2 Proxemics Attitudes Toward Crowding
3.1 Proxemics
Definition: the study of people’s perception and use of space. Four categories: intimate, personal, social, and public distance.