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Nonverbal Communication Issues

 

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What is nonverbal communication?

You cannot say nothing! Try to sit for one minute without speaking. Even if you are able to keep from moving you will still communicate rigidity, anxiety, or something. We are always saying something. It is important to observe and try to understand what is being communicated. In many situations people say what they think intellectually rather than what they feel emotionally. There is some truth in the old cliche ``actions speak louder than words.'' Body language, carefully observed and interpreted, can tell a lot about what others are feeling.

Nonverbal communication is learned and practiced often on an unconscious level. We attract people by using these nonverbal signals, and sometimes those we attract (or who are attracted to us) are unwholesome. As we grow older and become more aware of ourselves we should be able to recognize and weed out the unwholesome in favor of those for whom we have an affinity.

Body language can be disguised behind a mask out of a fear of rejection. This can discourage wanted and needed relationships from developing. Those who want and need certain relationships to develop must relearn their nonverbal skills and unmask themselves in order to avoid alienation.

Body language is open to misinterpretation just as verbal communication is. It must be interpreted in the context of one's lifestyle, family, cultural background, and other factors that may be obscure. Each person has a limited repertoire of gestures and uses the same gestures to signify certain feelings. Gestures also can occur in clusters, so that while any particular gesture alone may not mean much, when it is reinforced by other gestures in a cluster the feeling or attitude being projected is confirmed.

What are some nonverbal gestures?

Openness, confidence:
  • open hands, palms up
  • unbuttoning or removing jacket (men)
  • eye contact
  • smile, leaning forward, relaxed
  • hands away from face, possibly behind back
  • standing straight, feet slightly apart, shoulders squared
  • hand in belt thumb hooked in waist
  • clucking
  • snapping fingers
  • smacking palm

Cooperation, readiness:
  • standing with hands on hips, feet apart, head tilted
  • uncrossed legs
  • a person moves closer to another
  • unbuttoned coat (men)
  • head cocked, finger to face, blinking or squinting
  • welcoming handshake
  • open arms or hands (palms out)
  • smile
  • eye contact
  • rubbing palms together indicating expectation of something pleasant
  • hand to chest in a man indicates loyalty (but in a woman it is defensiveness)
  • touching, patting, holding hands to give reassurance

Professional:
  • taking notes
  • evaluation gestures especially hand to face
  • leaning forward
  • use of space in seating so as to avoid barriers
  • eye contact
  • Lincolnesque position
  • absence of gestures indicative of dominance, indifference, defensiveness, etc. (See section M.) Take notice of gestures signifying a desire to interrupt: ``school'' gesture of raising hand displaced to tugging ear or just raising hand from table and then dropping back
  • index finger to lip to restrain from interrupting
  • hand on arm of speaker

Indifference, boredom:
  • leg over arm of chair
  • rhythmic drumming, tapping
  • legs crossed
  • shaking one foot (women)
  • straighten up then slouch
  • ``cold shoulder,'' turning away especially toward exit
  • glancing at exit
  • rigid, unmoving posture with fixed stare
  • yawning
  • hand holding up face, drooping eyelids
  • fidget or rock
  • turning up nose and/or ``tsk'' sound (signifying disgust)

Evaluation, interest:
  • hand to cheek gesture in style of Rodin's The Thinker statue
  • slight blinking or squinting
  • chin stroking
  • hands touching face especially upper lip
  • leaning forward (positive) and leaning back (negative)
  • head tilted, ear cocked
  • peering over top of glasses
  • sucking on tip of pencil or earpiece of glasses indicates wish for nourishment in form of more information
  • arched eyebrows
  • licking lips
  • wrinkling nose
  • scratching head
  • ruffling hair

Doubt:
  • pacing
  • hand over nose
  • eyes closed
  • brow furrowed
  • arched eyebrows
  • frown
  • scratching in front of ear
  • rubbing eyes
  • hand to face gestures (evaluative)
  • pacing with head down and hands behind back or just standing—unwise to interrupt a person thus engaged
  • scratching head
  • pinching bridge of nose, especially with head lowered

Suspicion, secretiveness:
  • folded arms, moving away from another
  • crossed legs
  • head tilted forward
  • rubbing nose
  • lack of eye contact
  • hand covering mouth
  • scratching in front of ear
  • frown
  • scrunching in with head down
  • stolen look, sideways glance
  • sideways positioning
  • ``poker face''
  • deception indicated by lack of eye contact
  • anxiety gestures
  • looking at floor
  • frequent swallowing
  • wetting lips
  • throat clearing
  • scratching head

Need for reassurance:
  • clenched hands with thumbs rubbing
  • stroking arms
  • cuticle picking
  • hand pinching sucking on pen, glasses, etc.
  • touching chair before sitting
  • hand to throat (women) often displaced to seemingly checking to see if necklace is still there

Anxiety:
  • nail biting
  • finger movement
  • sighing
  • hand wringing
  • rapid, twitchy movements
  • clearing throat
  • tremors, especially knees
  • heavy breathing
  • voice strained
  • lips quivering
  • rapid eye movement
  • rigidity
  • crossed fingers
  • chewing on things

Frustration, anger:
  • making fists
  • hands on hips
  • stomping
  • if sitting – on edge of chair (ready for action)
  • chin out
  • kicking the ground
  • lips pressed together, jaw muscles tight
  • running fingers through hair
  • rubbing back of neck
  • hand in pocket
  • snorting
  • clenched hands with white knuckles
  • pointing or jabbing
  • hot under collar
  • putting out cigarette especially if with grinding motion
  • change in skin color
  • hostile stare

Defensiveness:
  • hands in pocket
  • hands behind back
  • clenched hands
  • men with jackets button up
  • folded arms (can be reinforced by making fists)
  • crossed legs
  • body twisted away, moving away, sitting back
  • looking at door
  • head tilted forward, possibly squinting
  • stalling for time by cleaning glasses, rearranging, etc.
  • hand rubbing back of neck.

Self–control, inner conflict:
  • hand holding wrist or arm
  • arm locked behind back
  • locked ankles
  • gripping arms of chair as in dentist's chair
  • suppressed gestures or displacement activities such as fist clenched hidden in pocket
  • hand to mouth in astonishment or fear (suppressed scream)
  • hand rubbing back of neck, running fingers through hair (displaced hitting out), ``stiff upper lip'' or reacting as little as possible
  • blowing nose and coughing (disguised tears)

Dominating:
  • elevating self, like standing when others are sitting
  • taking a different posture than others in a group, especially hands behind head
  • sitting straddling the chair
  • standing with arms spread and hands gripping desk or table
  • loud voice or low voice carefully enunciated
  • standing or walking with hands behind back and chin up
  • thumbs in lapels

Superior and subordinate:
  • the superior usually has hand on top in a handshake while the person who is subordinate offers his hand with palm up
  • the superior makes the motion to terminate the encounter
  • the superior can violate the subordinate's space, and can express doubt, evaluation, domineering gestures
  • the subordinate is more likely to signify self–control, anxiety, defensiveness gesture clusters
  • when putting feet on desk the superior should recognize that subordinates dislike this gesture, superiors pretend to ignore it, and equals take little note of it

Flirtation, courtship:
  • (lovers and couples) positioning to block out others
  • preening gestures such as smoothing hair, adjusting clothes
  • gaze holding
  • head arching
  • stroking own thigh or arm (in general, stroking and fondling indicates need for affection, reassurance)
  • touching.
  • A couple with strained relations avoids touching (withdraw if touch by accident) and are formally polite. Unmarried (courting) couples tend to stay together at gatherings while married couples tend to pair off with the men all standing together and the women going off together. In couples where one partner is concerned about the seductiveness of the other, rights of possession are signaled by touching (arm around waist, taking by hand, hand on shoulder).

``Open'' and ``Closed'' gestures

Our gestures oftentimes tell something about us that we are not able or willing to communicate verbally. Here is a partial list of ``open'' and ``closed'' gestures—``open'' are present when a person is ready and willing to communicate, ``closed'' are present when there may be something standing in the way of honest, complete communication. These gestures can be observed in spouse relationships, parent–child relationships, supervisor–worker relationships, worker–client relationships, and any other time that two people are communicating. Maybe you will discover that your body language has been ``telling'' on you!

Open Gesture Closed Gesture
open hands  hand covering mouth
palms up making fists
unbuttoning jacket  peering over top of glasses
spontaneous eye contact  glancing at exit
smile  frown
leaning forward  leaning back
relaxed  rigid
hands away from face  looking at floor
standing straight  moving away
feet apart  legs crossed, shaking foot
shoulders squared  fidgeting
uncrossed legs  locked ankles
welcoming handshake folded arms
touching  cold shoulder
patting open palm tapping
rubbing palms together  hand wringing
affirmative head nods  head lowered
eye contact  lack of eye contact
calm use of facial movements  staring or eyes closed
body positioned toward other  rocking
seating arrangement with no barriers  stalling for time (light pipe, clean glasses, etc.)

How do You or Others Come Across Nonverbally?

Answer these these questions honestly:

  • Is the message I am saying the message I am feeling? Am I really hearing what the other is saying?
  • Is this person someone with whom I really am interested in communicating? Does this person really want to talk with me?
  • Do I feel bored when I am with this person? Does this person seem to be bored with me?
  • Am I struggling to remain interested in this person? Does this person really share ``true'' feelings with me?
  • Would I like to disagree with this person at this time? Does this person want to disagree with me?
  • Am I overreacting to what this person is saying? Does this person overreact to my statements?
  • Do I really want to be here today with this person? Does this person want to be here with me?
  • Does this person threaten me? Do I threaten this person?
  • Does this person trust me? Do I trust myself with this person?
  • Are my feelings about this person coming across? Are the person's feelings about me clear to me?

Nonverbal Tips for Improved Communication
  • Make yourself comfortable with the other. Avoid being too close or too far away physically. (Within two feet is a comfortable range.)
  • Be relaxed and attentive. To gain acceptance lean slightly toward the other. Avoid slouching or sitting rigidly.
  • Maintain frequent eye contact. Avoid staring, glaring, or looking away.
  • Give nonverbal communication while the other is talking, such as a simple nod of approval.
  • Keep gestures smooth and unobtrusive. Don't let them compete for attention with your words. Avoid letting your gestures reveal emotional frustration.
  • Your rate of speech should be average or a bit slower. Avoid sounding impatient or hesitant. Control the tone of your voice. Avoid sounding cold and harsh.
  • Maintain a clearly audible voice—neither too loud nor too soft.
  • Your feet and legs should be unobtrusive. Avoid using them as a barrier.
  • Smile when appropriate; look pleasant and genuine.
  • Stay alert through long conversations. Closing eyes and yawning usually blocks communication.

Nonverbal Silent Role–Play Activity

Directions:

This activity can be done by two people or it can be done in a group. It is similar to charades. Write down each of the following role–play issues on an index card and shuffle the cards. You and your friend(s) take turns being the ``speaker.'' The object of the game is for the ``speaker'' to illustrate the situation on the card selected using nonverbal cues only. The speaker is not allowed to talk. The speaker has a two–minute limit. The ``listener(s)'' are to guess what the speaker is saying after one minute has gone by and before the two minute limit expires. If successful, the ``listener'' wins. If the ``listener'' does not guess correctly by the end of the two minutes, the speaker wins. Take turns until all players have completed a turn as listener and as speaker.

Nonverbal, silent–role plays

Act out your:

  • Attitude about the women's liberation movement.
  • Attitude about the two major political parties in the United States.
  • Attitude about the United States' manned space shuttle program.
  • Reaction to the space shuttle Challenger explosion.
  • Acceptance of the invitation to be a civilian astronaut on a space shuttle mission.
  • Attitude about state lotteries.
  • Reaction to accepting a lottery award of $1000/week for the rest of your life.
  • Feelings about outlawing all ``happy hours'' at bars, lounges, and restaurants.
  • Opinion on drunk drivers who get into accidents where bodily harm results.
  • Attitude about legalizing marijuana.
  • Feelings about the quality of TV programming today.
  • Feelings about sex and violent crime on TV today.
  • Feelings about TV regarding the younger generation.
  • Feelings about how much TV a child should watch each day.
  • Attitude about the quality of movies today.
  • Opinion on Americans idolizing movie stars and music personalities.
  • Reaction to the current trend in popular music.
  • Feelings about kids watching music videos.
  • Feelings about popular music as it regards sex and the use of drugs.
  • Thinking about the current trend in teenage clothes and hairstyles.
  • Feelings about the passage of a ``Right to Life'' amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
  • Feelings about mixing religious and political issues in the election of local, state, and national leaders.
  • Feelings about the state of morality in America today.
  • Feelings about the rise of ``fundamentalism'' in America today.
  • Opinion on organized religion as it addresses the pressing issues of racial discrimination, world hunger, and bigotry.
  • Feelings about the efforts of movie stars and music personalities to raise money for charity. (Live Aid, Band Aid, Hands Across America, AIDS Research, Farm Aid, etc.)
  • Attitude toward letting others know your feelings.
  • Feelings toward your family of origin.
  • Attitude about the current problems in your marriage, in your family, on your job (or in school). (Three–part role play, two minutes per topic.)
  • Reaction to getting a free trip to Disney World/EPCOT.
  • Attitude toward the new/old Miami Vice fashion craze.
  • Favorite types of music for listening, for entertaining, for romance, and for dancing.
  • Favorite childhood story or fairy tale.
  • Feelings about vivisection (animals used in laboratory research).
  • Feelings about the way people get along at your place of business.
  • Attitude toward support groups in regard to solving your current problems.
  • Opinion about this game and the questions to be role played.

Links on Nonverbal Communications

General

Across Cultures

 

 

 

Coping.org is a Public Service of James J. Messina, Ph.D. & Constance M. Messina, Ph.D.,  Email: jjmess@tampabay.rr.com  ©1999-2007 James J. Messina, Ph.D. & Constance Messina, Ph.D.  Note: Original materials on this site may be reproduced for your personal, educational, or noncommercial use as long as you credit the authors and website.