Quote: "Nonverbal communication (NVC) is the transmission of messages or signals through a nonverbal platform such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, use of objects and body language."
The use of nonverbal communication in one-on-one interactions and relationships.
Body language: The study of nonverbal actions and gestures that convey messages, feelings and attitudes.
Facial expressions: Analysis of facial movement, expressions and micro-expressions, and their significance in communication.
Gestures: Body movements and signals that convey messages, such as hand gestures, head nods, and postures.
Eye contact: The use of eye gaze to communicate messages, express emotions, establish rapport and show attention.
Proxemics: The study of spatial distance and use, and how it affects communication between individuals.
Vocal tone and pitch: How the tone, volume and pitch of the voice communicate meaning and emotion.
Paralanguage: The study of nonverbal cues used alongside spoken language, such as intonation, speed, and rhythm.
Nonverbal cues in cultural contexts: How nonverbal communication works across cultures, and the importance of cultural awareness in interpersonal communication.
Touch: The use of tactile communication to convey emotions, show affection, communicate a message or establish a relationship.
Appearance and dress: How clothing, grooming, and accessories are used to convey messages about status, personality, and identity.
Posture: How body posture and alignment affect communication and convey meaning about confidence, dominance, and assertiveness.
Environment: The role of environmental factors, such as lighting, noise levels, and setting, on communication and how it can either facilitate or hinder it.
Emotional intelligence: The capacity to recognize, manage and express emotions in oneself and others, which is essential in interpersonal communication.
Social skills: The ability to communicate effectively, listening actively, show empathy, resolve conflicts, and maintain healthy relationships.
Communication styles: How communication styles differ based on personality, mood, and cultural background, and how to navigate them for effective communication.
Facial expressions: The different movements of the muscles of the face can convey happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise, and other emotions.
Body language: Gestures, posture, and movement of the body to convey meaning or feelings.
Eye contact: The amount and direction of eye contact can convey interest, attentiveness, confidence, or disrespect.
Touch: Nonverbal communication through touch such as hugging, holding hands or giving a pat on the back can convey emotions like love, care or support.
Tone of voice: Tone and intonation of the voice can convey emotions and meaning in communication.
Proximity: The distance between individuals during conversation can convey the level of intimacy or formality.
Appearance: Physical appearance can convey information about the status, position or identity of an individual.
Artifacts: Objects or possessions that people wear, carry and display can communicate information about identity, personality, and status.
Paralinguistics: Aspects of communication such as pitch, volume, and rhythm of speech can convey information about the speaker's mood, interest, and emotions.
Quote: "It includes the use of social cues, kinesics, distance (proxemics) and physical environments/appearance, of voice (paralanguage) and of touch (haptics)."
Quote: "A signal has three different parts to it, including the basic signal, what the signal is trying to convey, and how it is interpreted."
Quote: "These signals that are transmitted to the receiver depend highly on the knowledge and empathy that this individual has."
Quote: "The study of nonverbal communication started in 1872 with the publication of The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin."
Quote: "Darwin began to study nonverbal communication as he noticed the interactions between animals such as lions, tigers, dogs etc. and realized they also communicated by gestures and expressions."
Quote: "Today, scholars argue that nonverbal communication can convey more meaning than verbal communication."
Quote: "Ray Birdwhistell concludes that nonverbal communication accounts for 60–70 percent of human communication."
Quote: "Just as speech contains nonverbal elements known as paralanguage, as well as prosodic features, so written texts have nonverbal elements such as handwriting style, spatial arrangement of words, or the physical layout of a page."
Quote: "much of the study of nonverbal communication has focused on interaction between individuals, where it can be classified into three principal areas: environmental conditions where communication takes place, physical characteristics of the communicators, and behaviors of communicators during interaction."
Quote: "Nonverbal communication involves the conscious and unconscious processes of encoding and decoding."
Quote: "Encoding is defined as our ability to express emotions in a way that can be accurately interpreted by the receiver(s)."
Quote: "Decoding is called 'nonverbal sensitivity', defined as the ability to take this encoded emotion and interpret its meanings accurately to what the sender intended."
Quote: "For example, in the picture above, the encoder holds up two fingers, and the decoder may know from previous experience that this means two."
Quote: "Both of these skills can vary from person to person, with some people being better than others at one or both."
Quote: "women are found to be better decoders than men since they are more observant of nonverbal cues, as well as more likely to use them."
Quote: "Culture plays an important role in nonverbal communication, and it is one aspect that helps to influence how learning activities are organized."
Quote: "In many Indigenous American communities, for example, there is often an emphasis on nonverbal communication, which acts as a valued means by which children learn."
Quote: "Within cultures around the world there are extreme differences and similarities between a lot of nonverbal gestures or signals."
Quote: "In this sense, learning is not dependent on verbal communication; rather, it is nonverbal communication which serves as a primary means of not only organizing interpersonal interactions but also conveying cultural values, and children learn how to participate in this system from a young age."