Subject : Theory of Communication

Chapter 4 Group 5

Chapter 4 : Communicating Nonverbally

Outline :

1. Proxemics and Personal Space

2. Physical Space

3. Artifacts

4. Chronemics : Use of time

Presenter : Ngân Giang

What is Proxemics ?

Is the study of man's transactions as he perceivesand uses intimate, personal, social and public space in

various settings while following out of awarenessdictates of cultural paradigms.

Edward T.Hall,the cultural anthropologist

who coined the term in 1963 .

Hall’s theory

Personal space

Territory

Hall’s theory

Personal space

Territory

Proxemics

Proxemics involves the study of interpersonal interactions

These interactions are viewed in a spatial context, defined by

four “zones”

The behavior is considered to be largely learned or culturally

determined rather than innate biological or physiological processes.

Personal space is the distance we try to maintain when we interact with other people.

PERSONAL SPACE

four levels of social distance that occur in different situations:

Intimate distance - 6 to 18 inches: This level of physical distance often indicates a closer relationship or greater comfort between individuals.

hugging whispering touching

Personal distance - 1.5 to 4 feet: Physical distance at this level usually occurs between people who are family

members or close friends.The closer the people can comfortably stand while interacting can be an

indicator of the intimacy of the relationship.

Social distance - 4 to 12 feet This level of physical distance is often used with individuals who are

acquaintances.

a co-worker you see several times a week, you might feel more comfortable

interacting at a closer distance.

Public distance - 12 to 25 feet Physical distance at this level is often used in public speaking situations.

President’s public speech

Presentation at school

Presentation at work

Personal distance of individuals can vary from culture to culture.

E.g: People from Latin countries tend to feel more comfortable standing closer to one another as they interact, while those from North America

need more personal distance.

IN ELEVATOR

Where do people stand when there are only two or three people?

If there are only two or three people on an elevator, each person usually leans against the walls.

What happens when the elevator becomes more crowded and there are now four or more people?

Everyone turns to face the door. Hands, purses, and briefcases hang down in front of the body.

People usually scrunch up, rounding their shoulders,

so that they take up as little space as possible.

How close will people stand? What is allowed to "touch” ?

People don’t touch each other in any way unless the elevator

becomes very crowded, and then they only touch at the shoulders

or upper arms. If you see an overcrowded elevator, you will probably choose to wait for

the next one.

What do people look at in a crowded elevator?

Everyone usually looks at the floor indicator located above the door.

When is it permissible to talk to the other people?

People who do know each other will usually speak softly. When a

group of people enter the elevator and do not follow these rules, other occupants usually feel

very uncomfortable.

Physical space

Presenter Ngọc Cẩm

Territorial natures

Proxemics

Personal distance

Physical space

Ownership of space

Personal status

Physical space

Physical space is the part of the physical environment over which we exert control.

Ownership of space

Sometimes we do not realize the ways we claim space as our own; in other instances, we go to

great lengths to visibly “mark” our territory.

Ann marks her territory

Peter is violating what Ann has marked as her territory

If you regularly take the same seat in a class, that habit becomes a type of marker, signaling to others that a particular seat location is yours.

Other students will often leave that seat empty because they have perceived it as yours.

Personal status

We also can understand a person’s status in a group by noting where the person sits and the

amount of space over which ownership is claimed.

E.g. In a well-established group, people with differing opinions will often choose to sit on opposite sides of

the table, while allies will sit in adjacent spots.

ARTIFACTS

Presenter : Hữu Lộc

Artifacts are the objects and possessions we use to decorate the physical space we control.

When others enter our space, they look around and notice what objects we choose to place in the space and how we arrange them. Then they assign meaning to what they see.

FOR EXAMPLE

Katie visited her boyfriend, Peter, at school, the first thing she noticed was a picture on his bulletin board of him hugging a cute woman she did not recognize.

The second thing she noticed was that the picture she had given him of her before he left for school was nowhere to be found.From this, she concluded that Peter wasn’t honoring his promise not to see anyone at school.

The way we arrange the artifacts in our space also can nonverbally communicate to others.

Professors and businesspeople have learned that by choosing and arranging the artifacts in their space, they can influence interactions.

People choose artifacts not just for their function but also for the message that the objects convey about them.

Lee got his first job, the first items he purchased were a large flat-screen TV and a couch with chair to impress his older and already successful brother.

Whether the artifacts you choose are conscious attempts to impress or simply reflect your taste, when others enter your space, they will notice the artifacts and draw conclusions.

Chronemics

Presenter : Minh Sang

Use of time : Chronemics

Chronemics is how we interpret use of time and is based largely on cultural context .

Due to the differences of cultures, the way we use time for communication could be different.

People from Western cultures tend to be very time conscious. They carry daily planners and wear digital watches so we can arrive at precisely the “right time”

For the Mexican, it’s rare to specify an exact time for guests to arrive for dinner.

American executives tend to get right down to business and finish quickly.

Japanese executives expect to devote time to social interaction first

Monochronic and Polychronic :

Moreover, people can have either a monochronic or a polychronic orientation to time.

Monochronic time orientation : people tend to concentrate their efforts on one task, and only when it is finished or when the time we have allotted to it is over, do we move on to another task.

Others of us with a polychronic time orientation tend to tackle multiple tasks at once.

Differences between monochronic and polychronic people

Presenter: Minh Dang

Understand the differences between monochronic and

polychronic time orientation

• Proper understanding of the difference between these systems will be helpful in dealing with the time-flexible peoples in different cultures

Differences between monochronic and polychronic people

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Do one thing at a time: stick to schedule

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Do many things at once: have flexible schedule

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Concentrate on the job

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Are highly distractible and subject to interruptions

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Adhere religiously to plans

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Change plans often and easily

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Take time commitments (deadlines, schedules) seriously

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Consider time commitments an objective to be achieved, if possible

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Are concerned about not disturbing others; follow rules of privacy and consideration

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Are more concerned with those who are closely related (family, friends, close business associates) than with privacy

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Show great respect for private property; seldom borrow or lend

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Borrow and lend things often and easily

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Are accustomed to short-term relationships

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Have strong tendency to build lifetime relationship

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Are low-context

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Are high-context

To sum up

People in monochronic cultures such as the U.S. or Germany prefer promptness, careful planning and rigid commitment to plans. They also tend to be task-oriented whereas people from polychronic cultures are people-oriented. Cultures such as Italy or Brazil are considered to be polychronic since they prefer to have multiple things happening at once. Polychronic cultures tend to prioritise relationships over tasks and do not consider time commitments to be binding.

Summary

MONOCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Clock time• Appointment time• Segmented activities• Task-oriented

POLYCHRONIC PEOPLE

• Situational time• Flexitime• Simultaneous activities• People-oriented

Thank you for listening !

Group 5 : 1. M.Sang2. H.L cộ3. Ngân Giang4. Ng c C mọ ẩ5. M.Đăng6. T Ngânố