Download Phoenix College - Introduction to Communication

Phoenix College
COM 100 – Introduction to Communication
Instructor: Randon
Chapter Objectives
I. Explain the nature and functions of nonverbal communication.
II. List and explain the ten channels of nonverbal communication.
III. Describe ways to improve your nonverbal communication skills.
Chapter Outline
I. The nature and functions of nonverbal communication.
A. Nonverbal communication involves the behaviors and characteristics
that convey meaning without the use of words.
B. There are six characteristics of nonverbal communication.
1. Nonverbal communication is present in most communication
contexts.
a. When you talk with people one-on-one or in a group, you have
access not only to their spoken words, but also to several
dimensions of nonverbal communication.
b. In contexts lacking face-to-face communication, we still make use
of what is available, including vocal qualities and emoticons, the
familiar textual representations of facial expressions.
2. Nonverbal communication often conveys more information than
verbal communication.
a. Nonverbal channels are the various behavioral forms that
nonverbal communication takes.
b. We rely on clues from nonverbal channels to make sense of a
situation when talking is not an option.
3. Nonverbal communication is usually believed over verbal
communication, and helps us to detect deception, the act of leading
someone to believe something you know to be untrue.
4. Nonverbal communication is the primary means of expressing
emotion.
a. We are highly visual beings, and we tend to pay attention to
people’s facial expressions. According to Ekman, six basic
emotions are communicated through facial expressions:
i.
Happiness
ii.
Fear
iii.
Disgust
iv.
Anger
v.
Sadness
vi.
Surprise
b. We also pay attention to vocal cues to understand a person’s
emotional state.
5. Nonverbal communication metacommunicates.
6. Nonverbal communication serves multiple functions.
a. Nonverbal communication helps us manage conversations.
b. Nonverbal communication helps us maintain relationships
through the use of immediacy behaviors, or nonverbal signals of
affection and affiliation.
c. Nonverbal communication helps us form impressions.
d. Nonverbal communication helps us influence other people.
e. Nonverbal communication helps us conceal information.
II. Ten channels of nonverbal communication.
A. Facial displays are facial expressions.
1. According to the principle of facial primacy, the face communicates
more information than any other channel of nonverbal behavior.
2. Three functions of facial displays include:
a. Revealing identity.
b. Signaling attractiveness.
i.
Symmetry is the similarity between the left and right sides
of your
face.
ii.
Proportionality refers to the relative size of your facial
features.
c. Expressing emotion.
3. Facial expressions are also extremely important to those who
communicate through sign language.
B. The eyes communicate more than any other part of the face. The study of
eye behavior is oculesics.
1. Eye contact is used to signal attraction, gain credibility, persuade, and
intimidate.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
2. Pupil dilation is a reaction to different social situations and
conversational partners, (for example, when we experience
excitement, sexual arousal, anxiety, or fear).
The study of movement is kinesics, and the use of arm and hand
movements to communicate is gesticulation.
1. An emblem is any gesture that has a direct verbal translation.
2. Illustrators are gestures that clarify the verbal message.
3. Affect displays are gestures that communicate emotion.
4. Regulators are gestures that control the flow of conversation.
5. Adaptors are gestures one uses to satisfy some personal need.
Haptics is the study of how we use touch to communicate, and there are
five major areas in which touch plays a critical role in conveying meaning:
1. Affectionate touch.
2. Caregiving touch.
3. Power and control touch.
4. Aggressive touch.
5. Ritualistic touch.
Characteristics of the voice are referred to as vocalics or paralanguage.
Nine characteristics of the voice go along with words we speak to convey
meaning:
1. Pitch.
2. Inflection.
3. Volume.
4. Rate.
5. Filler words.
6. Pronunciation.
7. Articulation.
8. Accent.
9. Silence.
Our sense of smell, or olfactics, operates subtly but powerfully to
influence our reactions to other people.
1. Smell can influence our memories and moods, and olfactic association
is the tendency of odors to bring up specific memories.
2. Smell also affects communication by playing a role in determining to
whom we are sexually attracted.
The scientific study of spatial use is called proxemics, and according to
Hall, people use four different spatial zones:
1. Intimate distance (0 to 1 ½ feet) is the zone we occupy with our
closest and most intimate friends, family members, and romantic
partners.
2. Personal distance (1 ½ to 4 feet) is the zone we occupy with other
friends and relatives.
3. Social distance (4 to 12 feet) is the zone we use with customers,
casual acquaintances, and others whom we don’t know very well.
4. Public distance (12 to 25 feet or greater) is the zone used when
someone is giving a speech or performing in front of a large audience.
H. Physical appearance is an important aspect of nonverbal communication,
as we make judgments about people based on their looks.
1. The halo effect suggests we have a strong predisposition to attribute
positive qualities to physically attractive people.
2. Because physical attractiveness is so highly valued, some people go to
dangerous extremes to achieve it.
I. Chronemics is the way we use time as communicators.
J. Artifacts are the objects and visual features within an environment that
reflect who we are and what we like.
III. Improving your nonverbal communication skills.
A. Interpreting nonverbal communication.
1. Be sensitive to nonverbal messages.
a. Pay attention to facial expressions.
b. Take note of tone of voice and body movements.
2. Decipher the meaning of nonverbal messages.
a. Consider both the social situation and the nonverbal behaviors
that are being enacted.
b. Keep in mind that cultural differences influence the meaning of
nonverbal messages.
c. When you are unsure, ask the person to confirm the meaning.
B. Expressing nonverbal messages.
1. Spend time with highly expressive people.
2. Take part in games and activities that exercise your nonverbal skills.