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    Myths of Nonverbal Communication

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    Alexandra Kaye Duazo
    This document summarizes 5 common myths about nonverbal communication and behavior. [1] The first myth is that one can read another person like a book based on their nonverbal cues, however nonverbal communication is complex and cues can have multiple meanings. [2] The second myth is that 95% of communication is nonverbal, but the exact percentage is unknown and context matters. [3] The third myth is that nonverbal behavior is always genuine when it can also be strategic and deceptive. [4] The fourth myth is that nonverbal cues are culturally universal, whereas there are also cultural displays and interpretations of cues. [5] The fifth myth is that liars can be easily spotted by their nonverbal

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    Myths of Nonverbal Communication

    Uploaded by

    Alexandra Kaye Duazo
    15 views5 pages
    This document summarizes 5 common myths about nonverbal communication and behavior. [1] The first myth is that one can read another person like a book based on their nonverbal cues, however nonverbal communication is complex and cues can have multiple meanings. [2] The second myth is that 95% of communication is nonverbal, but the exact percentage is unknown and context matters. [3] The third myth is that nonverbal behavior is always genuine when it can also be strategic and deceptive. [4] The fourth myth is that nonverbal cues are culturally universal, whereas there are also cultural displays and interpretations of cues. [5] The fifth myth is that liars can be easily spotted by their nonverbal

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    MYTHS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

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    This document summarizes 5 common myths about nonverbal communication and behavior. [1] The first myth is that one can read another person like a book based on their nonverbal cues, however nonverbal communication is complex and cues can have multiple meanings. [2] The second myth is that 95% of communication is nonverbal, but the exact percentage is unknown and context matters. [3] The third myth is that nonverbal behavior is always genuine when it can also be strategic and deceptive. [4] The fourth myth is that nonverbal cues are culturally universal, whereas there are also cultural displays and interpretations of cues. [5] The fifth myth is that liars can be easily spotted by their nonverbal

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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    15 views5 pages

    Myths of Nonverbal Communication

    Uploaded by

    Alexandra Kaye Duazo
    This document summarizes 5 common myths about nonverbal communication and behavior. [1] The first myth is that one can read another person like a book based on their nonverbal cues, however nonverbal communication is complex and cues can have multiple meanings. [2] The second myth is that 95% of communication is nonverbal, but the exact percentage is unknown and context matters. [3] The third myth is that nonverbal behavior is always genuine when it can also be strategic and deceptive. [4] The fourth myth is that nonverbal cues are culturally universal, whereas there are also cultural displays and interpretations of cues. [5] The fifth myth is that liars can be easily spotted by their nonverbal

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    of 5

    MYTHS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

    Why this class will not make you an all-knowing, infallible judge of others’ nonverbal cues

    Myth 1: You can read a person like a book

    The reality

    • Nonverbal cues can be perceived and interpreted, but not “read.”

    – The term body “language” is misleading.

    – Nonverbal communication is not a language.

    – Nonverbal communication has no grammar, no syntax.

    • If you could read a person like a book:

    – No one could successfully lie to another person.

    – Poker players couldn’t bluff.

    – Undercover cops would be exposed.

    Relationships would be damaged.

    • There is no one-to-one correspondence between a specific nonverbal cue and its meaning.

    – direct eye contact could signal attraction or hostility.

    • Nonverbal behavior is highly idiosyncratic

    – It varies greatly from person to person.

    What do these smiles mean?

    Myth 2: 95% of the meaning is carried via the nonverbal channel

    • 93% of the meaning or impact is communicated nonverbally (Mehrabian & Ferris, 1967; Mehrabian &
    Weiner, 1967)

    • “No more than 30 to 35 percent of the social meaning of a conversation or interaction is carried by words”
    (Birdwhistle, 1970, p. 158)

    • Mehrabian (1972, 1981) the face conveys 55% of the emotional meaning of a message, vocal cues convey
    38%, as little as 7% is communicated verbally.
    The reality

    • The exact percentage is an unknowable statistic.

    • If you watched a film in a foreign language would you understand 93% of it?

    • If police were investigating a crime, and the only witness were a mime, would they obtain 93% of the
    information they needed?

    • If you watched a stand-up comedian while wearing earplugs, would she/he be just as funny?

    Myth 3: Nonverbal behavior is genuine, natural, spontaneous

    • We can’t hide our true feelings.

    – Nonverbal communication is reflexive.

    • People can’t help but leak nonverbal cues.

    – People give off “natural signs” about what they are thinking and feeling.

    • Nonverbal communication is more trustworthy, believable.

    The reality

    • Nonverbal communication is a powerful medium.

    • The majority of the emotional or affective meaning is carried via the nonverbal channel.

    • When there is a contradiction between verbal and nonverbal cues, people tend to assign more weight to the
    nonverbal message.

    • Nonverbal cues convey generalized feelings and mood states.

    • mad, angry, upset, frustrated

    • Words provide more subtle, nuanced expressions of feeling.

    • furious, peeved, irate, livid, outraged, riled up, in a huff, pissed off, ticked off, infuriated, miffed

    The reality

    • Nonverbal communication often operates at a low level of awareness

    – Or even unconsciously

    • Nonverbal behavior can also be highly conscious and strategic

    – fake laughter

    – feigning interest

    – crocodile tears

    fake orgasm

    • Most people consider themselves good judges of emotion.

    – Self-serving bias

    – Confirmation bias

    • A person’s expressive repertoire can be used deceptively.

    Myth 4: Nonverbal cues are culturally universal

     People may assume that nonverbal behavior is instinctive or part of “human nature.”
    • Biologically innate

    • Evolutionarily adaptive

     Charles Darwin, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals

     Universality of basic emotional expressions

    1. Anger

    2. Disgust

    3. Fear

    4. Happiness

    5. Sadness

    6. Surprise

    Contempt
    The reality

     There are some cultural universals, however…

     Fear and disgust are easily confused

     Blended facial expressions are more culture-bound

    • Sarcastic smile, smirk, smug look

     Cultural displays rules moderate emotional displays

     Example: When people sit, where should their legs and feet go?

     Gender differences

     Cultural differences

    Myth 5: You can spot a liar based on his/her nonverbal cues

     Movies and TV shows perpetuate this myth

    • Lie To Me

    • Casino Royale

     Cops vastly overestimate their deception detection skills

     Jurors overestimate their deception detection skills

     Laypersons believe liars leak cues to deception via:

    • Gaze avoidance

    • Postural shifting

    Response latency

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