Integrating Nonverbal and Verbal Messages

Nonverbal Messages

UNIT CONTENTS

v The Functions of Nonverbal Communication

v The Channels of Nonverbal Communication

v Culture and Nonverbal Communication

When you smile, nod your head in agreement, orwave your hand to someone, you're communicating nonverbally In fact, some researchers argue that you actually communicate more information nonverbally than you do with words. In this unit we explore this nonverbal communication system; here you'll learn

■ how nonverbal communication works and the various forms it takes

■ how you can use these nonverbal channels to communicate your thoughts and feelings more effectively

Nonverbal communication is communication without words. You communicate nonverbally when you gesture, smile or frown, widen your eyes, move your chair closer to someone, wear jewelry, touch someone, raise your vocal volume, or even say nothing. The crucial aspect of nonverbal communication is that the message you send is in some way received by one or more other people. If you gesture while alone in your room and no one is there to see you, then, most theorists would argue, communication has not taken place. The same, of course, is true of verbal messages; if you recite a speech and no one hears it, then communication has not taken place.

Using nonverbal communication effectively can yield two major benefits. First, the greater your ability to send and receive nonverbal signals, the higher your attraction, popularity, and psychosocial well-being are likely to be. Second, the greater your nonverbal skills, the more successful you're likely to be at influencing (or deceiving) others. Skilled nonverbal communicators are highly persuasive, and this persuasive power can be used to help or support another or it can be used to deceive and fool.

Research shows that of the two genders, women are the better senders and receivers of nonverbal messages. Although this superiority does not hold in all contexts, it does hold in most. For example, in a review of 21 research studies, 71 percent of the findings showed women to be superior nonverbal senders. And in a review of 61 studies on decoding, 84 percent showed women to be superior receivers.

THE FUNCTIONS OF NONVERBAL COMMNICATION

Let's consider the functions of nonverbal communication by looking at (1) the ways in which nonverbal messages are integrated with verbal messages and (2) the functions that researchers have focused on most extensively.

Integrating Nonverbal and Verbal Messages

In face-to-face communication you blend verbal and nonverbal messages to best convey your meanings. While speaking, you also smile, frown, or gesture, for example. It's this combination of verbal and nonverbal signals that communicates your meanings. Here are six ways in which nonverbal messages interact with verbal messages: (1) accenting, (2) complementing, (3) contradicting, (4) regulating, (5) repeating, and (6) substituting:

■Nonverbal communication often serves to accent or emphasize some part

of the verbal message. You might, for example, raise your voice to underscore a particular word or phrase; bang your fist on the desk to stress your commitment; or look longingly into someone's eyes when saying, "I love you."

■Nonverbal communication may complement or add nuances of meaning not

communicated by your verbal message. Thus, you might smile when

telling a story (to suggest that you find it humorous) or frown and shake

your head when recounting someone's deceit (to suggest your

disapproval).

■You may deliberately contradict your verbal messages with nonverbal

Movements – for example, by crossing your fingers or winking to indicate

that you're lying.

■Movements may be used to regulate – to control or indicate your desire to

control – the flow of verbal messages, as when you purse your lips, lean

forward, or make hand gestures to indicate that you want to speak. You

might also put up your hand or vocalize your pauses (for example, with

"um" or "ah") to indicate that you have not finished and are not ready to

relinquish the floor to the next speaker.

■You can repeat or restate the verbal message nonverbally. You can, for

example, follow your verbal "Is that all right?" with raised eyebrows and a

questioning look, or motion with your head or hand to repeat your verbal

"Let's go."

■You may also use nonverbal communication to substitute for or take the

place of verbal messages. For instance, you can signal "OK" with a hand

gesture. You can nod your head to indicate yes or shake your head to

indicate no.

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