NONVERBAL

COMMUNICATION

CHAPTER 5
“ACTIONS SPEAK
LOUDER THAN WORDS”
• In face-to-face comm., as much as 60% of social meaning is
result of nonverbal behaviors

• Nonverbal comm.: all human comm. that transcends spoken

or written words

• Nonverbal comm. behaviors: bodily actions and vocal

qualities that typically accompany a verbal message

• Emoticons: result of CMC’s (email, Facebook, blogs, texting,

etc.) attempt to clarify meaning and convey emotion
NONVERBAL COMM.
CHARACTERISTICS
• Inevitable: “We cannot NOT communicate.”

• Primary conveyer of emotions

• Multi-channeled (through posture, gestures, body movement,

appearance, vocal mannerisms)

• Ambiguous: very few nonverbals mean the same thing

TYPES OF
NONVERBAL COMM.
Kinesics: Use of the Body
• Gestures (including illustrators, emblems, or adaptors)

• Eye contact (aka gaze): “the eyes are the window to the soul”
• Talkers hold eye contact ~40% of time; listeners ~70%

• Facial expressions  

• Posture (body orientation and body movement)

• Haptics: what and how touch communicates

TYPES OF
NONVERBAL COMM.
Vocalics: Use of the Voice
• Interpretation of verbal message based on paralanguage
(voiced but not verbal part of a spoken message)
• Pitch: highness or lowness of vocal tone
• Volume: loudness or softness of tone
• Rate: speed at which a person speaks (100-200 wpm)
• Quality (timbre): sound of person’s voice that distinguishes it
• Intonation: variety, melody, or inflection in one’s voice
• Vocalized Pauses: extraneous sounds/words that interrupt
fluent speech (e.g., “uh,” “um,” “er,” “well,” “OK”)
TYPES OF
NONVERBAL COMM.
Proxemics: Use of Space
• Personal Space: distance we try to maintain in our interactions
• Intimate distance (up to 18”; private convo between close friends)
• Personal distance (18”-4’; casual conversation)
• Social distance (4’-12’; impersonal business conducted)
• Public distance (more than 12’)

• Physical Space: part of physical environment over which we exert

control
• Artifacts: objects and possessions used to decorate physical
space we control
TYPES OF
NONVERBAL COMM.
Chronemics: Use of Time
• How we interpret use of time; largely based on cultural context

• Monochronic time orientation: one task, then another; time

is “real”; subordinate relationships to schedule

• Polychronic time orientation: multitaskers; time is flexible

and fluid; easily adapt schedules to meet relationship needs
SELF-PRESENTATION
CUES
• Physical appearance (culture-based stereotypes)
• Endomorphs: shaped round and heavy; kind, gentle, jovial
• Mesomorphs: muscular and strong; energetic, outgoing,
confident
• Ectomorphs: lean w/little muscle development; brainy, anxious or
cautious

• Clothing and Grooming

GUIDELINES FOR
IMPROVING NVC
Sending Nonverbal Messages:
• Be conscious of nonverbal behaviors you are displaying
• Be purposeful in your use of nonverbal communication
• Make sure your nonverbal cues do not distract from the message
• Make your nonverbal comm. match your verbal comm.
• Adapt your nonverbal behavior to situation
GUIDELINES FOR
IMPROVING NVC
Interpreting Nonverbal Messages
• Do not automatically assume that a particular behavior means the
same to everyone
• Consider nonverbal behaviors as they relate to the context of the
message
• Pay attention to the multiple nonverbal cues being sent and their
relationship to the verbal message
• Use perception checking