Kinesics

Body movement and gestures

Movement communicates meaning

Talk to the hand “Oh no you dint!” The snap (in Z

formation)

Posture & Gait

Expressions related to posture, gait “grow a spine” walking with a “spring

in your step” “stand up for yourself” “stand up straight” “hold your head high” “don’t slouch.” “stand still”

In Western culture, an upright, yet relaxed body posture, is associated with confidence, positivity, high self esteem (Guerrero & Floyd, 2006).

Posture & Gait

Power walk Shuffling Runway model

walk Sashay Swagger Arms swinging vs.

not swinging “Light in the

loafers”

Gait, posture and victimization “A weak walking style

sends a cue of vulnerability to a would-be mugger or attacker.” (Gunn,s Johnson, & Hudson, 2002)

“Confident walkers rank near the bottom of potential targets of crime”(Ivy & Wahl, 2009).

Posture & Gait

Posture and Body Movement

Nonverbal indicators of Liking Forward lean Body and head orientation facing

the other person Open body positions Affirmative head nods Moderate gesturing and animation Close interpersonal distances Moderate body relaxation Touching Initiating and maintaining eye

contact Smiling Mirroring (congruent posture)

Posture and Body Movement

Nonverbal indicators of dislike Indirect, oblique body

orientation No eye contact, or eye

contact of short duration Averted eyes Unpleasant facial

expressions Relative absence of gestures Body rigidity, bodily tension Incongruent postures

Scheflen’s Dimensions of Posture

1. inclusiveness/noninclusivenessThe degree to which one’s body position includes or excludes someone else.

Inclusiveness indicates liking, interest in the other person.

2.  face to face/parallelThe degree to which people face each other, square on, versus at an angle or side by side.

A square on position indicates mutual involvement, some level of intimacy.

3. congruence/incongruenceThe degree of mirroring, matching, mimicry

Posture, dominance, and sexual orientation

Posture and Dominance Taking up space Arms akimbo Maintaining gaze Pointing at someone Violating another’s

personal space

Body movement and sexual orientation

Studies on “Gaydar” demonstrate that people can distinguish another’s sexual orientation at better than chance odds.

This does not mean “Gaydar” is infallible.

Public Speaking

When speaking before a group: Stand straight, yet relaxed Don’t slouch Don’t lean on or hide

behind a podium Don’t look frozen, wooden Avoid nervous pacing Movement should be

purposeful Movement should

complement or punctuate the verbal message

Interpreting posture

What are these people conveying with their bodies?

Interpreting posture

Are these couples getting along?

Interpreting posture

Politician’s postures

nonverbal faux pas

Gestures

Humans have uniquely expressive hands.

Gestures

The meaning of a gesture depends on its context flipping someone the

“bird” could be serious or playful.

Gestures

Gestures may be conflicting Yawning while saying

you are not tired. Looking involved but

saying, “I don’t care,”

Emblems

Emblems are used intentionally.

They have verbal equivalents

They have a clear, consistent meaning within a particular culture Cross my heart Shame on you Peace sign I’m crazy

Illustrators

Illustrators are used intentionally.

Illustrators are tied to speech. They reinforce or

supplement what is being said.

Illustrators are most common in face-to-face interaction

Illustrators are so habitual, people use them when talking on the phone

Examples of illustratorsTwo palms held up signify “I don’t know.Wagging a finger while making a pointRolling one’s eyes in disbelief“For example” gestureJust a pinchHitting one’s fist for emphasisA double head nodPointing when giving directionsI caught a fish this big.After you

Affect displays

Affect displays may or may not be intentional

Affect displays convey feeling and emotion

They are often communicated via facial expressions

They can be difficult to interpret

Interpreting affect displays: Look at the face to

determine the emotion Look at body cues to

determine the strength or intensity of the emotion.

Affect displays

Are these people expressing the same emotion, in differing degrees, or different emotions altogether?

Regulators

Regulators are primarily unintentional

They regulate turn-taking behavior

Conversational give and take depends on regulators

Types of turn-taking Turn-requesting cues Turn maintaining

cues Turn yielding cues Turn denying cues

Regulators

Regulate the ebb and flow of conversation

Adaptors

Adaptors are usually unintentional.

Adaptors include self-touching behaviors

Adapters signal nervousness, anxiousness, boredom

Generally speaking, adapters are perceived negatively However, adaptors

may be perceived as more genuine, authentic

Examples of adaptors Fiddling with one’s hair Chewing one’s fingernails Tapping one’s foot or leg Biting one’s lips Scratching one’s arm Wringing one’s hands Clenching one’s jaw

Adaptors

Hair twirling is an adaptor, but does it always mean the same thing?

Adaptors

Object adaptors include:

Tapping a pencil Drumming one’s

fingers Adjusting one’s

clothing Playing with jewelry

Adaptors when students take tests Hair twirling Scratching Ear pulling Forehead rubbing

Nonverbal leave taking behaviors

What do people do when they are ending an

interpersonal conversation?

they are getting ready to leave class?

they are ending a phone conversation?

Does it depend on: the communication

context? the nature of the

relationship? cultural

considerations?