What do all of the following statements have in common?

“You have a beautiful smile.”

“I heard that sigh. Is there something wrong?”

“I bite my nails when I’m nervous.”

“Her house smells like cat pee.”

They all refer to nonverbal communication

OVERLAPS BETWEEN VERBAL AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

The dividing line is not clear and distinct. Verbal and vocal cues are interrelated Emblems have clearly codified meanings Sign language is not nonverbal

communication

DEFINITION

Nonverbal communication is “communication other than written or spoken language that creates meaning for someone” (p. 4). nonverbal communication is

everything that isn’t language Verbal communication exists in

the “world of words.” Nonverbal communication is

wordless encoding or sending

nonverbal cues encoding or receiving

nonverbal cues

VERBAL VS. NONVERBAL

COMMUNICATION verbal nonverbal

Oh fudge! That frickin’ hurts! Aaaaagggghhhh!

BEHAVIOR VERSUS COMMUNICATION

Not all nonverbal behavior is nonverbal communication Simple acts such as

breathing, sleeping, standing, sitting, blinking, sleeping, flinching are pure behaviors.

When meaning is assigned to nonverbal behavior, it becomes nonverbal communication

Nonverbal behavior Sleeping coughing Not making a sound

Nonverbal communication Sleeping in class Clearing your throat to signal you

wish to speak Not saying “hello”

1. CONTINUOUS NATURE OFNONVERBAL COMMUNICATION Nonverbal

communication is continuous Nonverbal communication

is ongoing A smile may begin and end,

but it is only one aspect of nonverbal communication

Nonverbal cues are being sent even when someone is not talking

Nonverbal channels are continuously available

Verbal communication is discrete Language starts and

stops One person talks,

then another, and so on.

NONVERBALLY ONE CANNOT NOT COMMUNICATE

When in the presence of another person it is impossible not to communicate nonverbally Cannot “shut up” nonverbally Giving someone the “silent

treatment” only applies to language

Proxemics; one must be at some distance from another person.

2. NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES Different brain

hemispheres process language and emotion Language is processed

primarily in the left hemisphere

Nonverbal cues are processed primarily in the right hemisphere

Right hemisphere excels at spatial relationships, affect or emotion, deciphering nonverbal cues, music and melody

The two hemispheres are not mutually exclusive. Functions can be shared Hemispheres can

compensate for one another

analyticallanguagelogicmathfacts

emotionimaginationintuitivemusicspatial

3. REFLECTIVE VS. REFLEXIVE

Generally speaking, verbal communication requires more thought

greater conscious awareness

greater intentionality

Verbal communication is usually perceived as more intentional, conscious

Generally speaking, nonverbal communication is less thoughtful

less mindful, intentional

more spontaneous

However, nonverbal cues can also be highly planned, strategic

4. COMMUNICATION CONTENT

Language is best-suited for communicating cognitive information facts

thoughts, ideas

beliefs, attitudes, opinions

argument, reasoning

Nonverbal is best suited for affective communication feelings

emotions

attitudes

WORDS ON THE LEFT, FEELINGS ON THE

RIGHT

In January 2011, Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords was shot in the left side of her head by Jared Loughner.

She has difficulty speaking (left hemisphere), but can sing songs (right hemisphere).