What is Non Verbal Communication?

Nonverbal communication is the way we express ourselves without using words. Our nonverbal communication techniques vary from culture to culture. These include body language, facial expressions, and physical distance. We use them to feel comfortable and secure. There are two main types of adaptors: self-adaptors, which fulfill a need for security, and object-adaptors, which use an object in ways it was never intended.

Body language

Body language is the outward reflection of our emotions. Our gestures tell the world what we are thinking, which can be a key to understanding the emotional state of another. For example, someone feeling fearful will cross their legs and fold their arms. A man talking to a woman with a large breast might avoid staring at her but unconsciously use groping gestures.

Body language is a handy tool in the classroom, as it can serve as non-verbal input to guide students toward the correct answer to a question. It can also be used in conjunction with verbal methods of guiding students. According to Tai, there are three main characteristics of effective body language.

The first non-verbal communication that people notice is the way a person moves their arms. Crossed arms are considered a negative form of body language. A person who crosses his arms is considered defensive and closed off. Crossed arms also give off the impression of being disinterested or angry.

According to Mehrabian, only about 35 percent of face-to-face communication is verbal, and over 65 percent is non-verbal. He conducted his research on thousands of recorded negotiations and sales interviews. Body language accounts for 60 to 80 percent of the impact of a person’s message. The average sentence lasts between 2.5 and 10 seconds.

Facial expressions

Facial expressions are one of the primary modes of nonverbal communication. They can convey much information, depending on the person’s situation and relationship with others. A smile, for example, may indicate that someone is happy or sad. However, it may also be a way for the person to hide a hidden emotion, such as fear of rejection. Understanding how people hide their true feelings can help you have deeper conversations and reassure them that you’re willing to listen to their concerns.

A person’s face creates the most direct and immediate cues and impressions and is the body’s most expressive part. In this article, we will explore the role of facial expressions in interpersonal communication and how to create practical facial expressions. A significant component of facial communication is eye contact. This habit may have developed in infancy when human beings were the only mammals to maintain eye contact with their mothers. It is an essential aspect of nonverbal communication because it regulates conversations and demonstrates interest in others.

Facial expressions are the most direct nonverbal communication, accompanied by an eyebrow flash and eye contact. A study by Kampe et al. (2003) shows that long-lasting eye contact is accompanied by activation of the medial prefrontal cortex and temporal poles.

Physical distance

Distance and proximity are two critical elements of nonverbal communication, and people from different cultures use them differently. Depending on the culture, gender, environment, and personal preferences, the preferred distance varies from person to person. For instance, a study from the University of Warwick found that people from Romania and Saudi Arabia tended to keep a greater distance from strangers than people from other countries. However, it did not find that this preference was universal across cultures.

Using body movements to convey messages is one of the easiest nonverbal communication methods. These include deliberate head movements, gestures, and posture. Proxemics refers to the physical distance between two people when communicating. Different cultures have different rules for how much personal space people should have between them. People also communicate their attitudes and emotional states through posture. For example, eye contact is a primary indicator of interest, and wavering eyes can convey dishonesty and distance from others.

Some cultures have a strict “close talker” rule. For example, Saudi Arabia has a rule that a person should not talk too close to another person. However, people in other cultures are encouraged to maintain distance between themselves.