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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Definitions of Non-verbal Communication
Have you ever rolled your eyes when your parents told you to clean your room? Or smiled at someone without saying a word? These are examples of non-verbal communication – the way we express ourselves without using words. In fact, researchers suggest that non-verbal cues make up between 65-93% of all our communication! This means that what we don't say often speaks louder than what we do say.
Key Definitions:
Non-verbal communication helps us to:
Anthropologist Edward T. Hall called non-verbal communication "the silent language" because it often happens without conscious awareness. Yet it powerfully shapes how we understand each other. For example, a simple handshake can communicate confidence, nervousness, dominance, or warmth – all without a single word being spoken!
Non-verbal communication comes in many forms. Let's explore the main types:
Your face is incredibly expressive, capable of conveying countless emotions without saying a word. Psychologist Paul Ekman identified six basic emotions that are universally recognised across cultures:
Smiling, raised cheeks, crinkled eyes
Lowered brows, glaring eyes, tight lips
Drooping eyelids, downturned mouth
Widened eyes, raised eyebrows, open mouth
Wrinkled nose, raised upper lip
Raised eyebrows, wide eyes, open mouth
How you hold yourself tells others a lot about your confidence, mood and intentions. Consider these examples:
In the 1960s, psychologist Albert Mehrabian conducted research on how people communicate feelings and attitudes. His famous "7-38-55 rule" suggested that when communicating feelings:
While this study is often oversimplified (it only applied to specific emotional communications), it highlights how powerful non-verbal cues can be in conveying feelings.
We use our hands and body movements to emphasize points, describe things, or express feelings. Gestures fall into several categories:
Gestures can have completely different meanings across cultures! For example:
The eyes are often called "the window to the soul" because they communicate so much about our inner state. Eye contact can:
In the UK, maintaining some eye contact while speaking shows engagement, but staring too intensely can make people uncomfortable. Cultural norms around eye contact vary widely – in some cultures, direct eye contact with authority figures is considered disrespectful.
Touch is one of the most powerful forms of non-verbal communication. It can convey comfort, affection, dominance, or aggression. The meaning of touch depends on:
We all have invisible bubbles around us that define our comfort zones. Anthropologist Edward T. Hall identified four main distance zones in Western cultures:
Reserved for close relationships like family, romantic partners and very close friends. When strangers enter this space (like on a crowded bus), we often feel uncomfortable.
The distance for conversations with friends and acquaintances. This is where most social interactions happen.
Used for interactions with strangers, new acquaintances, or in professional settings.
The distance kept when addressing larger groups, like in public speaking situations.
A study comparing personal space preferences found that people from the UK typically maintain larger personal distances than people from Mediterranean or Latin American cultures. This can lead to misunderstandings:
A British businessman meeting with Italian colleagues might back away slightly during conversation, unconsciously maintaining his preferred personal space. His Italian counterparts might interpret this as coldness or disinterest, while he might find their closer proximity uncomfortable or invasive.
This demonstrates how non-verbal norms differ across cultures and can lead to misinterpretations when people from different backgrounds interact.
Paralanguage refers to how we say things rather than what we say. It includes:
For example, saying "I'm fine" with a flat tone, low pitch and slow rate suggests you're actually not fine at all!
What happens when someone says one thing but their body language suggests something else? Research shows that when verbal and non-verbal messages contradict each other, people tend to believe the non-verbal cues. This is why we often say someone "doesn't seem sincere" even if their words are perfectly appropriate.
Imagine a friend saying "I'm not angry" while:
You'd probably believe their body language over their words!
Being aware of non-verbal communication helps you:
Non-verbal communication is a rich, complex system that works alongside verbal communication to express meaning. From facial expressions and body language to personal space and touch, these silent signals help us understand others and express ourselves more fully.
Remember that while some non-verbal cues (like basic facial expressions) appear to be universal, many others vary significantly across cultures. Being aware of these differences can help prevent misunderstandings in our increasingly connected world.
By understanding non-verbal communication, you gain valuable insights into human interaction that can improve your relationships, help you communicate more effectively and better understand the full meaning behind the messages you receive from others.
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