Types of nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication is a type of communication without the use of words.
Nonverbal communication plays an important role in the exchange of information and emotions between both humans and animals, including between humans and trained animals.
Observations have shown that in communication processes from 60% to 95% of information is transmitted through non-verbal communication.
The components of nonverbal communication are:
- Voice,
- appearance, clothing, posture,
- facial expressions, smiles, glances,
- Movements,
- gait,
- gestures,
- touch, handshake, hug.
Communication without words is the most complete and authentic.
During communication, we not only listen to verbal information, but also look into the other person’s eyes, perceive the timbre of the voice, intonation, facial expressions and gestures.
Words give us logical information, and gestures, facial expressions and voice complement this information.
Nonverbal communication - communication without words often occurs unconsciously. They can either complement and strengthen verbal communication, or contradict and weaken it. Although nonverbal communication is often an unconscious process, it is now fairly well understood and can be successfully manipulated to achieve the desired effect.
Nonverbal communication is the oldest and most basic form of communication. Our ancestors communicated with each other through body tilt, facial expressions, tone and intonation of voice, breathing rate, and glances. Even today we often understand each other without words.
Nonverbal language is so powerful and common that we can often easily understand what a dog wants. A dog, on the other hand, anticipates many of our actions, knowing in advance, for example, when we will take it for a walk and when we will go out without it.
Some animals live alone, like bears. Therefore, they have undeveloped non-verbal language (eg, facial expressions, ear position, facial smiles). As a result, a seemingly good-natured bear can startle the trainer. You must be especially careful when training animals with poorly developed nonverbal language.
Nonverbal communication is not as well structured as verbal communication. But there are general rules of vocabulary and composition (grammar) of gestures, facial expressions, intonation, with the help of which we can clearly convey our feelings.
Such transfer depends on many factors and is often ambiguous. Conscious transference is a creative process that is professionally practiced by film and theater artists. At the same time, each artist conveys the same role in his own way. Repeatedly we saw the same roles by different artists, the same films shot by different directors.
Intentionally conveying feelings we do not have is a difficult, if not impossible, process. Therefore, during filming, artists try to get into the character and experience the same feelings that they are trying to convey. We often notice this kind of failure and say that the film is a failure: the actors, for example, act unnaturally, go too far. Yet we use nonverbal language to express our feelings: Love and hate, superiority and dependence, respect and contempt.
Some non-verbal language is universal: all children cry and laugh the same way. The other part, such as gestures, differs from culture to culture. Nonverbal communication is mostly spontaneous. We usually formulate our thoughts in words; the posture of our body, facial expressions and gestures occur involuntarily, divorced from consciousness.
The importance of nonverbal means in communication
Nonverbal communication includes 5 subsystems:
- Expressive (facial expressions, gestures, posture);
- Optical-kinetic (movement, appearance, facial expression);
- Tactile contact (handshake, pat, touch, kiss, hug);
- Extralinguistic (tempo, timbre of speech, pauses, intonation);
- Spatial (distance between interlocutors, personal space).
Finished works on a similar topic
Course work The role of nonverbal communication in communication 470 ₽ Abstract The role of nonverbal communication in communication 270 ₽ Test work The role of nonverbal communication in communication 200 ₽
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In communication, the facial expression is very important, expressing the emotional state of the interlocutors during communication.
Definition 2
Facial expressions are the external expression of mental states, manifested in the coordination of facial muscle movements.
Movements of the facial muscles, their combination allows you to express the emotional state and understand the state of your interlocutor.
With the help of gestures, a person activates feedback, increases its intensity, or ends communication. An important component of nonverbal communication is also the gaze - with the help of visual contact, accurate signals of interpersonal communication are transmitted. The direction of the interlocutor's gaze indicates the direction of his attention and gives feedback. Undoubtedly, timbre, tempo of speech, inclusion of pauses in speech, and changes in intonation are important.
In interpersonal communication, it is necessary to take into account the totality of non-verbal means for the correct interpretation of communications, as well as the surrounding environment.
Psychologists believe that nonverbalism is an important condition for effective communication, because:
- non-verbal means allow you to understand the true feelings and thoughts of your interlocutor;
- impression of the interlocutor, formed under the influence of the first impression.
The role of nonverbal communication
Words are good for conveying logical information. At the same time, feelings are better conveyed not verbally.
Researchers estimate that 93% of the information conveyed in emotional communication comes through nonverbal communication channels.
Nonverbal communication is difficult to control even for professional artists. They must interact with the image, which is a complex creative process that is not always possible and requires rehearsal. Therefore, nonverbal communication is much more reliable than verbal communication. We can control some parameters of nonverbal communication. But we will never be able to control all parameters, since a person cannot have more than 5-7 factors in mind at the same time.
Nonverbal communication usually occurs spontaneously and unintentionally. It was given to us by nature as a product of thousands of years of natural selection. Therefore, nonverbal communication is very extensive and compact. By mastering the language of nonverbal communication, we acquire an effective and economical language. By winking, nodding our head, or moving our hands, we convey our feelings faster and better than words.
What is verbal communication
Under Verbal Communication
the sound language familiar to us is understood.
Human articulate speech is a special information system that is inaccessible to most animals, but has become the main means of communication for people. The concepts of “language” and “speech” seem to be synonymous, although science still distinguishes them. Language is a specific set of signs and rules for their coordination and combination. And speech is the very ability to convey information in a sound (and written) way, as well as a specific sounding “work” (conversation, speech, etc.).
Verbal communication can be carried out through the mutual exchange of information, and then it is a dialogue. It can also be carried out in the form of a monologue - a speech by one person. At the same time, the fact of communication is always realized by all its parties. That is, in order to say something in words, you need to really want it. This constitutes one of the main differences between verbal and nonverbal communication.
Forms of nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication has many forms, such as nonverbal aspects of speech, a person's posture, eye contact, gestures, facial expressions, posture, and a person's clothing.
Paralinguistics is the science that studies the nonverbal aspects of language, focusing on how a person speaks and the meaning of his words.
Paralinguistics explored:
- Voice volume;
- Tone of voice;
- Rate of speech;
- Pauses;
- Laughter, etc.
Proxemics considers the position of a person during a conversation, the distance between the interlocutors.
Eye contact is made by looking the other person in the eyes. Such contact is a powerful nonverbal sign and performs a number of functions. The gaze regulates the flow of communication and indicates the beginning or end of a conversation. Gaze can be used to obtain information about the interlocutor, the interlocutor's interest in the subject of conversation, or the absence of the interlocutor. Looking “to the side” indicates, for example, that the interlocutor is not interested in the conversation, or that he is shy or afraid. A look carries significant emotional weight. Looking into the other person's eyes is used as a sign of aggression or dominance. Thus, exchanging views, colleagues agree on joint actions.
The researchers concluded that there are individual differences in the desire for eye contact between people. For example, extroverts look at their interlocutors more often and longer than introverts. In the competitive nature of communication, interlocutors look at each other less, but sometimes spend more time looking at their opponent because they need to dominate. Gender differences also play a role in eye contact—women tend to look at other women, especially when interacting with other women.
Facial expression plays an important role in interpersonal interaction. A person's facial expressions may reflect their true feelings, but this is not always the case. Certain facial expressions are innate and therefore accessible to everyone. For example, Americans, Russians and Japanese interpret the six universal emotions (joy, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger and fear) in the same way. However, facial expressions may be perceived differently in different cultures, for example, a smile does not always reflect the same emotions in different countries.
The postures and movements of a person’s body carry certain information about a person and play a certain role in interpersonal interaction. The characteristics of posture and body movement reveal personality traits, intentions, emotions, and mood. For example, by gait you can judge a person’s mood, emotions and intentions. It often happens that an agitated person frequently touches, rubs, or feels certain parts of the body. When excited, people exhibit more body movement than when at rest.
The study of human communication functions has become its own science - kinesics. Researchers have identified about 60 basic types of body movements that form the basis of nonverbal body language. They also reveal gender differences in body language, such that men tend to adopt open postures while women, on the other hand, adopt closed postures.
Generally speaking, a person's body movements, gestures, combined with facial expressions and eye contact contain a lot of information about them. These elements of nonverbal communication are used to obtain a certain impression about a person.
Factors influencing nonverbal communication
It is advisable to interpret non-verbal means in a complex, since individually there is a risk of erroneous interpretation of the interlocutor’s behavior. For example, good-natured people may behave aggressively in self-defense because they once had a negative experience. However, there is also the opposite situation, when aggressive people can try on a mask of good nature, misleading others.
Certain circumstances influence the formation of body language:
- Age of the person;
- Nationality;
- Level of education;
- Temperament, character;
- Social status;
- Features of the profession;
- Mood;
- Artistic talent;
- Ability to use non-verbal means of communication.
There is no single system for assessing body language, but some elements are universal and are interpreted by people unambiguously.
How to develop nonverbal communication skills?
Nonverbal communication is an important part of interpersonal interaction. A person who is able to notice well and correctly interpret other people's non-verbal signals understands any interlocutor much better. He sees how people react to his words, quickly notices attempts to manipulate himself. Equally useful is the ability to monitor your own nonverbal signals. A person who has good control over his facial expressions and gestures always creates a pleasant impression.
Developing the ability to better notice and monitor nonverbal cues is not difficult at all. It is enough to start looking more carefully at the people with whom you communicate. Try to notice every involuntary movement that allows you to say something about the thoughts or experiences of your interlocutor. Pay attention to everything: facial expressions, eye movements, gestures, changes in posture and posture, intonation and timbre of voice.
Over time, this will turn into an exciting game that will allow you to make new discoveries almost every day. Every day your skills will improve. Gradually, you will learn to notice certain non-verbal signals in your own behavior. This will allow you to promptly prevent unwanted ones and emphasize those that you consider correct.
