Nonverbal Communication

We are still learning:

ways it affects people

differences in ability to convey.

differences in ability to understand

Why is our knowledge so incomplete ?

Predominant verbal orientationNVC used without awareness-

natural.• facial expression• body build • posture

Research is complicated by a wide range of behaviors

Admonishing a child

Displeasure in voicedisapproving facial expressiondirect eye contactthreatening hand gesturethreatening body posture.

There is a symphony of cues present. The numberof channels presents barriers to its study

How much does NVC Count?

A major determinant of meaning.• 65-75% of meaning from NVC• presently 93% from NVC

Richest source of info on emotions• feeling & emotions are more accurately

exchanged• reliable and stable indicators of emotions• Are you Okay? • Verbal - redundant, repetitive & deceptive

How much NVC counts (cont)

Relatively free of deception, distortion & control

• rarely under our sustained conscious control• words distort, deceive, and conceal• trustworthy? E.G. Nixon Hill/Thomas

hearings

NVC serves metacommunication function.

• deeper level of efficient communication• e.g. parties

Most suitable vehicle for suggestion

Language of NVC

Kinesics (kinesiology) -body motionEmblems - direct verbal translation

(ok,good)Illustrators-tied to speech-strength/vigorAffect Displays-facial expressionsRegulators-control speaking/listening.Adaptors-touching yourself

Language (continued)

Physical Characteristics - body build,height

Haptics - TouchingProxemics - comm through space.

• intimate 0-18 inches

• personal - 18 inches - 4 feet

• social - 4-12 feet

• public - 12 feet and beyond

Olfactics - com through smell

Language (continued)

Chronemics - polychronism,

monochronism

Artifactual - beauty aids,space, color,furniture,temperature

Paralanguage (vocalics) • voice - quality, pitch, rythym

• vocal characterizers - laughing, crying, moaning, sighing

• vocal segregates - “ah” “uhm”

Haptics Research

What if there were no touch between people?

What if you added touch to certain situations?

Importance of Touch

Signals Intimacy - quality of relationship• ritual touch vs non-ritual touch

Without Touch IPCO rlshps meaningless• sense of self connected to touch

Cultural and subcultural normsBiological Roots - 18 sq ft of skin.

• constant state of readiness

Most carefully guarded of all NVC behaviors

Haptics research

Originally shied away from because:

Seemed infrequent and spontaneous

Seemed private and inaccessible.

Difficult to research

Research Started medically

Spitz (1945) studied infants rarely/briefly

touched by nursesmortality rate was extremely high.RESULT: without effective

stimulation from holding/stroking, human nature did not develop normally

Harlow (1958) landmark research

Studied maternal deprivation in rhesus monkeys

scientifically proved need for physical contact (innate).

subsequent research showed contact, movement, handling were powerful forms of stimulus that enhanced neurological and emotional development in human infants

Dr. Bresler - UCLA Pain Clinic

Prescribes 4 hugs a day

morning

lunch

evening.

before bed

Dr. Harold Voth-Sr Pychiatrist - Menninger Foundation

Hugging can lift depression enabling the body’s immunization system to become tuned up. Hugging breathes fresh life into tired bodies and makes you feel younger and more vibrant. In the home hugging can strengthen relationships and significantly reduce tension.

Leo Buscaglia - Ins Study

People who hug and kiss their partner before leaving for work:

• live 5 years longer

• ill and out of work less than 50% of the time

• fewer auto accidents

Helen Colton - The Joy of Touching

Hemoglobin in blood increases significantly when you are touched, fondled, and hugged. If you want to be healthy, you must touch!

Haptic gender patternsSuccessful NVC: Dale Leathers

Cross-sex touch more frequent than same sex touch

Females more likely to be recipients of touch than males

Touch between females more frequent than touch between males.

Females more frequently touch children than males

Female - Male InteractionInterruptus

Women are frequently interrupted by men

Women are often silent for long periods after being interrupted

Women are often prevented from being interrupted by men’s “uhms” & “Hmms”.

Unusual for a women to protest being interrupted