CT 4/510: Advanced Interpersonal

Communication

Elements of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal Communication consists of all cues beyond the written and spoken word.

•respond more positively to well dressed people

Appearance communicates

•more likely to obey well dressed people

• more likely to return money to well dressed people.

• more likely to let well dressed people break the rules.

What does our appearance today communicate about us?

information we get from physical appearance

•economic disclosures

•educational disclosures

•social status disclosures

trustworthiness/moral disclosures

The less you know someone, the more importance you will place on appearance. And . . .First impressions are usually accurate . . .

The six faces of emotion• happy

• angry

• sad

• surprised

• disgusted

• afraid

Types of touching• functional-professional

• social-polite

• friendship-warmth

• love-intimacy

• sexual arousal

The environment communicates•spacial arrangements

•formality

•$$

•cleanliness

•time

before retirement

after retirement

How do you . . .

• initiate conversation with a stranger at a party?

• appear friendly and warm?

• signal your desire to leave a conversation when the other person keeps talking?

How do you . . .

•Appear confident when asking boss for a raise?

•Appear interested in class lecture?

•Avoid talking with an undesirable person?

CT 410 Advanced Interpersonal

Communication

context as communication

context communicates - our physical environment encourages certain communication expectations

every interior betrays the nonverbal skills of its inhabitants

Malls have become the temples, shrines and communal centers of modern North America

The environment communicates:

Montreal

George Lewis: the important thing is to create the illusion of community while quietly stacking the deck against its actual development Vancouv

er

Malls create a disorienting environment where we participate by buying.

Minnesota

Malls attempt to commodify community

Georgia

Malls are located so as to insulate shoppers from poor people.

Malls are designed to move you along . . .

What are the primary kinds of conversations people have in malls?

living space

geography and climate

colors

colors

colors

colors

colors

colors

colors

colors

colors

seating arrangements

vc nv

ussv

seating arrangements

vc nv

ussv

Robert Sommers

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

cooperate

compete

cooperate

co-act

A classroom• colors

• lighting

• decorations

• rows

• control

• temperature

• atmosphere