Non Verbal Communication

Nonverbal Communication

Jessica Davis

Interpersonal Communications

June 15, 2015

(Silence)

(Frown)

(Rustling Papers)

If you could visualize me doing any of the non-verbal actions you would probably assume that I am a nervous speaker. What are non-verbal actions? More often than not you can pick up cues from body language. According to Makodia, “Body language is a term for communication which means the use of body movements or gestures in addition to sounds, verbal language or other forms of communication.” Some body movements include posture, by facial expression, gestures and eye contact.

The history of nonverbal communication originated with Charles Darwin and his idea that all mammals displayed emotions through facial expressions. Similar studies by Silvan Tomkins, Rudolf Laban and Warren Lamb also support the assumption of emotions portrayed non- verbally. Most notably was Ray Birdwhistell, who "pioneered the original study of nonverbal communication—what he called 'kinesics.” Birdwhistell is an American Anthropologist most famous for his work in the detailed examination of facial expressions, body language, and gestures that are conveyed during communicatory interaction.

Ray Birdwhistell was born in 1918 in Ohio. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology at Miami University in Ohio, his Masters in anthropology at Ohio State University, and finally his Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Chicago. He became interested in kinesics by analyzing how people interact in movies. He was greatly influenced by the works of Margaret Mead and David Efron. He taught as a professor at the University of Toronto, University of Louisville, University of Buffalo, and Temple University in Philadelphia.

Speaking of the big screen, in the television show “Lie to me” nonverbal communication is the premise of the whole show. The show follows Dr. Cal Lightman as he assists in investigations through applied psychology. The skills that Lightman...