NONVERBAL (UNSPOKEN) COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOUR
Why write about this junk you may ask? But like it
or not, we all use and respond to thousands of nonverbal cues and behaviours
everyday. Be it consciously or unconsciously. Nonverbal (unspoken)
communications are usually understood as the process of communication through
sending and receiving wordless (mostly visual) cues between individuals. These
nonverbal cues and behaviours may include posture, facial expression, eye gaze,
gesture, handshake and even our hair styles. Our speech is also said to contain
some nonverbal elements known as paralanguage; which includes voice quality,
rate, pitch, volume and speaking as well as prosodic features such as rhythm,
intonation and stress. No wonder nonverbal details are said to reveal who we
are and impact how we relate and interact with the people around us.
While these signals are often subtle that we are not
consciously aware of them, researchers have identified several types of
nonverbal communication as follows:
Facial
Expression: Consider how much information can
be conveyed with just a simple smile, a frown or scowl. A smile for instance is
an expression that can send a message of joy, closeness, affection or comfort.
Anyone seeing a smile can sense this meaning and may perceive the person to be
comfortable, friendly, approachable, inviting and likely to be engaged in
during interaction. A frown or a scowl on the other hand may transmit a message
of disgust, irritation, frustration or anger which makes interaction difficult.
Touch
(Haptics): Has it ever occurred to you that
you communicate with people daily using “touch”? Whether we consciously think
about it or not, we communicate several times daily using a mare touch from
handshake to fist bonds; high fives to hugs, and pats on the back. They are
mostly used as greetings, to communicate a job well done or to show sympathy. A
firm handshake for instance may demonstrate confidence, while a weak one may
communicate insecurity. A hug with wide arms conveys warmth, while a one-armed
hug doesn’t express as much openness or comfort.
Proximity
(Proxemics): People often refer to their need
for “personal space”, which is also an important type of nonverbal
communication. This personal or physical space (the amount of space, gap or
distance we perceive as psychologically belonging and sacred to us) can
communicate many feelings like warmth, friendliness, power and authority. No
wonder many people become uncomfortable when someone they barely know or meet
for the first time comes “too close” to them, as they perceive or interpret
such an act as an invasion to their personal space.
Body
Language and Posture (Kinesics): Posture and
movement can also convey a great deal of information about an individual in
certain situations. The way a person walks, stands, leans and sits can tell a
lot about his level of comfort in particular situation. For instance, a person
that is rigid, rocking back and forth and won’t look you straight in the eye is
obviously nervous and insecure. But someone that stands tall, looks you in the
eye and has a relaxed demeanor communicates his confidence.
Paralinguistics:
Imagine the powerful effect that the tone of
our voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. Paraguistics refers to vocal
communication that is separate from actual language. This includes factors such
as tone of voice, loudness, inflection and pitch. For instance, when we speak
with a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm.
The same words spoken in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval and
lack of interest.
Appearance:
As social beings, we constantly find ourselves
forming impressions about other people, just as they also form impressions
about us. The kind of impressions we form about someone may however be as a
result of his or her clothing, hair style or the kind of colour he or she is
putting on and other factors affecting appearance are also considered as means
of nonverbal communication. Research on colour psychology has demonstrated that
different colours can evoke different moods and responses. This may give some kind
of explanation to as why black and white colours are mostly used during
funerals.
Eye
gaze: Looking, staring and blinking can also
be an important nonverbal behavior. When people encounter people or things that
they like, the rate of blinking increases and pupils dialect. Looking at
another person can indicate a range of emotions, including hostility, interest
and attraction.
Gestures:
Some common gestures include moving, pointing
and using fingers to indicate numeric amounts. These deliberate movements and
signals are important ways of communicating meaning without words.
Since a substantial portion of our communication is
nonverbal (unspoken), understanding these nonverbal behaviours and
communication can be extremely helpful and can go a long way in shaping the way
we act and interact with people around us. These nonverbal cues are however not
always reliable as there are factors that can impede their presentation and
interpretation. Some of these factors may include difference in culture, individual
difference (personality), a person’s mood or state of mind, environment,
religion, etc.
By
Agwom
M. Wakili
