Communication Studies Chapter 3

Introduction to Communication Studies

• This is an introduction to communication studies.
• The book is by Richard G. Jones, Jr.
• Published in 2020 by FlatWorld.

Chapter 3: Nonverbal Communication

• Learning Objectives 3.1:

  • Define nonverbal communication
  • Compare and contrast verbal and nonverbal communication
  • Discuss principles of nonverbal communication
  • Provide examples of nonverbal communication functions

• Nonverbal Communication Definition:

  • A process of generating meaning via behavior other than words.
  • Includes paralanguage:
    • The vocalized but not verbal part of a spoken message (e.g., speaking rate, volume, pitch)

• Principles of Nonverbal Communication:

  • Compared to verbal communication, nonverbal communication:
    • Conveys more meaning
    • Is more involuntary
    • Is more ambiguous
    • Is more credible

• Functions of Nonverbal Communication:

  • Reinforces, substitutes for, or contradicts verbal communication
  • Mixed messages occur when verbal and nonverbal signals contradict each other
  • Influences others (e.g., deception, tone)
  • Regulates conversational flow (e.g., tie signs, immediacy behaviors)
  • Expresses identities (e.g., artifacts)

Learning Objectives 3.2

• Define kinesics, haptics, vocalics, proxemics, and chronemics
• Provide examples of nonverbal communication types
• Discuss personal presentation and environment as nonverbal cues

Kinesics

• The study of body movements (hand, arm, body, face)

• Gestures (adaptors, emblems, illustrators)

• Head movements and posture

  • Acknowledge others
  • Communicate interest/attentiveness

• Eye contact (oculesics):

  • Focus during communication
  • Important source of communication information
  • Facial expressions are expressive
    • Happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust

Haptics

• Study of communication through touch
• Types of touch:
  • Functional-professional
  • Social-polite
  • Friendship-warmth
  • Love-intimacy
  • Sexual-arousal

Vocalics

• The study of paralanguage
• Provides context for verbal content:
  • Example: volume and pitch communicate intensity
• Verbal fillers: gap-filling sounds (e.g., "um," "uh")

Proxemics

• Study of how space and distance influence communication
• Four distance zones for U.S. Americans:
  • Public (12+ feet)
  • Social (4–12 feet)
  • Personal (1.5–4 feet)
  • Intimate (0–18 inches)
• Territoriality: innate drive to take up and defend space

Chronemics

• Study of how time affects communication
• Aspects of time:
  • Biological, personal, physical, cultural
  • Polychronic and monochronic

Personal Presentation and Environment

• Physical characteristics (body shape, height, weight, attractiveness):
  • Limited control over encoding
• Artifacts (clothing, body art, jewelry):
  • Easier to control and change
• Environment (furniture, decor):
  • Provides nonverbal cues

Learning Objectives 3.3

• Identify strategies for improving nonverbal message sending and interpreting skills

Sending Nonverbal Messages

• Encoding competence increases positive impressions.
• Nonverbal communication is multi-channeled.
• Nonverbal congruence is consistency in nonverbal expressions.
• Nonverbal communication affects interactions.
• Rapport creation through mirroring often subconscious behaviors mirroring others.
• Nonverbal cues regulate conversations
• Active listening involves cognitive listening and visible signals.
• Impression management via nonverbal communication increases competence in specific channels (e.g., body language that conveys trust).

Interpreting Nonverbal Messages

• No nonverbal dictionary exists
• Interpret nonverbal messages within social, cultural contexts
• Read nonverbal cues in clusters and in context
• Competence increases when interpreting cues in specific channels

Detecting Deception

• No set profile of deceptive behaviors
• Truth bias: tendency to believe people are telling the truth.
• Nonverbal leakage: inadvertent nonverbal behavior that reveals inner states (e.g., body language that reveals anxiety).

Learning Objectives 3.4

• Discuss the role of nonverbal communication in: Relational contexts, professional contexts, cultural differences, and gender differences.

Relational Contexts

• Nonverbal communication increases expressiveness and chances of initiating relationships.
• Maintains relationships by communicating emotions and providing/seeking social/emotional support.

Professional Contexts

• Professionals need to understand how context, status, and power affect nonverbal communication.
• Managers and mentors with strong nonverbal decoding skills can show sensitivity to employees.

Nonverbal Communication and Culture

• Nonverbal communication norms vary across countries & cultures (e.g., contact vs. noncontact cultures, monochronic vs. polychronic cultures).

Nonverbal Communication and Gender

• Men and women have more communication similarities than differences.
• Examples of differences include gestures (men often use larger gestures), vocal variety (women more likely to use vocal variety), and personal space (men may take up more space).