Human beings are characterized by being a complex species with numerous ways of relating to each other. We have developed a complex communication system which is based on expressing our thoughts and emotions through a set of signs, sounds and gestures. Language is part of our life and is an essential element to be able to survive and coexist in society.
Whenever we talk about communication we immediately think of written or spoken words, however, language can also be based on gestures and non-verbal elements. In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the types of non-verbal communication: definition and examples.
Non-verbal communication: characteristics
Non-verbal communication is defined as a process where we transmit information to another person. without using any kind of word, neither spoken nor written. This mode of communication encompasses a large number of gestures, postures, sounds and behaviors that provide us with all types of messages.
The non-verbal code
We use gestures in our daily lives to point out anything. We express endless emotions with our face, we strive to maintain a physical appearance to give a message to the world… in short, non-verbal communication is much more present than we believe. The non-verbal signs are that they can have more importance than the words themselves, this can occur in people who tend to lie or hide things, the body does not lie.
- For example: if we are in a situation that we perceive as dangerous, we can communicate to others that we are not afraid, however, our body may express the opposite through tremors, sweat and muscle tension.
The non-verbal code also serves as verbal communication support. In fact, great speakers such as politicians or artists continually use non-verbal communication to validate their spoken discourse.
Differences between verbal and non-verbal communication
If we define non-verbal communication as that in which gestures and facial expressions predominate, we understand that verbal communication will be just the opposite. The spoken and written language in which we use words It is defined as verbal communication. Although the objective is the same (to transmit some type of information) the essence of each communication style lies in the tools we use to express ourselves.
One of the big differences between verbal and non-verbal communication lies in the ability we have to control each of them. We could say that Verbal language is the easiest to control. Thanks to , we know what each word means in our language and what combination of letters we should use to give a specific message. However, body language and expressions are unconscious in nature and older than verbal communication, as we have discussed previously, the body does not lie.
In summary, we could say that words and our ability to control the message define the difference between verbal and non-verbal communication.
Types of non-verbal language: examples
We may still have some doubts about how non-verbal language works. Therefore, we are going to define the main types of non-verbal communication and illustrate them with examples:
Gestures
Movements of the limbs, hands or a simple movement of the head are part of this type of communication. They usually accompany language, however, we can also use them independently to point to objects, make hand gestures, number elements…
facial expressions
They are one of the most studied elements of non-verbal communication. Human beings are programmed from birth to identify faces and their emotional manifestations. For that same reason, it is so important to understand the fact that when someone makes a certain face, he is expressing pain. Or that if a friend smiles, it means that he is experiencing a pleasant moment.
body position
The body posture It can indicate the attitude that a person presents towards the conversation or social interaction they are experiencing. For example, an individual with a swollen torso and body leaning slightly forward may be trying to show a defiant attitude in conversation.
Physical appearance
We all take care, even a little, of our physical appearance before going out. It is part of the social importance that we give to the external appearance and the message that we want to give to the world with it. Dressing according to a specific code increases our feeling of belonging to a group (for example, in urban adolescent cultures) or represents a letter of introduction to a particular group of people (such as dress code in a job interview).
Paralanguage or sounds
When we talk about paralanguage, we refer to the content of speech that is not part of verbal language. He tone of voice, the speed of speech and volume It is also very important elements in verbal communication. We can give the same message using two different tones and the same message will change radically.
Haptics and Proxemics
These two terms refer to the proximity of the interlocutor (proxemic) and physical contact (haptic). The more trust we have with a person or the more peace of mind we want to convey, the more we will increase our proximity and contact with that person. Non-verbal language can be very revealing and can help us greatly to facilitate our personal relationships if we analyze each element well.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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