Researching Nonverbal Communication Functions

Although nonverbal communication serves the same functions as verbal communication, nonverbal researchers have singled out several specific functions as especially significant.

Impression Formation and Management

It is largely through the nonverbal communications of others that you form impressions of them. Based on a person's body size, skin color, and dress as well as on the way the person smiles, maintains eye contact, and expresses himself or herself facially, you form impressions – you judge who the person is and what the person is like. One nonverbal researcher argues that these impressions may be grouped into four categories:

■credibility, or how competent and believable you find the person

■likability, or how much you like or dislike the person

■attractiveness, or how attractive you find the person

■dominance, or how powerful the individual is

And, of course, you reveal yourself largely through the same nonverbal signals you use to size up others. But not only do you communicate your true self nonverbally; you also strive to manage the impression that you give to others. For example, you may do your best to appear brave when you're really scared or happy when you're really sad.

Form and Define Relationships

Much of your relationship life is lived nonverbally: Largely through nonverbal signals, you communicate your relationship to another person and that person communicates to you. Holding hands, looking longingly into each other's eyes, and even dressing alike are ways in which you communicate closeness in your interpersonal relationships.

You also use nonverbal signals to communicate your relationship dominance and status. The large corner office with the huge desk communicates high status, just as the basement cubicle communicates low status.

Structuring Conversation and Social Interaction

When you're in conversation, you give and receive cues – to speak, to listen, to comment on what the speaker just said. Turn-taking cues regulate and structure the interaction. These turn-taking cues may be verbal (as when you say, "What do you think?"), but most often they're nonverbal – a nod of the head in the direction of someone else, for example, signals that you're ready to give up your speaking turn and want this other person to say something.

You also show that you're listening and that you want the conversation to continue (or that you're not listening and want the conversation to end) largely through nonverbal signals.

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