Color as a non-verbal means of communication. Non-verbal ways of communication. Non-verbal communication: facial expressions

Non-verbal communication and its features

12.10.2015

Snezhana Ivanova

Non-verbal communication includes: facial expressions, gestures, intonation, voice timbre, distance between interlocutors and body position during a conversation.

According to statistics, when people interact, only 7% of information is really transmitted through coherent speech, the remaining 93% we receive through sign language. This concept is a whole science, the successful development of which contributes to the formation of a better understanding between partners. Non-verbal communication helps to form a sense of trust between interlocutors, deep contact of souls. It has been noticed that the more openly we feel in front of a person, the more actively we show non-verbal means of communication. This means that in the process of interacting with pleasant people, a person smiles more often, his face looks relaxed, his eyes shine. Non-verbal interaction includes: facial expressions, gestures, intonation, voice timbre, distance between interlocutors and body position during a conversation.

Sign language itself has a number of characteristics that help you better understand the subject of the conversation and literally "live" it from beginning to end. Your interlocutor cannot consciously control the signals sent, since such things cannot be controlled, which means that by definition he cannot deceive you. What are the significant features to designate such a concept as non-verbal communication?

Features of non-verbal communication

Accurately reflects feelings

Whatever you experience: anger, surprise, disappointment, happiness or sadness - your facial expressions and gestures will definitely tell the interlocutor about it. Not everyone really knows how to read faces, but on a subconscious level, a person always feels whether they are telling him the truth or want to deceive. It has been noticed that a liar constantly brings his palm to his face: either covers his mouth, or imperceptibly scratches his nose or eyelid. Such manifestations indicate a hidden intention to deliberately mislead the interlocutor, to give deliberately incorrect information to achieve personal gain.

Non-verbal interaction is able to fully reflect the experienced in this moment feelings and emotions. That is why it becomes almost impossible to hide the state of being in love from others. Being in this unforgettable feeling, a person ceases to control himself: he begins to show exactly those emotions that currently guide thoughts and actions. The boundaries of reality are erased, the person feels inspiration and delight from the happy opportunity to be himself.

Opportunity to achieve deep understanding

Non-verbal communication is different in that it helps people get to know each other better through interaction. If we are attentive enough to our interlocutor, then we will soon begin to understand the true motives of his actions and actions. This is because during personal interaction we had the opportunity to observe all those signs and expressions of feelings that characterize the emotional state of a person.

The possibility of achieving deep mutual understanding increases rapidly in cases where both interlocutors are tuned to effective interaction. The process of non-verbal communication helps them to concentrate on each other and catch messages and signs that are invisible to others.

Non-verbal means of communication: types

Non-verbal means are the accompanying elements of communication, they complement the conversation, give it more emotionality. Without these significant factors, any interaction would become too formal, would acquire an official connotation.

facial expressions

Non-verbal interaction necessarily affects the facial expressions of a person. It complements any process of communication, makes it as bright and saturated as possible. When we talk with a person, we always look him in the face, expecting to see confirmation or refutation of our thoughts there. Even if the interlocutor does not respond to our words, then internally we always know whether he agrees with us or not. Emotions tend to be very strongly reflected on the face. Human facial expressions change depending on the emotions experienced, which allows us to better understand who is nearby.

Non-verbal means of communication help to better understand what the other person is experiencing at the moment. Facial expression is the main element of displaying feelings. For example, anger can be felt by wide open eyes, drawn together eyebrows and downturned corners of the lips. The state of happiness cannot be confused with anything else: an open look, the corners of the lips are raised, the eyes are shining. Surprise is expressed in the fact that the mouth is slightly open, the eyebrows are raised up. In a state of fear, a person tends to clamp down strongly: his eyes are averted or lowered, his facial expressions are sluggish, as if frozen. When the subject is in a state of deep sadness, he ceases to notice the surrounding people and events, but simply plunges into himself, often closing in on his own experiences. At this moment, the person is not able to interact productively with other people, to be useful in some way, since she herself needs help and comfort.

Gestures and postures

The process of non-verbal communication is based on the subconscious capture of signals from the person with whom we communicate. The way a person sits largely determines his attitude to the subject of conversation and to the interlocutor in particular. In the case of sincere interest, the subject usually seeks to get close to the one who is most sympathetic to him. Even if a person does not have the opportunity or is simply embarrassed to approach, then his legs will take the exact direction where he would like to go at that moment.

Uncertainty is expressed in involuntary scratching of the ears or folded hands on the chest. You can sometimes notice how some people in a stressful situation do not know where to put their hands. At the very least, this indicates that they are experiencing a feeling of intense anxiety and are trying to control their excitement. In a state of openness, a person behaves freely and uninhibited: the whole body is relaxed, the look is relaxed and positive. Happiness literally extends to everything we do: everywhere it accompanies lightness and good mood.

The feeling of superiority over others makes the person straighten his back, take a leading position: the head is raised up, the shoulders are straightened, the eyelids are somewhat closed. Such an expression means something like this: “I know everything better than you, and therefore you must obey me”

In a state of boredom, a person usually tends to prop his cheek with his palm and sit in this position for a long time. The back is bent, the look is floating, dispersed.

Criticality is manifested in the fact that the subject puts his hand to his cheek and straightens his index finger along its entire length. At the same time, the eyes follow the surroundings from time to time. So non-verbal communication can tell a lot, tell the innermost secrets of a person.

Intonation and timbre of the voice

We are often accustomed to perceive exactly the words of the opponent, and not how exactly he pronounces them. Nevertheless, our subconscious mind always determines exactly how people treat us, what opinion about us is formed from the outside. These or other feelings always affect the voice, and non-verbal communication helps to understand this.

Excitement causes the subject to speak in abrupt phrases, sometimes "swallowing" endings and even whole words. At the same time, it often seems that a person wants to prove something: he goes astray, sometimes gets confused in his own statements. Being in a state of excitement, we are unable to soberly assess the situation in which we find ourselves.

Uncertainty is manifested by the appearance during a conversation of an unreasonable cough, various nervous twitches. Some people are completely lost and are literally afraid to raise their eyes to the interlocutor, others suddenly start talking incessantly.

Enthusiasm and joy are manifested by a high tone of voice, the speech itself sounds confident and measured. In this mood, the subject feels that he can handle everything and he will be able to overcome any obstacles.

visual contact

Non-verbal communication is of great importance in the process of interaction itself. Visual contact is very important for establishing close, trusting relationships. Sincerity between partners is born from an inner feeling of mutual respect and acceptance. The ability to look the interlocutor in the eye and understand him with his soul and heart is the greatest achievement. The closer the distance between the interlocutors during a conversation, the more open they can be towards each other. As a rule, close proximity is chosen by friends and relatives, the distance is kept with colleagues and subordinates.

Thus, non-verbal communication is an integral system of mutually influencing signals and actions, which, in turn, affect the quality and effectiveness of interaction between partners.

Non-verbal communication is the exchange of information between interlocutors using facial expressions, gestures, postures, gaze, intonation, etc. without the use of linguistic means of expression. Non-verbal language is also known as "body language". Non-verbal codes either supplement the information and express the emotions of the interlocutors, or replace speech. Experts say that for more effective communication, it is necessary to have the skills to recognize and interpret non-verbal signals. Sometimes we do not even realize what a strong emotional impact we have on the interlocutor with our gestures, looks, facial expressions, etc.

Functions of non-verbal communication:

Non-verbal signals duplicate our speech and back it up with evidence in the form of emotions.
Facial expressions, gestures, postures are sometimes impossible to control and they give out the true face of a person. That is, if a person tells you something very beautiful and inspiring, his non-verbal gestures can show something completely different.
Non-verbal signals sometimes replace speech. For example, nodding your head, shrugging your shoulders, blinking your eyes, waving your hand, etc.
Non-verbal communication can also complement verbal communication. For example, when we sympathize or feel sorry for a person, we hug him and stroke his back or head.
Non-verbal cues can emphasize a particular statement. For example, expressing your protest and unwillingness, saying the word “No!” you can bang your fist on the table.

Having knowledge of the functions of non-verbal language will help a person to control his non-verbal gestures and become a pleasant conversationalist. This is undoubtedly important in the way that "body language" expresses our subconscious, and people trust non-verbal means more than verbal ones. Looking closely at non-verbal signs, we will see what the interlocutor did not express to us in words.

Factors affecting non-verbal signs

cultural features. Each country has its own system of non-verbal signs. Before meeting with a foreign partner, you need to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of the etiquette of his country.
Health. A person with certain diseases may change their voice, gaze, gestures, facial expressions, etc. Do not make hasty conclusions, take a closer look at the interlocutor.
Profession. A person may have professional features non-verbal expression of emotions (often this applies to people in creative professions).
The level of culture and education.
The status and title of a person. The higher the position, the fewer gestures.
Age group.
Sign inconsistency. With the wrong combination of non-verbal signs, one may get the impression of insincerity of speech.

Our body expresses our feelings and emotions much faster than speech. Non-verbal cues convey a great deal of information and facilitate understanding between speakers.

Specialists distinguish the following channels of perception of non-verbal signals:

Auditory channel - intonation, voice, tempo, timbre, volume, coughing, laughter, pauses, stuttering, repetition of sounds, etc.
Visual channel - facial expressions, gestures, postures, gaze, image, makeup, age, race, etc.
Tactile channel - touches, handshakes, kisses, hugs, etc.
The olfactory canal is the perception of smells.

Non-verbal speech can confirm or refute the speaker's speech. If non-verbal signs confirm the words, then what was said enhances its impact on the interlocutor. If gestures do not match words, then non-verbal signals should be trusted more than verbal ones.

If your interlocutor unconsciously copies your postures and movements, then he listens to you and is open to mutual conversation. The effectiveness of a conversation depends not only on verbal speech, but also on non-verbal signs. Therefore, a business person simply needs to be able to recognize non-verbal signals.

In contact with

We component society. Every day, people in all countries interact with each other through linguistic communication and means of sign (non-verbal) communication. This phenomenon occurs in society in order to achieve different intentions.

Non-verbal components of communication help to establish communication. This concept is characterized by the absence of speech means and the use of the human body as an instrument of communication interaction.

Non-verbal communication is divided into types. Typology is related to the fact that, having an understanding of the iconic forms of communication and their types, it is much easier to understand oneself and the people around.

Sign communications are divided into types:

Kinesics. It includes gestures, body movements and postures. Their role is to complement the various means of communication. For System non-verbal communication postures, gestures, facial expressions and gaze are the main kinesic elements.
Sensory - sensory perception with the help of tactile organs.
Chronicle. It involves the use of time in non-verbal communication.
Proxemics. It is based on the use of interpersonal relationships. It is divided into the following types:

Personal.
Intimate.
Public.
Social.

Non-verbal communication and its means

Non-verbal means of communication are classified according to the use of different channels: auditory, visual, gustatory, olfactory and tactile. The typology divides them into the main types of non-verbal communication, which are characterized by their own means.

Acoustic system of non-verbal behavior.

For the acoustic system of non-verbal communication, nature provided for the use of the opponent's hearing and the perception of sound vibrations by him. In this case, the speech component of communication is not used. The acoustic system includes the following types of communication:

Pauses. A pause is an integral part of speech. Non-verbal communication uses it to improve understanding of speech meaning, emphasizing aspects of what was said earlier. During a conversation, it is important to be able to use short-term silence, which will allow you to focus on the statement and give the opponent the right to speak out.
Sigh. Laugh. Cry. Cough. These means are used to express states and emotions. For example: excitement, joy, resentment or doubt.

Optical system of non-verbal behavior

Kinesics is an optical channel of perception. Communication occurs due to the eye contact of the interlocutors and the transmission of information through the organs of vision. The internal state of a person is described by gestures, posture and facial expressions. Typology of the optical system:

Mimic. Mimicry is a complex movement of the facial muscles. This happens naturally under the influence of the emotional state of a person, but sometimes it can be amplified specifically to make the words dramatic.
Gestures. These are manifestations of the human condition, demonstrating the intensity of experiences. With emotional overexcitation, the number of different involuntary movements of the arms and legs increases. Gestures are divided into spontaneous and artificial. The first express emotions. Artificial gestures are sometimes called professional gestures, since they are owned by people of various specific specialties. For example: the movement of the conductor's brush, the "language of the deaf and dumb", the gestures of sailors.
Pose. The presentation of the position of the body characterizes the state of the human psyche. The head, body and limbs are simultaneously subject to coordinated movements. Moreover, a person takes a pose for a long time, occasionally correcting it. People who are confused, embarrassed or offended take a closed posture. Subconsciously, it helps a person to protect himself and hide from factors that cause negative feelings. An open posture occurs in a person with an optimistic attitude and a cheerful mood.
Gait. Gait refers to the habitual style and way of walking. Tightness or, conversely, openness greatly changes the gait. A confident, energetic gait indicates a person with adequate self-esteem. And the hobbled passer-by will surely turn out to be notorious and unsure of himself.

Eye contact. During a conversation between people, eye contact is maintained. Thus, the ability to establish eye contact is the main skill necessary for different situations. public life. Eyes allow a person to receive knowledge immediately from 5 sources:

Change in the shape of the eyes due to muscle contraction. Definition of change appearance eyes, its structures, forms and facial expressions, creating an idea of a person.
Direction of gaze. People look away when they experience certain emotions. For example: the gaze is directed downward due to resentment, grief or shame.
Blink. This process becomes more intense with tension and excessive experience. Non-verbal communication allows you to notice this.
Pupil size. When excited, the pupils dilate. This happens regardless of the desire and will of the person. Constriction and expansion of the pupils is regulated by the human autonomic nervous system.
Tears. Sometimes they are also referred to as a function of the autonomic nervous system. However, some people have the skill of artificially inducing tears.

Physiognomy. Physiognomy is a method of determining the type of a person's personality, the state of his physical, mental health and spiritual qualities. Identification occurs through the analysis of features, the concept of features of appearance and facial expressions. The nature of the appearance of physiognomy is still not known for certain, but scientists from all over the world prove or refute the dependence of a person’s character on the type of his face. Physiognomy includes the following forms:
Ethnological. The relationship of human appearance with the time of year and the environment.
Geometric. The main facial features are divided into 5 types and 15 classes. Each of them has its own character traits.
Mimic. Physiognomic signs are external expressions of feelings. Gestures and facial expressions indicate the corresponding type of personality.
Astrological. Prescribes the relationship between facial features and heavenly bodies.

Tactile-kinetic system of non-verbal behavior

Takeshika refers to communicative communication through tactile sensations.

Handshake. Shaking hands with people is a kind of gesture used at the moment of greeting or farewell. A handshake expresses the goodwill and openness of a person to further communication. Refusal to shake hands is regarded as a sign of hostility and aggression.
Kiss. This concept covers the family and society as a whole. A kiss expresses a sincere feeling of love and affection between people. It occurs between lovers. Such a kiss is called romantic, it is gentle and reverent, and sometimes passionate. A kiss between buddies, friends or relatives expresses sympathy and friendliness.
Stroking. Stroking gives a person a pleasant feeling. Therefore, people who give strokes to loved ones express love and care in this way.
Pat. This is a gesture showing approval or support.

Olfactory system of non-verbal behavior

The olfactory system is based on the human sense of smell. All surrounding odors are analyzed.

The olfactory system includes:

Body odor. The definition of smell serves as an indicator of the image of the individual. Nature itself took care of this. The concept of a person is formed based on the characteristics of the smell of his body. Thanks to the natural sense of smell, people manage to live social life much easier.
The smell of perfume or cosmetics. This aspect applies exclusively to the female gender. According to the chosen fragrance, the concept of the taste, mood and even the material wealth of a woman appears.

Non-verbal communication and its functions

People, talking with each other, satisfy their needs or achieve their goals. the main objective communication is the interaction between a person and another person. For this, sign and language methods of transmitting and receiving information are used.

Functions of non-verbal communication:

Supplement of speech communication. Ilya Naumovich Gorelov, a Russian philologist and psycholinguist, argued that sign means of communication are closely related to the speech component. To compile a complete impression of the state of the interlocutor, non-verbal manifestations of communication are taken into account. Therefore, communication with a person solely through letters or other written media does not reliably understand the emotions and feelings of the interlocutor. The specificity of non-verbal communication, in contrast to speech, is the use of tactile, auditory, visual and olfactory channels for obtaining information.
Regulation of interpersonal relations. This function applies to both verbal and non-verbal communication.
Presentation emotional states. It is difficult to express the range of possible states and emotions in a word. Features of non-verbal communication: gestures, facial expressions or gestures. This results in an understanding of oneself and others.
Exchange of rituals. The specificity of non-verbal communication lies in the adoption of the national characteristics of some peoples by others. Thanks to this, tolerance and tolerance develop in modern countries between different cultures. A distinctive national feature, feature or gesture is successfully perceived by other people who grew up and live in different countries.

The specificity of non-verbal communication complements oral speech. Thanks to the synthesis of speech and sign communication, a complete picture of the emotional state of a person arises, which is necessary for an adequate perception of reality.

Communication is carried out by various means. Distinguish between verbal and non-verbal means of communication.

Verbal communication(sign) is carried out with the help of words. Verbal means of communication include human speech. Communication experts have calculated that modern man pronounces approximately 30,000 words a day, or more than 3,000 words per hour.

Depending on the intentions of the communicants (to tell something, learn, express an assessment, attitude, encourage something, agree, etc.), various speech texts arise. Any text (written or oral) implements a system of language.

So, language is a system of signs and ways of connecting them, which serves as an instrument for expressing thoughts, feelings and wills of people and is the most important means of human communication. The language is used in a wide variety of functions:

Communicative. Language acts as the main means of communication. Due to the presence of such a function in the language, people have the opportunity to fully communicate with their own kind.
Cognitive. Language as an expression of the activity of consciousness. We receive most of the information about the world through language.
accumulative. Language as a means of accumulation and storage of knowledge. The person tries to keep the acquired experience and knowledge in order to use them in the future. In everyday life, notes, diaries, notebooks help us out. And the "notebooks" of all mankind are various kinds of monuments of writing and fiction which would not have been possible without the existence of a written language.
constructive. Language as a means of forming thoughts. With the help of language, the thought “materializes”, acquires a sound form. Expressed verbally, the thought becomes distinct, clear to the speaker himself.
emotional. Language as one of the means of expressing feelings and emotions. This function is realized in speech only when the emotional attitude of a person to what he is talking about is directly expressed. Intonation plays a big role in this.
Contact setting. Language as a means of establishing contact between people. Sometimes communication seems to be aimless, its information content is zero, only the ground is being prepared for further fruitful, trusting communication.
ethnic. Language as a means of uniting people.

Speech activity is understood as a situation when a person uses language to communicate with other people. There are several types of speech activity:

speaking - the use of language in order to communicate something;
listening - perception of the content of sounding speech;
writing - fixing the content of speech on paper;
reading is the perception of information recorded on paper.

From the point of view of the form of existence of the language, communication is divided into oral and written, and from the point of view of the number of participants - into interpersonal and mass.

Any national language is heterogeneous, it exists in different forms. From the point of view of social and cultural status, literary and non-literary forms of the language are distinguished.

The literary form of the language, otherwise - the literary language, is understood by the speakers as exemplary. The main feature of the literary language is the presence of stable norms.

Literary language has two forms: oral and written. The first is a spoken speech, and the second is a graphical one. The oral form is original. Non-literary forms of the language include territorial and social dialects, vernacular.

For the psychology of activity and behavior, non-verbal means of communication are of particular importance. In non-verbal communication, the means of transmitting information are non-verbal signs (postures, gestures, facial expressions, intonations, attitudes, spatial arrangement, etc.).

To the main non-verbal means of communication relate:
Kinetics - considers the external manifestation of human feelings and emotions in the process of communication. It includes:

gesture;
facial expressions;
pantomime.

Gesture

Gestures are various movements of the hands and head. Sign language is the oldest way to achieve mutual understanding. In various historical epochs and different peoples had their own generally accepted ways of gesticulation. Currently, attempts are even being made to create gesture dictionaries. Quite a lot is known about the information that gestures carry. First of all, the amount of gesture is important. Different peoples have developed and entered into natural forms of expressing feelings various cultural norms strength and frequency of gestures. M. Argyle's studies, which studied the frequency and strength of gestures in different cultures, showed that within one hour the Finns gesticulated 1 time, the French - 20, the Italians - 80, the Mexicans - 180.

The intensity of gestures can grow along with an increase in the emotional arousal of a person, and also if you want to achieve a more complete understanding between partners, especially if it is difficult.

The specific meaning of individual gestures is different in different cultures. However, in all cultures there are similar gestures, among which are:

Communicative (gestures of greeting, farewell, attracting attention, prohibitions, affirmative, negative, interrogative, etc.)
Modal, i.e. expressing assessment and attitude (gestures of approval, satisfaction, trust and distrust, etc.).
Descriptive gestures that make sense only in the context of a verbal utterance.

facial expressions

Facial expressions are the movements of the muscles of the face, the main indicator of feelings. Studies have shown that with a motionless or invisible face of the interlocutor, up to 10-15% of information is lost. There are over 20,000 descriptions of facial expressions in the literature. The main characteristic of facial expressions is its integrity and dynamism. This means that in the facial expression of the six basic emotional states (anger, joy, fear, sadness, surprise, disgust), all facial muscle movements are coordinated. The main informative load in the mimic plan is carried by eyebrows and lips.

Visual contact is also exclusively important element communication. Looking at the speaker means not only interest, but also helps to focus on what we are being told. Communicating people usually look into each other's eyes for no more than 10 seconds. If we are looked at a little, we have reason to believe that we or what we say are treated badly, and if there is too much, this may be perceived as a challenge or a good attitude towards us. In addition, it has been observed that when a person lies or tries to hide information, his eyes meet the eyes of a partner for less than 1/3 of the conversation time.

In part, the longitude of a person's gaze depends on what nation he belongs to. Southern Europeans have high frequency look, which may seem offensive to others, and the Japanese, when talking, look more at the neck than at the face.

According to its specificity, a look can be:

Business - when the gaze is fixed on the forehead of the interlocutor, this implies the creation of a serious atmosphere of business partnership
Social - the look is concentrated in a triangle between the eyes and the mouth, this contributes to the creation of an atmosphere of easy secular communication.
Intimate - the gaze is not directed into the eyes of the interlocutor, but below the face - to chest level. Such a look indicates a great interest in each other in communication.
A sidelong glance is used to convey interest or hostility. If it is accompanied by slightly raised eyebrows or a smile, it indicates interest. If it is accompanied by a frowning forehead or lowered corners of the mouth, this indicates a critical or suspicious attitude towards the interlocutor.

Pantomime- this is gait, posture, posture, general motor skills of the whole body.

Gait is the way a person moves. Its components are: rhythm, step dynamics, amplitude of body transfer during movement, body weight. By the gait of a person, one can judge the well-being of a person, his character, age. In psychological studies, people recognized emotions such as anger, suffering, pride, happiness by walking. It turned out that a "heavy" gait is typical for people who are angry, "light" - for joyful ones. A proud person has the longest stride, and if a person suffers, his gait is lethargic, oppressed, such a person rarely looks up or in the direction he is walking.

In addition, it can be argued that people who walk quickly, waving their arms, are confident in themselves, have a clear goal and are ready to realize it. Those who always keep their hands in their pockets are likely to be very critical and secretive, as a rule, they like to put other people down. A person who keeps his hands on his hips seeks to achieve his goals in the shortest possible way in the minimum amount of time.

Pose is the position of the body. The human body is able to take about 1000 stable different positions. The pose shows how this person perceives his status in relation to the status of other persons present. Persons with higher status adopt a more relaxed posture. Otherwise, conflict situations may arise.

One of the first to point out the role of a person's posture as a means in non-verbal communication was the psychologist A. Sheflen. In further studies conducted by V. Schubts, it was revealed that the main semantic content of the posture is the individual's placement of his body in relation to the interlocutor. This placement indicates either closeness or a disposition for communication.

A pose in which a person crosses his arms and legs is called a closed position. Arms crossed on the chest are a modified version of the barrier that a person puts up between himself and his interlocutor. A closed posture is perceived as a posture of distrust, disagreement, opposition, criticism. Moreover, about a third of the information perceived from such a posture is not absorbed by the interlocutor. Most in a simple way getting out of this position is an offer to hold or look at something.

An open position is one in which the arms and legs are not crossed, the body is directed towards the interlocutor, and the palms and feet are turned towards the communication partner. This is a posture of trust, consent, goodwill, psychological comfort.

If a person is interested in communication, he will focus on the interlocutor and lean towards him, and if he is not very interested, on the contrary, orient himself to the side and lean back. A person who wants to make himself known will keep himself upright, in a tense state, with his shoulders turned; a person who does not need to emphasize his status and position will be relaxed, calm, in a free, relaxed position.

The best way to achieve mutual understanding with the interlocutor is to copy his posture and gestures.

Takeshika- the role of touch in the process of non-verbal communication. Handshakes, kisses, stroking, pushing, etc. stand out here. Dynamic touch has been proven to be a biologically necessary form of stimulation. A person's use of dynamic touch in communication is determined by many factors: the status of partners, their age, gender, degree of acquaintance.

Inadequate use of tactical means by a person can lead to conflicts in communication. For example, a pat on the shoulder is possible only under the condition of close relations, equality social status in society.

handshake- a multi-speaking gesture, known since ancient times. Primitive people at a meeting extended their hands to each other with open palms forward to show their unarmedness. This gesture has changed over time, and its variants have appeared, such as waving the hand in the air, placing the palm on the chest, and many others, including the handshake. Often a handshake can be very informative, especially its intensity and duration.

Handshakes are divided into 3 types:

dominant (hand on top, palm turned down);
submissive (hand below, palm turned up);
equal.

The dominant handshake is the most aggressive form of it. With a dominant (powerful) handshake, a person tells the other that he wants to dominate the communication process.

A submissive handshake is necessary in situations where a person wants to give the initiative to another, to let him feel like a master of the situation.

A gesture called "glove" is often used: a person wraps both hands around the other's hand. The initiator of this gesture emphasizes that he is honest and can be trusted. However, the “glove” gesture should be applied to well-known people, because at the first meeting, it can have the opposite effect.

A firm handshake up to the crunch of fingers is a hallmark of an aggressive, tough person.

A sign of aggressiveness is also shaking with an unbent, straight hand. Its main purpose is to keep a distance and prevent a person from entering his intimate zone. The same goal is pursued by shaking the fingertips, but such a handshake indicates that a person is not confident in himself.

Proxemics- defines the zones most effective communication. E. Hall identifies four main areas of communication:

Intimate zone (15-45 cm) - a person allows only people close to him into it. In this zone, a quiet confidential conversation is conducted, tactile contacts are made. Violation of this zone by outsiders causes physiological changes in the body: increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, rush of blood to the head, release of adrenaline, etc. The intrusion of an “alien” into this zone is regarded as a threat.
Personal (personal) zone (45 - 120 cm) - a zone of everyday communication with friends and colleagues. Only visual eye contact is allowed.
Social zone (120 - 400 cm) - a zone for official meetings and negotiations, meetings, administrative conversations.
Public zone (more than 400 cm) - a zone of communication with large groups of people during lectures, rallies, public speaking, etc.

In communication, it is also important to pay attention to vocal characteristics related to non-verbal communication.
Prosody- this is the general name of such rhythmic-intonational aspects of speech as pitch, volume of voice, its timbre.

Extralinguistics- this is the inclusion in speech of pauses and various non-morphological phenomena of a person: crying, coughing, laughing, sighing, etc.

The flow of speech is regulated by prosodic and extralinguistic means, linguistic means of communication are saved, they supplement, replace and anticipate speech statements, express emotional states.

It is necessary to be able not only to listen, but also to hear the intonational structure of speech, to evaluate the strength and tone of the voice, the speed of speech, which practically allow us to express our feelings and thoughts.

Although nature has endowed people with a unique voice, they give color to it themselves. Those who tend to sharply change the pitch of their voices tend to be more cheerful. More sociable, more confident, more competent and much more pleasant than people who speak in a monotone.

The feelings experienced by the speaker are reflected primarily in the tone of voice. In it, feelings find their expression regardless of the spoken words. Thus, anger and sadness are usually easily recognized.

A lot of information is given by the strength and height of the voice. Some feelings, such as enthusiasm, joy and distrust, are usually conveyed in a high voice, anger and fear - also in a rather high voice, but in a wider range of tonality, strength and pitch. Feelings such as grief, sadness, fatigue are usually conveyed in a soft and muffled voice with a decrease in intonation towards the end of each phrase.

The speed of speech also reflects feelings. A person speaks quickly if he is excited, worried, talks about his personal difficulties or wants to convince us of something, to persuade. Slow speech most often indicates depression, grief, arrogance, or fatigue.

By making minor mistakes in speech, for example, repeating words, choosing them uncertainly or incorrectly, breaking off phrases in mid-sentence, people involuntarily express their feelings and reveal intentions. Uncertainty in the choice of words manifests itself when the speaker is not sure of himself or is going to surprise us. Usually speech deficiencies are more pronounced with excitement or when a person tries to deceive his interlocutor.

Since the characteristics of the voice depend on the work of various organs of the body, their state is also reflected in it. Emotions change the rhythm of breathing. Fear, for example, paralyzes the larynx, the vocal cords tense, the voice "sits down." With a good mood, the voice becomes deeper and richer in shades. It has a calming effect on others and inspires more confidence.

There is also Feedback: With the help of breathing, you can influence emotions. To do this, it is recommended to sigh noisily, opening your mouth wide. If you breathe deeply and inhale a large amount of air, your mood improves, and your voice involuntarily decreases.

It is important that in the process of communication a person trusts signs of non-verbal communication more than verbal ones. According to experts, facial expressions carry up to 70% of information. When expressing our emotional reactions, we are usually more truthful than in the process of verbal communication.

In his famous book Body Language, the Austrian writer Alan Pease states that each person perceives information based on this calculation: 7% of information comes with words, and the remaining 97% is perceived by us using non-verbal signals.

These modes of communication are better known as "sign language" and mean a form of self-expression that does not use words or any symbols of speech.

Expand your perception

Knowing the types of non-verbal communication and understanding non-verbal signals is important for several reasons. Firstly, they perform the functions of an accurate expression of feelings, because very often we experience feelings so complex that we simply cannot find the right words to describe them, but this can be done using non-verbal means and methods. Secondly, they perform the functions of a deeper mutual understanding.

Knowing the basic ways of non-verbal communication, you will be able to better understand and “bite” the other person, when he tries to control his behavior in communication with you, because non-verbal signals appear unconsciously and your interlocutor simply cannot control them. The classification of non-verbal means of communication and examples of their use will help you not only better understand yourself, but also teach you to recognize lies and manipulation by other people.

To learn to better understand the interlocutor and recognize his hidden signals, you first need to learn to pay attention to all the elements or means of non-verbal communication at the same time, and non-verbal means of communication include facial expressions, gestures, postures, intonation and timbre of voice, visual contact and interpersonal space.

Let's talk in more detail about each of these elements of non-verbal communication and give concrete examples their manifestations.

facial expressions

Facial expression is a facial expression of a person, it is the main element in displaying emotions and feelings. Positive emotions, such as love or surprise, are much easier to recognize than negative ones, such as disgust or anger. are reflected differently on the right and left sides of the face, because the left and right hemispheres of the brain perform different functions: the right one controls the emotional sphere, and the left one is responsible for intellectual functions.

Emotions are expressed in facial expressions in this way:

Anger - wide open eyes, lowered corners of the lips, "squinted" look, clenched teeth;
Surprise - parted mouth, wide eyes and raised eyebrows, lowered lips;
Fear - drawn together eyebrows, stretched lips with lowered and laid down corners;
Happiness - a calm look, raised, laid back corners of the lips;
Sadness - a "faded" look, lowered corners of the lips, arched eyebrows.

visual contact

This method of non-verbal communication helps to demonstrate interest in the conversation and better understand the meaning of what was said. During a conversation, two people together create and regulate the degree of comfort, periodically meeting their gaze and taking it away. A closer look can both build trust and create discomfort.

Pleasant general topics maintain eye contact, while negative, confusing questions make you look away, demonstrating disagreement and dislike. Features of visual contact allow us to draw conclusions about the degree of interest in the dialogue and attitude towards the interlocutor:

Admiration - long eye contact, calm look;
Indignation - a close, obsessive, somewhat disturbing look, prolonged eye contact without pauses;
Location - attentive gaze, eye contact with pauses every 10 seconds;
Dislike - avoiding eye contact, "rolling" the eyes.
Expectation - a sharp look into the eyes, raised eyebrows.

With visual contact, you can find out not only the attitude of the interlocutor, but also determine some features.

Intonation and timbre of the voice

Correctly understanding the intonation and timbre of the voice means learning to "read between the lines" the message of another person. These features include frequent pauses, unfinished sentences and their construction, the strength and height of the voice, as well as the speed of speech.

Excitement - low tone of voice, fast, abrupt speech;
Enthusiasm - high tone of voice, clear confident speech;
Fatigue - a low tone of voice, a decrease in intonation towards the end of a sentence;
Arrogance - slow speech, even monotonous intonation;
Uncertainty - mistakes in words, frequent pauses, nervous cough.

Gestures and postures

Feelings and attitudes of people can be determined by the manner of sitting or standing, by a set of gestures and individual movements. It is easier and more pleasant for people to communicate with those who have expressive motor skills, a lively, relaxed facial expression.

Bright gestures display positive emotions and dispose to sincerity and trust. At the same time, excessive gesticulation, often repeated gestures can indicate internal stress and self-doubt. Non-verbal communication becomes available, and the level of mutual understanding increases if you understand the postures and gestures of your interlocutor.

Concentration - closed eyes, pinching the bridge of the nose, rubbing the chin;
Criticality - one hand near the chin with an extended index finger along the cheek, the second hand supports the elbow;
Positivity - the body of the body, the head is slightly tilted forward, the hand slightly touches the cheek;
Distrust - the palm covers the mouth, expressing disagreement;
Boredom - the head is propped up by the hand, the body is relaxed and slightly bent;
Superiority - sitting position, legs one on the other, hands behind the head, eyelids slightly closed;
Disapproval - restless movement, shaking off "villi", straightening clothes, pulling trousers or skirts;
Uncertainty - scratching or rubbing the ears, wrapping one hand around the elbow of the other hand;
Openness - arms are spread out to the sides with palms up, shoulders are straightened, the head “looks” straight, the body is relaxed;

Video about non-verbal communication:

Interpersonal space

The distance between the interlocutors plays an important role in establishing contact, understanding the situation of communication. Often people express their attitude in such categories as "stay away from there" or "want to be closer to him." If people are interested in each other, the space separating them decreases, they tend to be closer. For a better understanding of these features, as well as in order to correctly distinguish between situations and the scope of contact, you should know the basic limits of the allowable distance between the interlocutors:

Intimate distance (up to 0.5 m) - intimate trusting relationships between loved ones, friends. It may also be acceptable in sports where physical contact is acceptable.
Interpersonal distance (from 0.5 m - to 1.2 m) - a comfortable distance during a friendly conversation, where touching each other is allowed.
Social distance (from 1.2 m - to 3.7 m) - informal interaction in society, during a business meeting. The greater the distance, up to the extreme border, the more formal the relationship.
Public distance (more than 3.7 m) is a comfortable distance for a lecturer who makes a public speech in front of a large group of people.

Such limits of distances and their significance depend on the age, gender of a person, his personal characteristics. Children are comfortable at a closer distance from the interlocutor, and adolescents close and want to move away from others.

Women love closer distances, regardless of the gender of their interlocutor. Balanced, self-confident people do not pay attention special attention at a distance, while nervous anxious people try to stay away from others.

Learn to recognize lies

In order to feel confident and comfortable in a situation of communication with different people, avoid manipulation, you should learn to recognize non-verbal language in situations where they are trying to deceive you.

What means of non-verbal communication, gestures, postures, facial expressions should be paid attention to in order to recognize a lie?

too long or frequent pauses, pauses and hesitation before the start of the replica;
asymmetry of facial expressions, lack of synchrony in the work of the facial muscles, when there is a discrepancy in the facial expressions of the two sides of the face;
A "frozen" facial expression, when it does not change for 5-10 seconds, is false;
delayed expression of emotions, when there are long pauses between the word and the emotions associated with it;
"Elongated" smile, when the lips are pulled back from the teeth, creating a narrow line of lips;
visual contact is shallow, when the eyes of the liar meet the eyes of the interlocutor for no more than a third of the entire time of the conversation, while often looking at the ceiling and around with a restless facial expression;
twitching of any part of the body: tapping fingers on the table, biting the lips, twitching the arms or legs;
the sparse gestures that the liar keeps under control;

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