Nonverbal Communication
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Nonverbal communication consists of nonverbal behaviors that "acquire meaning as part of a communication process" (Druckman, Rozelle and Baxter 23). These behaviors, which are characterized as channels of communication, include nonverbal vocalizations (paralanguage), facial expression, body movements (including gesture, posture and others), proximity and placement, and miscellaneous aspects of behavior such as clothing, decoration of the body and interactive rituals such as greeting by shaking hands. Nonverbal communication involves two basic processes: the processing of information and the management of impressions. The first process is interpretive in nature as messages are decoded in order to draw inferences from nonverbal behaviors about another person's intentions. The management of impressions is concerned with impact as it is the process of encoding messages in order to exert influence on another person's "intentions, evaluations or perceptions" (Druckman et al. 31). The dynamic of such communication is extremely complex since the processes are not, of course, confined to a single direction. As the receiver decodes the message the management of his response is already being formulated. Interactions are reciprocal and nonverbal feedback is an essential regulator of communication. nonverbal behavior is so important and its meanings can be interpreted quickly enough so that it can truly be described as an inevitable aspect of interaction. Sigmund Freud said tha
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nd the gaze have been found to be the channels of nonverbal expression that have the greatest impact on the receivers of coded messages, there is considerable variation in the power of effect according to the circumstances in which various types of nonverbal communication are used. But the importance of nonverbal communication in conveying impressions is undoubted. Mehrabian (as quoted in Druckman et al.) concluded, for example, that "when there is inconsistency between verbally and implicitly expressed attitude, the implicit portion will dominate in determining the [impact of] the total message" (85). The power of nonverbal behavior is also consistent across cultures -- though the differences between cultures are considerable in terms of the meanings of particular behaviors and proximity is one of the best examples of this.
FACIAL EXPRESSION AND THE GAZE
Facial expression is a primary means of conveying emotions and information, and regulating interaction. Basic questions about the origins of facial expression stem from the fact these nonverbal behaviors and their relation to particular emotional states in humans have significant similarities to such behaviors in other primates. The innate nature of facial expression has
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Ekman Friesen, GAZE Facial, MOVEMENTS Body, Professor Brown's, ADORNMENT Physical, Wiens Matarazzo, PROXEMICS Proxemics, Ekman Frisien, Krizek Snider, Rozelle Baxter, nonverbal communication, et al, nonverbal behaviors, nonverbal behavior, facial expression, druckman et al, druckman et, body movements, harper et, harper et al, ekman friesen, facial expressions, skill nonverbal communication, et al 28, berlin mouton 1982,
Approximate Word count = 6883
Approximate Pages = 28 (250 words per page)
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