Nonverbal Messages

Which of the following is considered a popular myth about nonverbal communication?

• Nonverbal communication conveys more meaning than verbal communication.

• Studying nonverbal communication can increase your effectiveness in various interpersonal situations.

• Nonverbal messages help you make a more effective self-presentation.

• Nonverbal messages can be used to improve your understanding of people.

Answer explanation

While nonverbal messages are very important and can convey a lot of meaning, it depends on the situation. Complex ideas, like theories or historical events, cannot be effectively communicated nonverbally. The other options (b, c, and d) are all presented as benefits of studying nonverbal communication, not myths.

Nonverbal communication can be used to emphasize a verbal message. This function is known as:

• Repeating

• Substituting

• Controlling

• Accenting

Answer explanation

• Accenting is defined as using nonverbal communication to "accent or emphasize some part of the verbal message". Examples provided include raising your voice or banging your fist on a desk to stress a point.

Which type of nonverbal message is defined as communication through body movements?

• Oculesics

• Haptics

• Kinesics

• Proxemics

Answer explanation

Kinesics is "the study of communication through body movement". Kinesics has five types of gestures: emblems, illustrators, affect displays, regulators, and adaptors.

The study of nonverbal communication through eye messages is called:

• Kinesics

• Haptics

• Oculesics

• Chronemics

Answer explanation

• Oculesics is "the study of the messages communicated by the eyes". These messages can vary based on the duration, direction, and quality of eye behavior.

Which of the following is an example of an "emblem"?

• Waving your hand to say "hello."

• Moving your hands to show the size of a fish you caught.

• Tapping your fingers on a table when you are bored.

• Nodding your head to encourage a speaker to continue.

Answer explanation

An emblem is a body movement that acts as a substitute for a word or phrase. Waving to say "hello" or "goodbye" is a common example. The other options are different types of gestures: moving hands to show size is an illustrator , tapping fingers is an adaptor , and nodding to encourage a speaker is a regulator.

The "Duchenne smile" is described as a:

• Conscious and deliberate smile.

• Smile that appears aggressive.

• Genuine and unconscious smile.

• Smile that is culturally inappropriate.

Answer explanation

The "Duchenne smile" is identified as the "real smile" which is a "genuine" and "unconscious movement" that accurately reflects feelings.

In the context of spatial communication, what is a "secondary territory"?

• An area that is exclusively your own, like your home.

• An area that is open to all people, like a park.

• An area that you have occupied and are associated with, like a regular classroom seat.

• A space used for intimate relationships.

Answer explanation

A primary territory is an area you own. A secondary territory is an area you regularly occupy but do not own, so you become associated with it. A public territory is an area open to everyone.

According to the document, which of the following is a potential drawback of dressing casually at work?

• It can lead to a more formal exchange of ideas.

• It can create distance between workers and customers.

• It can discourage creativity.

• It can be seen as more professional.

Answer explanation

Companies that want to resist change, such as banks, may prefer more formal attire because it "creates distance between workers as well as between employees and customers". This implies that a move away from formal attire (i.e., towards casual dress) would reduce that distance, which for some businesses might be a drawback.

What is a "monochronic time orientation"?

• Scheduling and doing multiple things at the same time.

• Placing a greater value on the past for guidance in the present.

• Scheduling one thing at a time and treating time schedules seriously.

• Viewing time in a flexible and informal manner.

Answer explanation

Monochronic cultures, like those in the United States, schedule "one thing at a time" and treat time schedules seriously. In contrast, polychronic cultures schedule multiple things at the same time.

Which of the following is a strategy for improving your nonverbal decoding skills?

• Avoiding eye contact with the speaker.

• Avoiding extremes in your nonverbal communication.

• Resisting the temptation to draw immediate conclusions from nonverbal behaviors.

• Keeping your nonverbal messages consistent with your verbal messages.

Answer explanation

"Be tentative," means to "resist the temptation to draw immediate conclusions" and instead develop and test hypotheses. The other options (a, b, and d) are listed as skills for encoding (sending) nonverbal messages, not for decoding.