Question

2. What are some aspects of nonverbal behavior? Give some common examples of nonverbal behavior and how you interpret the meaning behind each one.

Answer 1

The communication that occurs without the use of words or that are not verbal ,but the nonverbal communication that occurs through:

• Body gestures and movements.
• Facial expressions and eye contact.
• Change in vocalics as tone, pitch, volume etc.
• Touch and proximity or the personal space.
• Appearance( dressing sense,style, type of clothes etc.)
• Timings
• Artifacts ( the things that surround us)

Aspects of nonverbal communication are:

• Is a continuous process.
• Is both conscious and unconscious
• Some of the nonverbal communication are universal.
• Uses multiple channel.

Example of common non verbal behavior are:

Smile: We interpret it to be happy gesture.

Change in voice tone: while communicating verbally the change in pitch and volume indicates anger, excitement, sadness,truth etc.

Eye contact: maintaining eye contact is interpreted to be the degree of truth,honesty etc.

Frowning of the face is a gesture related to disgust,anger etc.

Yawning during a lecture or class is interpreted to boredom.