The Primary Sources of Nonverbal Behavior
Knapp and Hall cite evidence from the work of Eckman and Friesen that nonverbal behavior comes from inherited neurological programs, experiences common to all members of the human species, and experiences which vary with culture, class, family, or the particular individual (Knapp & Hall, 1992, p. 408). For example, in every culture, food is picked up by the hands and placed in the mouth. Cultural forces and biology interact in intricate ways to bring about human nonverbal behavior in the forms of various and rituals which people automatically perform. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the various sources of nonverbal behavior in the specific areas of proxemics, kinesics, haptic, and facial and eye behavior.
In the area of proxemics, the study of man's perception and the use of space, there is complex and somewhat conflicting research on the primary source of learning the use of space. At first, it seems that the cultural influence is the strongest, because that is where it is obvious that there is the most variation. Knapp and Hall discuss the various learned responses of children at different ages as they become enculturated to the correct amount of space and touching in dealing with others (1992, p. 438). It is commonly known that various cultures differ in the terms of the proper space between people. The average American carries a two-foot bubble of privacy around himself. A German may make an entire room his bubble. Those from the Middle East or other European countries may have entirely different ideas about personal space (Fast, 1970, p. 40).
As important as this cultural evidence may be, the research of Edward Hall seems to override the possibility that cultural influence is the strongest. He cites evidence where various birds and animals space themselves from each other in a very orderly manner, causing us to wonder if this inclination is neurological, rath...