Non Verbal Communication
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Non Verbal Communication | | Drew M. Lubeck | 11/27/2012 | | | | |
C ommunication consists of the following according to Merriam Webster, “: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.” (Communication, 2009) Criminal justice professionals can greatly benefit by improving their nonverbal communication recognition skills. In this field, it is essential to be able to accurately assess nonverbal communication in dealing with coworkers, and especially clients. While, "nonverbal communication is not an exact science" (Grubb, Hemby, 2003), there are several ways in which we can learn to read the body language of others and therefore better understand the message they are trying to send. Nonverbal communication has been referred to as “body language” in popular culture ever since the publication of Julius Fast’s book of the same name in 1970. However, researchers Mark Knapp and Judith Hall (1997, p. 5) have defined nonverbal communication as follows: “Nonverbal communication refers to communication effected by means other than words.” This definition does not exclude many forms of communication, but it implies that nonverbal communication is more than body language.
While many of us probably visualize using body language as "talking with the hands" or gesturing, it is comprised of so much more than that. Nonverbal communication can be the way you move your eyes, the tone you speak with, the position of your arms and hands, and what you are actively doing while speaking. Nonverbal communication consists of, "The body (kinesics), the voice (paralanguage), objects (proxemics), and touch (haptics)." (Grubb, Hemby, 2003). Each form of nonverbal communication either singularly or concomitantly plays an important role in helping us to grasp the true meaning of a message, and what I will describe are effective ways to improve nonverbal communication. When another person is
Non Verbal Communication | | Drew M. Lubeck | 11/27/2012 | | | | |
C ommunication consists of the following according to Merriam Webster, “: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.” (Communication, 2009) Criminal justice professionals can greatly benefit by improving their nonverbal communication recognition skills. In this field, it is essential to be able to accurately assess nonverbal communication in dealing with coworkers, and especially clients. While, "nonverbal communication is not an exact science" (Grubb, Hemby, 2003), there are several ways in which we can learn to read the body language of others and therefore better understand the message they are trying to send. Nonverbal communication has been referred to as “body language” in popular culture ever since the publication of Julius Fast’s book of the same name in 1970. However, researchers Mark Knapp and Judith Hall (1997, p. 5) have defined nonverbal communication as follows: “Nonverbal communication refers to communication effected by means other than words.” This definition does not exclude many forms of communication, but it implies that nonverbal communication is more than body language.
While many of us probably visualize using body language as "talking with the hands" or gesturing, it is comprised of so much more than that. Nonverbal communication can be the way you move your eyes, the tone you speak with, the position of your arms and hands, and what you are actively doing while speaking. Nonverbal communication consists of, "The body (kinesics), the voice (paralanguage), objects (proxemics), and touch (haptics)." (Grubb, Hemby, 2003). Each form of nonverbal communication either singularly or concomitantly plays an important role in helping us to grasp the true meaning of a message, and what I will describe are effective ways to improve nonverbal communication. When another person is
Cited: Communication. (2009). Merriam webster 's online dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/COMMUNICATION Grubb, Hemby, R, K. (2003). Effective communication for criminal justice professionals. . Belmont, CA 94002-: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. Lee, Hatesohl, D, D. (1993, October). Listening: our most used communication skill. Retrieved from http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=CM150 Mark G Frank. “Nonverbal Communication.” Encyclopedia of Communication and Information. Volume 2. New York: Macmillan Reference – USA, 2002.