Non-Verbal Communication

Any debate must include nonverbal cues that might be misconstrued, misunderstood, or ignored. The three main topics of this essay will be covered, along with my opinions and personal experiences on each. The distance between two speakers and how it affects the conversation, especially the participants, the use of hands and gestures, such as handshakes, are examples of how to assess their hidden meanings, and finally, the impact of a smiling face on the conversation and participants. Although there are many more ways to communicate this way, these three are particularly interesting and relevant to my life and experiences.

Whether you realize it or not, you start a conversation with someone before you ever speak. Your crucial initial line of communication is nonverbal, and it has a variety of functions, including displaying your standing and establishing the tone for subsequent conversations. You communicate almost as much without saying a word as you do when speaking, from where and how you stand to how you look, how you shake someone’s hand, and whether you smile. I am particularly interested in three different sorts of communication: speaking from a distance, making gestures and positioning my hands, and smiling and its effects.

Few individuals consider personal space to be a form of non-verbal communication. Different people are more or less comfortable in their areas; some do not mind being far away, while others feel uneasy. One thing is for certain: When someone enters another person’s personal space, especially without consent, the conversation rapidly turns unpleasant. I have observed that I have wider personal space than others and soon become uncomfortable if someone talks too near me or glances over my shoulder. I interact regularly with folks from various parts of the United States and foreign cultures. Many Arabs I have met will stand extremely close to me; I also notice they stand much closer to others than Americans often do while they talk due to their culture; Arabs enjoy speaking up close and gazing at their teeth. Even when speaking, they frequently hold their mouth open. Another intriguing discovery is that many people with amygdala damage have a significantly reduced sense of personal space. In one situation, someone might feel completely at ease talking to someone while they are face-to-face. In this study, observers used an individual with amygdala impairment in several experiments. Notably, while the subject did not feel nervous, several of the experimenters talking to her did (Kennedy, Glascher, Tyszka, & Adolphs, 2009).

Hand motions and handshakes are fascinating nonverbal cues. The shake initiates a conversation in many American conversations, particularly in business. I have grown rather accustomed to this; it is regularly employed in the military, particularly as congratulations. I started to reflect on the handshakes I got. Even though the handshake was solid and included a tiny wrist flex when the other Person was superior to me, my hand slanted downward. This handshake style demonstrates the superior’s power, especially given the upward tilt of their hand (Mokhtari 2013). When it was a friend, I noted that it typically represented their personality; the friendlier and meeker they were, the softer the handshake; the more outgoing and domineering they were, the firmer the shake, even though both were vertical and of equal authority. As the hands begin to tremble, the conversation can advance further. As the dialogue develops, the hands’ position can indicate a variety of meanings. How one’s hands are held reveals a lot about how they feel. The hands behind the back position, which is frequently utilized in the military, is one that I am all too familiar with. Unfortunately, I must disagree with Mokhtari (2013) when he claims that this attitude is utilized to demonstrate confidence. In my experience, subordinates often use this when speaking with a superior; I find this posture submissive, making me think of being detained. The position of the arms crossing across the chest is also intriguing. I have observed many individuals in this position, and as Mokhtari (2013) claims, it typically arises when the individual disagrees. One particular worker uses this phrase rather frequently, and from how she stands, I can only assume that she disagrees with some things. From the beginning to the finish of the dialogue, hands seem to have a language of their own, yet they are not the only medium.

A smile is my preferred gesture for nonverbal communication. I frequently use this form, typically whenever I walk someone. Due to the mirror effect, this kind may be contagious. Person B usually mimics Person A’s smile when A does, even if B does not enjoy it. Person B will typically feel better once they grin. Mokhtari sums up Professor Richardson’s arguments in his statement that a smile can activate the joyful region of the brain (2013). Even though I may not feel very pleased, I smile at others. I begin to feel happier when I smile at folks who are in a poor mood. It is also interesting to note that women value trustworthiness more than men when they see a smiling face (Krys et al., 2015). According to Mokhtari in Eckman’s work, “Liars avoid smiling because they believe that smiling is positively correlated with lying” (2013); these findings are highly intriguing. These two studies paint an intriguing picture of how women believe a smiling face is trustworthy, how liars often smile while lying, and their relationship. I have personal experience with this. Thus, I tend to agree more with the study by Krys et al. Unless it is a phony smile, I often trust smiling faces and do not routinely associate them with lying. People frequently fake smiles for various reasons, from social circumstances to lying and misleading. Although fake smiling is not just fake, it should not be immediately interpreted negatively. Even if you do not feel like smiling, smiling in a social situation or conversation may be appropriate to instill confidence in yourself. However, if it might be a symptom of dishonesty and lying, I am less likely to believe them. Even though smiling is trickier than it seems, it is important to understand.

You influence the conversation with more than just your words, whether with a grin, a handshake, or the space you stand in. We communicate daily. However, it can be both extremely easy and highly complex. An interaction’s main component is nonverbal communication. If we want to “shoot the breeze” or negotiate a significant contract, we must learn how to resist this topic of conversation more skillfully. We must learn the skill of communication because, without it, we will never be able to comprehend one another.

References

Kennedy, D. P., Gläscher, J., Tyszka, J. M., & Adolphs, R. (2009). Personal space regulation by the human amygdala. Nature Neuroscience, 12(10), 1226-7. doi: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.apus.edu/10.1038/nn.2381

Krys, K., Xing C., Espinosa, A. D., Szarota, P., & Morales, M. F. (2015). It is better to smile at women: Gender modifies the perception of honesty of smiling across cultures. International Journal Of Psychology, 50(2), 150-154.

Mokhtari, M. (2013). The Puzzle of nonverbal communication. Towards a new aspect of leadership. Linnaeus University. Retrieved from https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/managementcommon/Management/MGMT100/Non_Verbal_Article.pdf

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

---

Take a look at the videos and article presented that are linked below. Pay particular attention to the video and article; as you watch/read, note some topics that interest you. This is a summary,

Video 1

Video 2 

Article: The Puzzle of Non-Verbal Communication

Requirements for this assignment:

You should utilize the appropriate course material covered in non-verbal communication.

Ensure you address the following topics.

Pick three areas of interest from the article or video and discuss why you find it interesting if you have seen any personal examples (i.e.,  someone who covers their mouth while talking, specific gender non-verbals, cultural differences).

^{"Place your order now for a similar assignment and have exceptional work written by our team of experts, guaranteeing you A results."}