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InterpersonalInterpersonal

NonverbalNonverbal NonverbalNonverbal

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• The words we use

• Actions, vocal qualities, and activities that typically accompany a verbal message

VerbalVerbal CommunicationCommunication

NonverbalNonverbal CommunicationCommunication

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The Nature ofThe Nature of Nonverbal Nonverbal CommunicationCommunication

• Affective

• Ambiguous

• Continuous

• Multi-channeled

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Functions ofFunctions of Nonverbal Nonverbal CommunicationCommunication

• Substitute

• Complement

• Contradict

VerbalCommunication

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Nonverbal Nonverbal CommunicationCommunication

• Facial expression and eye contact• Kinesics (body motion) • Proxemics and personal space • Artifacts• Touch (haptics)• Paralanguage• Chronemics (time) • Physical characteristics

Everything

except the

words!

Everything

except the

words!

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When nonverbal and verbal contradict, we tend to accept the nonverbal inference.

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Uses of Body MotionUses of Body Motion

• Emblems

• Illustrators

• Affect display

• Regulators

• Adaptors

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EmblemsEmblems

• Nonverbal gestures that take the place of a word or phrase

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IllustratorsIllustratorsNonverbal gestures that complementwhat a speaker is saying

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Affect DisplaysAffect Displays

• Facial expressions and gestures that augment the verbal expression of feelings

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RegulatorsRegulatorsFacial expressions or gestures that are used to control or regulate the flow of a conversation

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AdaptorsAdaptors

• Body motions that are used to relieve tension

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Facial expression is the Facial expression is the strongest nonverbal strongest nonverbal

communicatorcommunicator

Of the face the eye communicates more than

any other feature.

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Eye ContactEye Contact

The majority of people in the United States and other Western cultures expect people to look them in the eye when communicating.

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Eye ContactEye Contact• Japanese direct their

gaze to a position around the Adam’s apple.

• Chinese, Indonesians, and Mexicans lower their eyes as a sign of deference.

• Arabs look intently into others’ eyes showing keen interest.

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ParalanguageParalanguage

• Pitch

• Volume

• Rate

• Quality

Vocal communication minus the words

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TouchTouch

• Touching and being touched are essential to a healthy life

• Touch can communicate power, empathy, understanding

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Self-PresentationSelf-Presentation

• What message do you wish to send with your choice of clothing and personal grooming?M

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TimeTime• How do we

manage and react to others’ management of time

– duration

– activity

– punctuality

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Polychronic and monochronic variations of time exist within cultures. Should we ask polychronics to conform in the workplace?

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Proxemics - Proxemics - how we use the space around us - our environment

• Intimate distance, up to 18”, is appropriate for private conversations between close friends.

• Personal distance, from 18”- 4’, is the space in which casual conversation occurs.

• Social distance, from 4’ – 12’, is where impersonal business such as job interviews is conducted.

• Public distance is anything more than 12’

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Personal Space at Work Personal Space at Work • Your office

• Your desk

• A table in the cafeteria that you sit at regularly

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Color Influences Color Influences CommunicationCommunication

Yellow cheers and

elevates moods

Red excitesand

stimulates

Blue comfortsand

soothes

In some cultures

black suggests mourning

In some cultures

white suggestspurity

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Nonverbal SignalsNonverbal SignalsVary from culture to culture

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What does this symbol What does this symbol mean to you?mean to you?

• In the United States it is a symbol for good job

• In Germany the number one

• In Japan the number five• In Ghana an insult• In Malaysia the thumb is

used to point rather than a finger

-Atlantic Committee for the Olympic Games

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To improve our To improve our communication . . .communication . . .

We need to monitor our own nonverbalcommunication and exercise care in interpreting that of others.

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