MC unit II

7/29/2019 MC unit II

1/19

MC Unit II Non verbalcommunication


2/19

The Importance (characteristics) of Non-verbal

communication (hindrance if not properly

understood)1) Non verbal communication can be

unintentional

2) May be more honest than verbalcommunication

3) Makes or breaks the first impression

4) Nonverbal communication is always present


3/19

Functions of nonverbal communication

1) Complementing: adding extra information to

the verbal message2) Contradicting: when our nonverbal messages

contradict our verbal messages

3) Repeating: used in order to emphasize orclarify the verbal message

4) Regulating: serves to coordinate the verbaldialogue between people

5) Substituting: occurs when a nonverbalmessage is transmitted in place of a verbalmessage


4/19

6) Accenting: emphasizing a particular point in averbal message

How to Interpret Nonverbal Messages in the

Workplace

Listening

listening consists of more than simply hearingwords and phrases.

Awareness and observation also are

components of the listening process--interpreting the messenger's delivery aids inunderstanding the message in its totality.


5/19

2) Space

3) Eye contact

4) Pitch of voice


6/19

Argyle (1988) concluded there are five primary

functions of nonverbal bodily behavior in

human communication:

Express emotions

Express interpersonal attitudes

To accompany speech in managing the cues ofinteraction between speakers and listeners

Self-presentation of ones personality

Rituals (greetings)


7/19

Problems of studying nonverbal communication

1) Nonverbal cues can be ambiguous

No dictionary can accurately classify them. Their meaning

varies not only by culture and context, but by degree ofintention, i.e., you may not be intending tocommunicate (in the absence of nerve disorders,people seldom talk out loud when they don't intend

to). A random gesture may be assumed to havemeaning when none at all was intended. Plus, somepeople who may feel emotion strongly neverthelessfind that their bodies simply do not respond

appropriately, i.e., someone who is feeling happy maynot necessarily smile.


8/19

2) Nonverbal cues are continuous

This is practically related to the last point. It is

possible to stop talking, but it is generally notpossible to stop nonverbal cues. Also, spoken

language has a structure that makes it easier

to tell when a subject has changed, forinstance, or to analyze its grammar. Nonverbal

does not lend itself to this kind of analysis.


9/19

3) Nonverbal cues are multichannel

While watching someone's eyes, you may misssomething significant in a hand gesture.

Everything is happening at once, and therefore itmay be confusing to try to keep up witheverything. Most of us simply do not do so, atleast not consciously. This has both advantages

and disadvantages. Because we interpretnonverbal cues subconsciously and in a "right-brained", holistic fashion, it can happen quicklyand fairly accurately. However, because it is notconscious and more "right-brained" it is difficult

to put one's finger on exactly whyone got acertain impression from someone, or even to putit into "left-brained" wording.


10/19

Nonverbal cues are culture-bound

Evidence suggests that humans of all cultures

smile when happy and frown when unhappy[M. Argyle, Bodily Communication (New York:

Methuen & Company, 1988)]. A few other

gestures seem to be universal. However, mostnonverbal symbols seem to be even further

disconnected from any "essential meaning"

than verbal symbols. Gestures seen as positive

in one culture (like the thumbs-up gesture in

the USA) may be seen as obscene in another

culture.


11/19

Interpreting nonverbal cues

Immediacy

Immediacy cues communicate liking and pleasure.We move toward persons and things we like andavoid or move away from those we dislike.Generally, we instinctively decide whether we like

someone or not and then later find "reasons" toback up our feelings. We can summarize thenonverbal behaviors then by saying that cues thatmove or lean or otherwise open up or go toward

the other person communicate liking.Cues that fall in this dimension include eye contact,

mutual eye contact, touching, leaning forward,and touching.


12/19

Arousal

The label does not indicate anything sexual,

although arguably such could be included inthis dimension. Arousal in this usage is similarto animation. That is, when we are interestedin communicating with someone else, we tend

to be more animated. A flat tone of voice andvery little movement indicate a lack ofinterest.

Cues that fall in this dimension include eyecontact, varied vocal cues, animated facialexpressions, leaning forward, movement ingeneral.


13/19

Dominance

These cues indicate something about the balance ofpower in a relationship. They communicate

information about relative or perceived status,position, and importance.

For instance, a person of high status tends to have arelaxed body posture when interacting with a

person of lower status. High-status people tendto have more space around them, such as biggeroffices, and more "barriers" such as morehallways, doors, and gatekeepers such assecretaries.

Furniture, clothing, and location also tend tocommunicate in this dimension.


14/19

Improving nonverbal communication

Check context

Don't try to interpret cues isolated from othersuch cues, from the verbal communication, or

from the physical or emotional context. As

we've said in class, someone's arms beingcrossed may indicate nothing more than

physical discomfort from a cold room.


15/19

Look for clusters

This is the nonverbal context itself. See

if the arms being crossed are

accompanied by a resistance to eye

contact and a flat tone of voice.


16/19

Consider past experience

We can more accurately interpret the behavior

of people we know. For one thing, we noticechanges in behavior more than the behavior

itself. Unless we know someone, we can't

know that something has changed. Foranother thing, we interpretpatterns of

behavior. Your mother may always cry when

you come home from school with an A, and so

you learn that this represent happiness in that

particular situation.


17/19

Practice perception checking

This is basically the art of asking questions. For

instance, you come home and announce toyour significant other that you have received agreat promotion that requires you to move toanother state. Your announcement is met with

silence. Rather than assume that s/he is upset,ask, "Does your silence mean that you'reopposed to the move?" You may find out thats/he is simply stunned at the opportunity.

Recognize that you are interpreting observedbehavior, not reading a mind, and check outyour observation.


18/19

NEGOTIATIONS

- Negotiation is a process of give & take in

which two or more individuals or groupsresolve conflicts or disagreements and arrive

at a mutually acceptable agreement.

- 1) At least two parties are involved- 2) They have conflicts in their independent

goals and objectives

- 3) Individuals are committed to peacefulmeans for resolving their disputes

- 4) no clear established method/procedure


19/19

5) Negotiations are sequential rather than

simultaneous each party presents and the

other party evaluates gives concessions &counter proposals integration and

compromise.

MC unit II

Documents

Transcript of MC unit II