Class 3

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
Non -Verbal Communication is the message or response not expressed or

sent in words -hints , suggestions , indications.
Non -Verbal signals are unconscious parts of our behavior which is a

deeply rooted part in our entire makeup.
TYPES OF NON-VERBAL MESSAGES
 Body Language or Kinesics

 Clothing or Artifactual Communication
 Voice or Paralanguage
 Space and Distance, or Proxemic factors
 Color
 Time, or Chronemics
 Touch, or Haptics
1. Facial Expression
 Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication.
Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. While
nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the
facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, and fear are similar throughout the
world.
2. Gestures
 Deliberate movements and signals are an important way to communicate meaning
without words. Common gestures include waving, pointing, and using fingers to
indicate number amounts. Other gestures are arbitrary(subjective) and related to
culture.
3. Paralinguistic
 Paralinguistic refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language.
This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection, and pitch. Consider
the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. When
said in a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm. The
same words said in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval and a lack of
interest.
4. Body Language and Posture
 Posture and movement can also convey a great deal on information. While these
nonverbal behaviors can indicate feelings and attitudes, research suggests that body
language is far more subtle and less definitive that previously believed.
5. Proxemic
 People often refer to their need for “personal space,” which is also an important type
of nonverbal communication. The amount of distance we need and the amount of
space we perceive as belonging to us is influenced by a number of factors including
social norms, situational factors, personality characteristics, and level of familiarity.
 For example, the amount of personal space needed when having a casual conversation
with another person usually varies between 18 inches to four feet. On the other hand,
the personal distance needed when speaking to a crowd of people is around 10 to 12
feet.
6. Eye Gaze
 Looking, staring, and blinking can also be important nonverbal behaviors. When
people encounter people or things that they like, the rate of blinking increases and
pupils dilate. Looking at another person can indicate a range of emotions, including
hostility, interest, and attraction.
7. Haptics
 Communicating through touch is another important nonverbal behavior. There has
been a substantial amount of research on the importance of touch in infancy and early
childhood. Harry Harlow’s classic monkey study demonstrated how the deprivation
of touch and contact impedes development. Baby monkeys raised by wire mothers
experienced permanent deficits in behavior and social interaction.
8. Appearance
 Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles, and other factors affecting appearance are
also considered a means of nonverbal communication. Research on Color psychology
has demonstrated that different colors can invoke different moods. Appearance can
also alter physiological reactions, judgment, and interpretations.
 Your posture also plays a role in your communication efforts. A slumped posture
indicates that you have low spirits, are fatigued or that you feel inferior. Whereas, an
erect posture shows high spirits and confidence.
 If you lean forward it implies that you are open and interested. Leaning away shows
disinterest or that you are defensive. Maintaining a rigid posture is interpreted by many
to mean that you are defensive, while a relaxed posture translates to openness.
 Crossed arms and legs indicated a defensive, proactive position, while uncrossed arms
and legs indicates a willingness to listen.
 Direct eye contact is essential in our society to demonstrate a self-assured, honest

personality. Most people find it difficult to look at someone in the eyes when they are
talking to them.
 The solution is to focus your eyes somewhere else on the face. For example, you can
keep your eyes glued to the person's nose, mouth, or ear. As long as your focus is within
eight inches of the nose, the other person will not be able to tell that you are not looking
him or her directly in the eyes.
COMMUNICATION IS A SERIES OF EXPERIENCES
OF
Hearing Smell
Seeing
Touch
Taste HAPTICS
 According to A. Barbour, author of Louder Than Words: Nonverbal
Communication, the total impact of a message breaks down like
this:
 7 % verbal (words)
 38 % vocal (volume, pitch, rhythm, etc)
 55 % body movements (mostly facial expressions)
 This breakdown indicates that effective nonverbal communication

skills are essential. There is nothing worse than delivering a speech
about how well your organization is doing while at the same time,
shrugging, frowning and turning away from the audience.
 You would be sending mixed messages and based on the above

scale no one in the audience will believe that the company is
actually performing well.
 Effective communication is the combined harmony of verbal and
nonverbal actions. Nonverbal communication consists of body
movement, facial expressions and eye movement.
 Body Movement indicates attitude, conveys feelings serves as

illustrators and regulators. Illustrators are nonverbal movements that
accompany and illustrate verbal communication.
 Regulators are nonverbal cues that monitor or control the speaking

of another individual.
 While listening to a person you nod you head to indicate that you
understand and is in agreement with the speaker. You look away or
yawn to indicate that you are bored or would like for the speaker to
stop talking. You frown or raise your eyebrows to indicate to the
speaker that you either don't believe them are that you don't
understand.
 Good communication skills can help you in both your personal and
professional life. While verbal and written communication skills are
important, research has shown that nonverbal behaviors make up a
large percentage of our daily interpersonal communication.
How can you improve your nonverbal communication skills?
 The following top ten tips for nonverbal communication can help
you learn to read the nonverbal signals of other people and enhance
your own ability to communicate effectively.
1. Pay Attention to Nonverbal Signals
 People can communicate information in numerous ways; so pay

attention to things like eye contact, gestures, posture, body
movements, and tone of voice. All of these signals can convey
important information that isn't put into words. By paying closer
attention to other people's nonverbal behaviors, you will improve
your own ability to communicate nonverbally.
2. Look for Incongruent Behaviors
 If someone's words do not match their nonverbal behaviors, you

should pay careful attention. For example, someone might tell you
they are happy while frowning and staring at the ground. Research
has shown that when words fail to match up with nonverbal signals,
people tend to ignore what has been said and focus on nonverbal
expressions of moods, thoughts, and emotions.
3. Concentrate on Your Tone of Voice When Speaking
 Your tone of voice can convey a wealth of information, ranging

from enthusiasm to disinterest to anger. Start noticing how your tone
of voice affects how others respond to you and try using tone of
voice to emphasize ideas that you want to communicate. For
example, if you want to show genuine interest in something, express
your enthusiasm by using an animated tone of voice.
4. Use Good Eye Contact
 When people fail to look others in the eye, it can seem as if they are
evading or trying to hide something. On the other hand, too much
eye contact can seem confrontational or intimidating. While eye
contact is an important part of communication, it's important to
remember that good eye contact does not mean staring fixedly into
someone's eyes. How can you tell how much eye contact is correct?
Some communication experts recommend intervals of eye contact
lasting four to five seconds.
5. Ask Questions about Nonverbal Signals
 If you are confused about another person's nonverbal signals, don't

be afraid to ask questions. A good idea is to repeat back your
interpretation of what has been said and ask for clarification. An
example of this might be, "So what you are saying is that..."
6. Use Signals to Make Communication More Effective and
Meaningful
 Remember that verbal and nonverbal communication work together

to convey a message. You can improve your spoken communication
by using nonverbal signals and gestures that reinforce and support
what you are saying. This can be especially useful when making
presentations or when speaking to a large group of people.
7. Look at Signals as a Group
 A single gesture can mean any number of things, or maybe even

nothing at all. The key to accurately reading nonverbal behavior is
to look for groups of signals that reinforce a common point. If you
place too much emphasis on just one signal out of many, you might
come to an inaccurate conclusion about what a person is trying to
communicate.
8. Consider Context
 When you are communicating with others, always consider the

situation and the context in which the communication occurs. Some
situations require more formal behaviors that might be interpreted
very differently in any other setting. Consider whether or not
nonverbal behaviors are appropriate for the context. If you are
trying to improve your own nonverbal communication, concentrate
on ways to make your signals match the level of formality
necessitated by the situation.
9. Be Aware That Signals Can be Misread
 According to some, a firm handshake indicates a strong personality

while a weak handshake is taken as a lack of fortitude. This example
illustrates an important point about the possibility of misreading
nonverbal signals. A limp handshake might actually indicate
something else entirely. Always remember to look for groups of
behavior. A person's overall behavior is far more telling than a
single gesture viewed in isolation.
10. Practice, Practice, Practice
 Some people just seem to have a knack for using nonverbal

communication effectively and correctly interpreting signals from
others. These people are often described as being able to "read
people." In reality, you can build this skill by paying careful
attention to nonverbal behavior and practicing different types of
nonverbal communication with others. By noticing nonverbal
behavior and practicing your own skills, you can dramatically
improve your communication abilities.

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NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Non -Verbal Communication is the message or response not expressed or

Non -Verbal signals are unconscious parts of our behavior which is a

 Body Language or Kinesics

 Space and Distance, or Proxemic factors

 Direct eye contact is essential in our society to demonstrate a self-assured, honest

 This breakdown indicates that effective nonverbal communication

 You would be sending mixed messages and based on the above

 Body Movement indicates attitude, conveys feelings serves as

 Regulators are nonverbal cues that monitor or control the speaking

How can you improve your nonverbal communication skills?

 People can communicate information in numerous ways; so pay

 If someone's words do not match their nonverbal behaviors, you

 Your tone of voice can convey a wealth of information, ranging

 If you are confused about another person's nonverbal signals, don't

 Remember that verbal and nonverbal communication work together

 A single gesture can mean any number of things, or maybe even

 When you are communicating with others, always consider the

 According to some, a firm handshake indicates a strong personality

 Some people just seem to have a knack for using nonverbal

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