NonVerbal Communication Essay Research Paper Non Verbal

Non-Verbal Communication Essay, Research Paper

Non Verbal Communication

By: Erin Daniels

E-mail: silent09@aol.com

How Does Nonverbal Behaviors Effect A Person . People communicate everyday of their lives, but we rarely notice the nonverbal part of communication and how important it is to the meaning of the message. Facial expressions, posture, body movements, tone of voice and touching are all part of nonverbal communication. Often when people communicate they contradict the verbal and nonverbal messages, therefore the receiver of the message receives a message with a double meaning and interprets the message less accurately. Nonverbal messages affect a person in a positive and negative way. Understanding the way nonverbal behaviors affect a person can help in improving communication skills. In my research paper I will investigate how nonverbal behaviors effect a person in a learning environment, and in interpersonal relationships. And I will ask how a person can improve his or her nonverbal behavior. Section 1: Effects on Cognitive Learning and Interpersonal Relationships The use of a teacher’s nonverbal behavior strongly effects the student’s cognitive learning and the quality of the teaching environment. Studies have shown that teachers with high nonverbal immediacy have high levels of cognitive learning (McCroskey Et Al 209). The students have reported the teachers with high levels of nonverbal immediacy have a more interesting class environment and the students enjoy attending class (McCroskey Et Al 209). Nonverbal behaviors that have the most effect on students are varied tone of voice, eye contact, and smiling (McCroskey Et Al 210). Smiling, eye contact, and vocal variety boost a positive affect toward the teacher, and material being Daniels 2 studied (Guerrero and Miller 33). Involvement and conversational skills: immediacy, expressiveness, smooth interaction management, and composure are some elements correlated with nonverbal behaviors in teachers (Guerrero and Miller 32). Immediacy cues such as gaze and smiling simulate psychological and/or physical closeness and communicate interpersonal warmth (Guerrero and Miller 32). Expressiveness involves vocal, facial, gestural animation, laughing, and posture movements (Guerrero and Miller 32). Smooth interaction management incorporates conversational setting, turn-taking, punctuation patterns that satisfy the people involved (Guerrero and Miller 32). Composure is the lack of tension, anxiety, and negative emotions in the class room (Guerrero and Miller 32). These studies have all shown that teachers with good nonverbal skills and involvement will increase the students education and the level of interest in the course of study. Nonverbal interactions between couples in their relationships have a strong effect on the quality and perhaps the length of the relationship in the future. Most nonverbal behaviors are intentional or accidental, most commonly nonverbal behaviors are accidental. Nonverbal behaviors are very important to communication because they can change the meaning of the message. Facial expressions can portray “a wealth of information about our inner feelings” (Coats and Feldman). Development and maintenance of relationships, nonverbal behaviors are very important (Coats and Feldman 1). In developing relationships being sensitive and supportive can increase the quality of the relationship. Many things can be communicated through touching. Stroking, caressing, or cuddling a person conveys love, involvement, concern, responsibility, tenderness, and awareness of the needs and/or vulnerabilities of the other person (Carr 106). Touching a person shows them that you care about them and have concern for their problems. A simple touch can help the release of certain suppressed feeling that the other Daniels 3 person may have problems communicating. Showing a person you care helps them release personal thoughts because maybe they fear to be criticized. Each of us needs to touch and to be touched. Eye contact is also important aspect of communication in relationships with people. Eye contact is also an intimate form of nonverbal communication. Your eyes don’t only receive messages, they also send messages as well (Carr 109). Communicating with your eyes is also a way to convey your feelings without saying a verbal word. Eyes express many things such as dominance, involvement, and attitude towards others (Carr 109). Many people are not aware of how they use their eyes. Where you position your eyes can lead to mixed messages formed by the receiver. For example, disinterested people don’t make constant eye contact, but the person may actually be interested in what the person is saying although because of his/her indirect eye contact the sender receives a message of disinterest (Carr 109). There is no rule of when and how to use your eyes, you just have to be aware of how and when you use them. Mixed messages can be sent verbally and nonverbally. Often we become detached with our feelings and emotions, therefore we can say one word and another with our body (Carr 122). We are usually not conscious when we send these mixed messages. For example, “a wife may want to be kissed; yet when her husband approaches her she stiffens. If he interprets the stiffening as rejection, he may in turn reject his wife. Or he may force the issue and kiss her anyway. If he is sensitive to her, he may remember that when other p