5g Nonverbal Communication -Study Guide for Exam #1 Date of exam: 9/30/2015 Format: 35 multiple choice, 15 T/F MISSING/INCOMPLETE AREAS ARE RED :) Disclaimer: This is only a study guide—it is not a complete overview of the material that could be on the exam. Some of the answers may not be explicit in the readings but are conclusions or connections that you can make based on the material covered in the course. Please note that neither the instructor nor the TAs will answer any of the study guide questions—these are for you to answer. Perspectives and Definitions 1. Why is it difficult to provide an exact definition of nonverbal communication? a. Distinction between verbal content and nonverbal behavior is artificial b. There are multiple competing goals to manage c. What else? (the readings seemed to be a general definition of : a definition does not account for the complexity d. blurred lines of nonverbal when taking into account sign language 2. What are the 6 ways nonverbal behaviors are related to verbal language? What are examples of each? a. Repeating i. Same message, but coming through verbal and nonverbal ii. Ex: giving directions, point and also say “go that way” b. Substituting i. using nonverbal to replace the verbal ii. Ex: ordering two and saying “I want” then holding up the number 2 symbol. Ex2: Thumbs-up = “good job!” c. Complementing i. Getting more information with the nonverbal behaviors, enhancing the message, making them have a better understanding and more accurate ii. Ex: saying “I caught a really big fish” and then hold up your hands to give a more accurate description d. Accenting/Moderating i. Accenting 1. Not giving more information but adding emphasis or trying to de-emphasis (as in moderating) 2. Ex: underlining 3. Ex: Pounding your fist on the table to really emphasis - accenting ii. Moderating: 1. toning down the message if you are giving bad news2. Ex: if you are a vet having to tell someone that their dog died, you would have to sit down with them and give them some touch, etc 3. More about emotional tone e. Regulating i. regulating the interaction, we take turns in a conversation ii. we use non verbal to know when it is that we should talk or that the other person should jump in iii. Ex: if we are about to give the floor to the other person then we make more eye contact and slow down speech, may gesture in their direction. Ex 2: take a deep breath to show that we want to talk. f. Conflicting/Incongruent i. verbal does not match our nonverbal behaviors ii. Sometimes we do this intentionally (sarcasm) 1. Ex: sarcasm “Nice job dude” communicate that you mean the opposite 2. Ex: nervous about a presentation: someone asks if you are ready and you give a really nervous “yes” 3. Ex: Friends episode, the one where Ross is fine iii. When the verbal and the nonverbal conflict, which do we trust? 1. Nonverbal 2. Because it is harder to control/fake 3. We believe the one that is harder to fake even in two conflicting nonverbal signs 3. Your text outlines 3 primary units of nonverbal behaviors—what are these 3? What specific channels or nonverbal features could be classified under each? a. Communication environment i. Physical environment, proxemics, territory b. Physical characteristics of communicators i. Appearance and adornments(artifacts) ii. Ex: can’t change height, eye color, weight c. Various behaviors of communicators i. Kinesics (oculesics, gestures, facial expressions), vocalics, contact (touch) 4. What are the different functions of nonverbal behaviors? a. Functions of Nonverbal i. Creating impressions and Making Judgements 1. Ex: how would you try to dress on a first date 2. identity, mostly of yourself 3. People make judgements based off of brief exposure to nonverbal cues ii. Managing interactions iii. Expressing Emotion iv. Sending Relational Messages 1. Two levels: content vs relational2. We are conveying to the other person how we feel about this “I feel like this is a formal relationship” “I feel like you have more power” “I do want to be associated with you” v. Sending incongruent or deceptive message 1. Ex: see above. sarcasm. Ross vi. Influence others 1. Ex: show others that we have dominance. Ex 2: more persuasion if you smile or touch. History of Nonverbal Communication Pre 20th Century: 1. What was the importance of Darwin’s perspective for the study of nonverbal communication? a. starting this idea that there are universals in how we express our basic emotions across cultures and ages b. Ex: we are all humans and we all express happiness or sadness in the same way with a smile or a frown c. There must be some sort of innate tendency that we are born with, we don’t have to learn them, we just innately know how to express these emotions Early 20th Century: 2. What did Kretschmer and Sheldon link with personality? a. that our physique and our body size/shape was related and dictated our character b. Kretschmer (1925) “Physique and Character” i. Makes our intelligence, potential for achievements, our worth c. Sheldon (1940) “The Varieties of Human Physique” i. Trying to say that we all have different systems but for certain bodies they will be focused on a particular system (i.e. digestive system focus) ii. That body size can be associated with certain personality traits. iii. Ectomorph- slender-smart iv. Mesomorph- muscular- more competitive/active v. Endomorph- bigger- focused on food/being humorous 3. What did Efron conclude regarding his study of gestures and culture? a. Looked at several generations of immigrants, and they found the longer that they were in the US the more that their nonverbals changed to adapt to the US b. He saw nonverbals change the longer they are in that context, they can be learned and socialized c. Not all nature, can be learned d. (Bg of WWII during this time) 1950’s 4. What was Birdwhistell’s contribution to the study of nonverbal communication? (What was the main take away here??) Doesn’t Birdwhistell’s theory(all nonverbal are learnt) contradict with Darwin’s (some nonverbal are innate)? YES HE DISAGREED WITH DARWIN THAT THERE WERE UNIVERSAL FACIAL EXPRESSIONS/ETC. !!!a. Introduced nonverbal communication as a language system. which could be applied to proving new labels for the study of body movement (kinesics). b. Birdwhistell (1952)