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What Are the Common Types or Categories of Nonverbal Communication?

Paralanguage or Vocalics- are all the nuances of the voice, pitch, volume, rate, vocal quality, and fillers. I include breathing, sneezing, laughing, etc. It helps us assess personality, emotional intensity, and humor and helps give us cues to regulate the flow of conversation. Many experts consider paralanguage to be the most honest nonverbal communication and the best way to assess deceit.

I can analyze someone's sneeze and tell you their personality type on the DISC assessment tool. Fun example -When under stress, someone may suddenly cough or clear their throat. So, if you are in a movie theater and a character is revealed as unfaithful, stop and listen to the people in the theater. If someone suddenly clears their throat or cough may be unfaithful! I include Silence under this heading and also include it under Chronemics, while some researchers give it its own category.

Chronemics – is the use of time to reflect personal or cultural identity, power, status, and liking. I have a chapter in one of my books on lateness as a nonverbal communicator and the common meanings of tardiness! If you have ever waited for a return call or text, you have experienced it.

Kinesics – are all body movements. It includes; gestures, body motions, and positions, as well as facial expressions. They reflect our perception of ourselves and others and the situation and topic. For example, a tilted head, a hair toss, an open palm, a crossed leg, a tight smile, a foot tap, and winking are all body movement cues.

 

Proxemics – are the zones of space we use to communicate the level of trust, intimacy, and status. We are drawn toward what we like and are repelled by what we don't.

The zones of space are intimate (0 to one and a half feet), personal (1and ½ to two feet., social (two to six), and professional (six to twelve. (Unless you are Putin.

We saw interesting changes in Proxemics uring Lockdown for Covid. Even before "six feet' Was given as a safe distance, people would often freeze when they got within six feet of someone. That is a natural stopping point for assessment and previously the distance where you might start to put out your hand to shake hands. And many people also reserved what is called "Intimate Zone"of space" of 0 to 15 inches for only close family. And the body bubble of intimate space has grown from 12 inches in the '90s to up to 1 and a half feet. The zones of space have changed. They have increased over time so if you look them up, you will see disagreement about the defined distances.

 

Physical appearance – physical characteristics such as skin color, height, weight, facial features, and facial and body symmetry and attractiveness influence how people perceive us and vice versa. People often perceive trustworthiness, introversion or extroversion, maturity, and friendliness by someone's looks, sometimes incorrectly. For example, the tallest, broadest candidate in political debate is often perceived as the "winner," and attractive people are often perceived as having more positive traits.

Artifacts - are material things we wear or attach to our bodies to express our identities. These include earrings, makeup, tattoos, a small dog we carry, etc. In addition, they include things like long painted fingernails, uniforms to display professionalism and draw respect from people, colors like red that create excitement, and high-end luxury branding on items.

Territory/Environmental Factors are the elements of a surrounding or setting. Colors, lighting, furniture arrangement, design, and many others affect our actions.

These days we analyze what I have labeled someone "ZOOM Box" to assess someone's personality, status, and emotional state. Music and scent in stores and other businesses can create different moods and actions and are even used to make a "brand" sense.

Haptics is the sense of touch to convey emotions. This includes hugging, kissing, holding, shaking hands, patting, etc. Research shows that touch is the first sense to develop, and it plays an essential role in well-being. In some cultures, skin contact between men and women is considered offensive, and in others, people touch the mate over 100 times in an ordinary conversation. As we learned in the MeTo movement, touch can be used to show power and status.

My original doctoral dissertation was on touch in the workplace, so I can give you more if you need it.

Technics –are cues are given through and by our use of technology. ( I created this category. There is not a universally recognized name for this category. I include things like ghosting, font type, and how you hold your phone. The kind of phone you carry would be an artifact, but someone's addition and constant use would be considered part of Technics. 







Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.