Non-verbal communication: GCSE Psychology
Non-verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication (NVC): The process of sening and reciving messages through gesture, body language, posture, facial expressions and eye contact.
Verbal communication: Speaking directly using sentences, ect.
Paralinguistics: The vocal features that accompany speech, including tone of voice, emphasis and intonation.
The functions of non-verbal communication
Michael Argyle (1988) concluded there are ive functions of non-verbal bodily behaviour in human communication:
- To express emotions
- To express interpersonal attitudes
- To accompany speech in managing the cues of interaction between speakers an listeners
- Presentation of one's personality
- Rituals (greetings)
The interaction of verbal and non-verbal communication
When we talk to other people, non-verbal communication can intneract with verbal messages to assist (regulate) the flow of conversations in a number of different ways. These are as follows:
/ Repeating - using gestures to stengthen/repeat a verbal message such as pointing to the object in discussion
/ Conflict - verbal and non-verbal messages can sometimes send conflicting messages. For eample, a person expressing a statement of truth verbally while simultaneously fidgeting or avoiding eye contact may convey a mixed message to the listener.
/ Complementing - accurate interpretation of messages is made easier when non-verbal and verbal communication complement each other. Non- verbal cues can be used to reinforce the information sent, such as smiing when thanking someone.
/ Subsituting - non-verbal signals can be used as a substitute for a verbal message, such as raising eyebrows instead of asking a question r noding the hea as a sign of agreement.
/ Regulating - non-verbal behaviour also regulates our conversations. For example, touching someone's arm can sgnal you want to interrupt or be the next to talk.
Eye contact
Eye contact is important because it can indicate whether a person is
Non-verbal communication (NVC): The process of sening and reciving messages through gesture, body language, posture, facial expressions and eye contact.
Verbal communication: Speaking directly using sentences, ect.
Paralinguistics: The vocal features that accompany speech, including tone of voice, emphasis and intonation.
The functions of non-verbal communication
Michael Argyle (1988) concluded there are ive functions of non-verbal bodily behaviour in human communication:
- To express emotions
- To express interpersonal attitudes
- To accompany speech in managing the cues of interaction between speakers an listeners
- Presentation of one's personality
- Rituals (greetings)
The interaction of verbal and non-verbal communication
When we talk to other people, non-verbal communication can intneract with verbal messages to assist (regulate) the flow of conversations in a number of different ways. These are as follows:
/ Repeating - using gestures to stengthen/repeat a verbal message such as pointing to the object in discussion
/ Conflict - verbal and non-verbal messages can sometimes send conflicting messages. For eample, a person expressing a statement of truth verbally while simultaneously fidgeting or avoiding eye contact may convey a mixed message to the listener.
/ Complementing - accurate interpretation of messages is made easier when non-verbal and verbal communication complement each other. Non- verbal cues can be used to reinforce the information sent, such as smiing when thanking someone.
/ Subsituting - non-verbal signals can be used as a substitute for a verbal message, such as raising eyebrows instead of asking a question r noding the hea as a sign of agreement.
/ Regulating - non-verbal behaviour also regulates our conversations. For example, touching someone's arm can sgnal you want to interrupt or be the next to talk.
Eye contact
Eye contact is important because it can indicate whether a person is