From ourhandshakesto hairstyles, our nonverbal communication reveals who we are and impacts how we relate to others.
It’s not just a way to add meaning to conversationsa substantial portion of ourcommunicationis nonverbal.
Sometimes, a raised brow or slight smirk can say more than a whole conversation.
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Other gestures are arbitrary and related to culture.
For example, 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 a statement as approval and enthusiasm.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
The same words said in a hesitant tone can convey disapproval and a lack of interest.
“Good for you!”
said in a high-pitched, excited tone suggests genuine excitement.
The same words said in a monotone might convey disinterest or sarcasm.
Paralinguistics helps us to pick up on intentions and emotions that words alone can’t get across.
Proxemics
People often refer to their need for “personal space.”
We all have a “bubble” we like to keep around ourselves.
This is known as proxemics and is another important pop in of nonverbal communication.
Among them aresocial norms, cultural expectations, situational factors,personality characteristics, and level of familiarity.
The personal distance needed when speaking to a crowd of people is usually around 10 to 12 feet.
People’s eyes can indicate arange of emotions, including hostility, interest, and attraction.
People also often utilize eye gaze cues to gauge a person’s honesty.
However, some research suggests that eye gaze does not accurately predict lying behavior.
Haptics
Communicating through touch is another important nonverbal communication behavior.
Touch can be used to communicate affection, familiarity, sympathy, and otheremotions.
Sex differences also play a role in how people utilize touch to communicate meaning.
Women tend to use touch to convey care, concern, and nurturance.
There has been a substantial amount of research on the importance of touch in infancy and early childhood.
Harry Harlow’sclassic monkey study, for example, demonstrated how being deprived of touch impedes development.
In the experiments, baby monkeys raised by wire mothers experienced permanent deficits in behavior and social interaction.
Appearance can also alter physiological reactions, judgments, and interpretations.
Just think of all the subtle judgments you quickly make about someone based on their appearance.
Thesefirst impressionsare important, which is why experts suggest that job seekers dress appropriately for interviews with potential employers.
Researchers have found that appearance can even play a role in how much people earn.
Attractive people tend to earn more and receive other fringe benefits, including higher-quality jobs.
Culture is an important influence on how appearances are judged.
Artifacts
Objects and images are also tools that can be used to communicate nonverbally.
Uniforms, for example, can be used to transmit a tremendous amount of information about a person.
At a mere glance, these outfits tell others what that person does for a living.
That makes these artifacts a powerful form of nonverbal communication.
Nonverbal Communication Examples
Think of all the ways you communicate nonverbally in your own life.
you could find examples of nonverbal communication at home, at work, and in other situations.
Even your posture can say a lot about your mood or attention levels.
How they say these words reveals a tremendous amount about how they are truly feeling.
A bright, happy tone of voice would suggest that they are doing quite well.
A cold tone of voice might suggest that they are not fine but don’t wish to discuss it.
Think about how you change the tone of your voice depending on the emotions you are feeling.
What do their facial expressions say?
What jot down of gestures do they use?
This can give those around you mixed messages.
Or maybe when someone is speaking with you, they are saying yes while shaking their head no.
This is another example of incongruent behavior.
Both can be signs of feeling a certain way but not yet being ready to admit or discuss it.
Train yourself to stop and think before you act.
This can help you eliminate or replace nonverbal behaviors that you’ve been wanting to change.
Ask Before You Assume
Certain types of nonverbal communication can mean different things in different cultures.
They can also vary based on someone’spersonality.
Before assuming that a person’s body language or tone means something definitively, ask.
“I notice that you won’t look me in the eye when we speak.
Are you upset with me?”
Give them the opportunity to explain how they are feeling so you know for sure.
Takeaways
Nonverbal communication is a huge part of how we get our message across and understand others.
Pay attention to what they are saying, but also consider their appearance, expressions, and tone.
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