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6.1: Introduction to Nonverbal Communication

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• Page ID 90697

• Daniel Usera & contributing authors
• Austin Community College

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Define nonverbal communication and explain its metacommunicative nature.
• Describe the process of nonverbal communication.
• Assess the impact of nonverbal communication in interpersonal relationships.

INTRO TO NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Defining nonverbal communication

Your partner flashes a big smile when you surprise them for their birthday even though they secretly are embarrassed. You send an emoji “face with tears of joy” (��) to your BFF after getting a perfect score on a rhetorical criticism paper. You kiss someone on a first date. What do these scenarios have in common? Nonverbal communication of course -- an essential but frequently misunderstood dimension of interpersonal relations (Gifford, 2011). Nonverbal communication is often simply defined as communication without words. Others have noted that nonverbal communication includes “all behaviors that are not words” (Guerrero & Floyd, 2006, p. 4). Regardless of the deceiving simplicity of its definition, know that nonverbal communication is very complex.

In everyday life, nonverbal communication is multimodal and multifunctional in nature serving many functions. It is closely linked to how we feel about our relationships with others and how we manage those relationships. In interpersonal interaction, nonverbal messages can be found in facial expressions, eyes, body language, touching as well as clothing, tone of voice, posture and even spatial distance. Indeed, you can say a lot without saying anything, or as psychologist and philosopher Paul Watzlawick (1978) observed in the first axiom of his interpersonal communication theory that you cannot not communicate. The inevitability of sending and receiving messages is extremely important to understand because it means that each of us is a type of “transmitter” that cannot be shut off. Nonverbal behaviors are implicated in messages of intimacy, arousal and composure, dominance, formal, and task or social orientation. Whether intentional or unintentional, deceitful or sincere, no matter what we do, we give off information about ourselves. In short, nonverbal communication is an important part of human interaction and always present in face-to-face interactions.

A related concept is what social scientists call metacommunication -- communicating about communication. In interpersonal relationships, it involves how people perceive you, not just your words. For example, if I say, “Nice to see you!” to someone and roll my eyes at the same time, they will likely doubt my sincerity.

This example illustrates one of the more interesting effects of nonverbal messages: most people tend to believe the nonverbal message over the verbal message if the two appear to be in disagreement (Knapp, 1972; Knapp, Earnest, Griffin, & McGlone, 2020; Malandro & Barker, 1983; Mehrabian, 1981). People seem to believe that actions really do speak louder than words. As a result, they place a disproportionate emphasis on the nonverbal response -- therefore it’s always a good idea to make nonverbal behavior consistent with our verbal messages (Hackman & Johnson, 2000).

So, welcome to the world of nonverbal communication. Its types, its contexts, and its impacts -- all of these will be explored in the pages that follow.

The process of nonverbal communication

Is nonverbal communication its own type of language? Yes and no. Like language, the fundamental process of nonverbal communication consists of a message encoded in a selected medium (body language, for example) that is then decoded. When you form language and speak it, your brain encodes a thought into words and intelligible sounds. For example, if you want to tell someone to leave the room, you can simply speak the words, “Please leave the room.” Nonverbally, you can also encode an extra layer of “illustration” -- for example, first pointing at the person and then at the door.

Some forms of nonverbal communication are emblematic in nature, where the performance stands for a concrete idea. Emblems are gestures like pointing, giving a thumbs up, or signing “OK” in specific contexts where those gestures are intelligible. Other nonverbal emblems include wearing a uniform to indicate team membership or sporting a tattoo that has a literal, unambiguous meaning. The most famous emblem of all, of course, may be the infamous “middle finger.”

However, not all nonverbal communication is emblematic. If you sway in your chair during a lecture, the meaning of that behavior may not be immediately obvious. Perhaps you need to go to the bathroom. Maybe you’re just restless. You could even be doing light exercises to help stay awake. Without asking you, any interpretation would be tentative -- a guess. In fact, you might not even know the answer to what your behavior means. It turns out that some people perform nonverbal gestures without realizing them. When some people speak before an audience, for example, they might look down a lot, move their legs a lot, or put their hands behind their backs -- all without realizing it. These are “adaptive” behaviors designed to subconsciously help the speaker feel better (more comfortable) about the situation they’re in.

How aware (or not) someone is of their nonverbal behavior raises the important question of intention . Certainly, some aspects of nonverbal are intentionally performed. Chances are, your clothing and hairstyle at the moment you’re reading this were intentional choices, but what about your posture and the position of your hands and arms? There are aspects of nonverbal communication that we may convey without meaning to. Goffman (1952) called the intentional aspects of nonverbal performance as “cues given” and the unintentional aspects as “cues given off.” Whether intentional or not, these cues can be communicated via a variety of “media” (all of them associated with you) -- your eyes, smell, tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures to name a few. Increasing your competence in nonverbal communication means learning to pay more attention to these unintentional aspects.

Later in this chapter, you will learn different channels of nonverbal communication. These channels are grouped into four categories: personal characteristics (aspects relating to a person’s physical features), environment (artifacts in a given location), motion (movement-oriented gestures), and vocal cues (relating to the non-linguistic aspects of talking).

The impact of nonverbal communication

You might have heard that 93% of communication is nonverbal. That figure comes from a famous study by Merhabian and Ferris (1967). Participants in their study were read aloud single words that they previously rated as either positive, neutral, or negative on-paper. When they were read aloud, they were read vocal tones that were previously rated as either neutral or positive. Then the experiment was repeated using facial cues, where the experimenter read the words while displaying certain facial cues (Mehrabian & Wiener, 1967). Mehrabian utilized the results to calculate the listener’s perceived attitudes, which were a combination of three cues in the following proportion: 7% verbal, 38% vocal (tone), and 55% facial expression.

Notice that these studies were focused on the utterance of single words, not complete sentences within a context. We know that our typical social interactions occur in contexts of complete thoughts and actions, not just single words. These studies, therefore, face issues with external validity (the ability to apply to actual social situations). This criticism (among others concerning sample size and possible participant biases) was expressed by Burgoon, Woodall, and Ferris (1989). Though you may hear the 93% number frequently expressed in popular culture, you now know that this is based on a very limited study.

So if it isn’t 93%, how much of communication is nonverbal? The only thing that scholars agree on is that it matters , and that it matters in many contexts. In the next section, we will explore 14 channels (yes, 14!) and the many ways they allow us to communicate ideas beyond the power of words. In the end, our competence in nonverbal communication can help determine how an interaction will proceed and, perhaps, whether it will take place at all.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Gestures List

Ask students: How do we communicate without words? What are some common gestures? Divide students into groups and give each group just two minutes to come up with as many ways of communicating without using words as they can.

Activity 2: Silent Scene

Divide students into pairs. Have each pair create a one-minute scene featuring a problem that needs to be solved. When performing the scene, neither member of the pair can talk (all communication has to be expressed nonverbally). Can the audience guess the content of the scene without any dialogue to help?

Ambady, N., & Weisbuch, M. (2010). Nonverbal behavior. In S. T. Fiske, D. T. Gilbert, & G. Lindzey (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology, ( pp. 464-497). Wiley.

Burgoon, J. Buller, D, & Woodall, W. (1989) Nonverbal communication: The unspoken dialogue . Harper and Row.

Gifford, R. (2011). The role of nonverbal communication in interpersonal relations. In L. Horowitz, & S. Strack (Eds.), Handbook of interpersonal psychology Theory, research, assessment, and therapeutic interventions (pp. 171-190). Wiley.

Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life . Anchor Books.

Hackman, M.Z., & Johnson, C.E. (2000). Leadership: A communication perspective . Waveland.

Knapp, M. L. (1972). Nonverbal communication in human interaction . Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Knapp, M., Earnest, W., Griffin, D., & McGlone, M. (2020). Lying and deception in human interaction (3rd ed.). Kendall Hunt.

Knapp, M., Hall, J., & Horgan, T. (2014). Nonverbal communication in human interaction (8th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Malandro, L. A., & Barker, L. (1983). Nonverbal Communication . Addison-Wesley.

Mehrabian, A. (1981). Silent Messages: Implicit Communication of Emotions and Attitudes (2nd ed.). Wadsworth.

Mehrabian, A. & Ferris, S. (1967). Inference of attitudes from nonverbal communication in two channels. Journal of Consulting Psychology , 13 , 248-252.

Mehrabian A., & Wiener, M. (1967). Decoding of inconsistent communications. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 6 , 109-114.

Watzlawick, P. (1978). The language of change: Elements of therapeutic communication . Norton W.W., & Company, Inc.

Competence: One’s ability to encode and decode nonverbal communication.

Decoding: The process of interpreting and assigning meaning to a message.

Encoding: The process of organizing a message, choosing words and sentence structure, and verbalizing the message.

Medium: The channel or system by which information is transmitted.

Metacommunication: Messages that refer to other messages, usually in the context of a relationship.

Nonverbal Communication: Communication enacted by means other than words.

Emblem: A nonverbal signal that stands for an established semantic meaning.

1. Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are

At the TEDGlobal 2012 conference, social psychologist Amy Cuddy gave the talk “Your body language shapes who you are,” based on research in which she detailed the effects of “power posing.” Do you agree or disagree with her that our body language can change other people’s perceptions—and perhaps even our own body chemistry—simply by changing body positions? Are her findings consistent with definitions of nonverbal communication? https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?language=en

2. The Secrets of Body Language

Full documentary ; This 90-minute documenary shows us several examples of this, including the summit meetings between U.S. president Bill Clinton, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak which took place at the dawning of the new millennium, and President Richard Nixon's offerings of transparency while in the throes of the Watergate scandal more than two decades earlier. In each instance, the simplest pat on the back, crossing of arms across the chest, quiver in the voice, speed of a footstep or stance during a handshake illustrates underlying tensions and doubt. Can you identify or describe the process of creating and interpreting nonverbal cues in this documentary?

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Sample Essays On Nonverbal Communication

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Topic: Communication , Culture , Behavior , Body Language , Body , Emotions , Study , Nonverbal Communication

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Published: 03/10/2020

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All communication devices are divided into two large groups: verbal and nonverbal. It may seem that nonverbal means are not as important as verbal. In fact, it is not true. Although verbal communication is of central importance for the majority, it is incomplete without nonverbal devices. Even after developing language, people consciously or unconsciously use body movements. Eye contact, facial expressions, head movements, positioning of feet and legs, torso shifts, postures, tone of voice and even space between people during conversation are elements of body language. Professionals in the field of communication studies define these body movements as the forms of the nonverbal communication, which can convey a person’s true emotional and cognitive condition. There are many sciences that study the major types of nonverbal behavior. Kinesics studies facial expressions, eye contact, body postures and movements. Oculesics more specifically analyzes eye contact or its avoidance. Haptics studies touching behavior. Proxemics deals with personal space usage. Chronemics refers to the study of how people use time to communicate. Olfactics is the study of sense of smell. Paralinguistics investigates non-verbal vocal clues, such as loudness, pitch, tone of voice (Esposito, Bratanic, Keller & Marinaro 86). The term “nonverbal communication” was firstly used by G.H. Hewes in 1952 when he wrote his World Distribution of Certain Postural Habits (Calero 2). Nonverbal communication allows obtaining more accurate and complete picture of people’s hidden meanings than verbal communication. Ability to decipher nonverbal behavior accurately can help in any negotiation or other situation involving people. The key to reading nonverbal elements is the ability to feel speakers’ emotional condition while listening to the speech and taking into account the circumstances of the conversation. Alan Pease has introduced the investigation of body language in the late 70th of the last century. He is a recognized expert in the psychology of human communication. Pease claimed that the prominent feature of the nonverbal communication is its dependence on the subconscious impulses. The inability to forge these impulses does not allow people to hide true intentions. According to Pease, only 10 % of the message is expressed through the words, 40 % is transferred through tone of voice, and 50% accounts for gestures and postures (Pease & Pease 4). Nonverbal behavior of people is inextricably linked to their mental condition and serves as a means of expression. Therefore, the inner world of the individual can be revealed on the basis of nonverbal behavior. People pretty quickly adapt their verbal behavior to changing circumstances, but they cannot so easily control their nonverbal behavior. Nonverbal communication includes such forms of expression that do not rely on words and other verbal symbols. Words can convey only factual knowledge, but words alone are not enough to express feelings. Since nonverbal communication usually manifests itself unconsciously and spontaneously, hidden feelings can "leak" through facial expressions, gestures, intonation, and tone of voice. Each of these non-verbal elements of communication can help to verify the truthfulness of the spoken words or put them into question. Body language conveys more truthful message than the language of words. However, most signals of body language are ambiguous. Precise decoding is possible only with the consideration of the following factors: environment, mood, stimuli. For example, crossed arms on chest are perceived as an unconscious attempt to block out possible threat. However, some people may habitually cross their arms. The success of any communication and business negotiations in particular depends on the ability to establish trustful relations with a partner. It depends not so much on what people say, but on how they hold themselves. Spitzberg and Barge claimed “How people hold themselves, stand, sit, and walk communicates strong nonverbal messages. Whether you intend to send a message or not, every move you make potentially communicates something about you to others (Tussy & Gustafson 255).” Business people are inclined to trust the information transmitted nonverbally. They can catch hidden meaning focusing on intonation, facial expressions, gestures, body postures. If the meaning of the verbal message is contrary to the meaning of nonverbal message, it is more obliviously that the interlocutor lies. Communication studies show the impact of culture on nonverbal behavior and reveal the similarities and differences in nonverbal communication across cultures. Various cultures may use the same gestures, movements and facial expressions. However, these gestures can have completely different meanings. Understanding the American’s behavior may not help to decode the hidden meaning behind the Frenchman’s gestures. For example, a sign “OK” formed with thumb and forefinger means that all is well in the United States. The same gesture means zero or worthless thing in France. Forms of emotional expression are also different. For example, in some Eastern cultures, people learn to restrain emotions, and representatives of other cultures, on the contrary, try to be more expressive during conversation. Representatives of the Western cultures consider direct eye contact as a live interest in partner and conversation. Chinese, Indonesians and Mexicans try to avoid long eye contact since it is a sign of bad manners for them (Samovar, Porter & McDaniel 40). Nonverbal communication more accurately reveals the position of the interlocutor because it expresses hidden feelings. As a result, it proves the sincerity of spoken words or shows that the interlocutor is trying to withhold certain information. Moreover, nonverbal communication enables a person to transmit information when other methods are impossible. The only problem that may occur while decoding the nonverbal signs is a confusion caused by cultural peculiarities of different nationalities.

Works Cited

Calero, H. Power of nonverbal communication: what you do is more important than what you say (1st ed.). California: Silver Lake Publishing, 2005. Esposito, A., Bratanic, M., Keller, E. & Marinaro, M. Fundementals of verbal and nonverbal communication and the biometric issue. Netherlands: IOS Press, 2007. Pease, A. & Pease, B. The definitive book of body language. Australia: Pease International, 2004. Samovar, L., Porter, R. & McDaniel, E. Communication between cultures (7th ed.). Massachusetts: Cengage Learning, 2010.

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Non-Verbal Communication in Writing

By Jeanne Kisacky   |  June 11, 2018  |  31 Comments

As I contemplated fancying up my emotional descriptions, I remembered Keith Cronin’s sage advice about pretentious words and had a reality check. Was I just getting carried away with word-love again?

Then I adopted a former stray dog, and my eyes were opened. She entered the house fully formed, with her own expectations, habits, and history. All I had to go on to figure out what she wanted or needed were her facial expressions, subvocalizations, and posture. I learned the subtle nuances of one dog ear raised, a short whine, a long whine, a big sigh. Figuring out what she was trying to ‘tell’ me had a big payoff (no messes, less chewing of items, a happy dog). This close observation became a habit, and I started watching people in everyday conversations.

Just how much of what is ‘said’ does not occur through words is astonishing. Researchers have estimated that more than half of communication (estimates range from 65% to 90% by various investigators) is non-verbal. The same words will mean different things depending on tone of voice, accompanying facial expression, posture and position of the speaker, even clothing and appearance. First impressions happen within 1/10 th of a second. Or less. And they are mostly based on non-verbal communication.

There has been a lot written on non-verbal communication–even Charles Darwin wrote a book about it. (Links to a few more recent studies can be found at the end of this blog.) A lot of current research appears in psychology studies, an equally large amount appears in guides to business success, since non-verbal communication is a crucial part of making presentations and deals. I found surprisingly little written on the glorious possibilities it offers for writers of fiction. A simple summary of the characteristics of non-verbal communication reads like a checklist of strategies for improving flat scenes:

Non-verbal communication:

• Can use all of the senses, not just hearing.
• Increases in importance in situations where meaning is uncertain or untrusted or when actions conflict with verbal messages.
• Increases in importance and in nuance in emotional situations.
• Is more involuntary than speech, meaning it can be a giveaway to the underlying ‘truth’ of a person’s thoughts. This makes it seem more trustworthy, a more true expression of a person’s thoughts than speech, especially in stressful situations.
• Can reinforce or contradict a verbal communication.
• Can be practiced regardless of shared language or ability to talk (babies, toddlers, animals all communicate without words)
• Is quiet and can avoid detection in some circumstances.
• Can be predetermined and used as a secret language.
• Is cross-cultural. A head nod means yes or assent in nearly all cultures; a head shake means no or refusal.

In this age of non-stop dialogue, non-verbal communication makes irony possible; sarcasm understandable, and honesty believable. It is strongest during moments of tension, adding layers of meaning to highly-charged scenes. It also makes communication physical and spatial. Thoughts and dialogue are immaterial, abstract. Non-verbal communication happens physically, often actively, in a specific setting, and the clues used to describe it can make not only the character’s emotions, but the entire scene more immediate.

But non-verbal communication is also subtle, and complex. Easy to overdo in writing. It is always one step away from cliché, even caricature. Oft-repeated descriptions of non-verbal communication become lazy writer cues, providing code words for basic emotions. “Bedroom eyes” and “clenched fists” don’t pack the punch they once did.

How can you fit non-verbal communication into your writing in a believable manner? Become a good observer. Notice the details of people’s physicality while they talk. Use those observations and those details to give expression to your characters. This list of the basic types of non-verbal communication (compiled from a variety of sources) will give you an idea of the variety of things to look for:

• Gestures – a raised middle finger, the ‘OK’ sign, or the thumbs up are gestures with specific (often culturally contingent) meanings. Gestures with less specific meanings–a gentle touch on the shoulder, rubbing a soft fabric between the fingers, holding a hand out in entreaty—can also be powerful but risk being interpreted multiple ways.
• Paralinguistics – are vocal communications that are separate from actual language. This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection, and pitch. It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Take the sentence: “Yes, I’m sure you can do it.” If said with a sneer, or in exasperation, it means something far different than with a smile.
• Body language (kinesics) and posture are often basic, almost instinctive (or animalistic) reactions. Putting hands on hips can indicate opposition, a refusal to back down, or even a readiness for quick response.  Leaning back while standing or sitting can indicate a lack of interest; leaning forward can indicate engagement. Turning away from someone while talking can indicate disinterest.
• Proxemics (distance or personal space) –Standing too close can be aggressive. Standing too far can be a sign of fear.
• Eye gaze – the directness, duration, and focus of a glance speaks volumes. There are social norms about how people look at each other and breaking the norms can communicate—for example a stare so direct that no one would meet its challenge or a prolonged downcast glance as a means of avoiding being chosen for something. A gaze can express desire–toddlers often express what they want by looking purposely at an object and reaching for it. Adults gaze longingly at what they most want.
• Haptics (communicating through touch) . How a person touches something or someone can be tender, demanding, desperate, soothing.
• Physiological changes (sweating, reddening of the skin, blinking, pupil dilation) . These bodily reactions are instinctive, not often controlled. Often they are giveaways–revealing emotions against a person’s wish, or will.
• Appearance what a person looks like reveals social status, how much care they take of themselves, whether they value appearance or not, even healthiness.
• Artifacts what a person wears is directly communicative—of wealth or poverty, style or pragmatism, blending in or standing out.

What do you think? Do you already use nuanced non-verbal communication in your scenes? Or do you find yourself using the basic code words? Did you find yourself thinking about specific scenes as you read through the lists above?

With my next blog, I hope to try to give a better idea of what makes a good use of non-verbal communication in writing and what makes it into just fancy words for basic emotions. I’m especially interested in how it might facilitate backstory and increase tension.

Illustration Credits: Rottweiler By George Hodan   Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0. Public Domain

Some Further Reading:

Chapter 4 of Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies , 2016–an open-source communications course textbook offers a good start.

The website verywellmind.com has a summary of non-verbal communication and a post on how to understand body language and facial expressions .

a good overview can be found in Professor Charles Tidwell’s teaching notes for a course on Intercultural Business Relations.

This helpguide post focuses on relationships, but it provides some useful tips for reading body language.

The article, Nonverbal Communication and Your Characters , by Carolyn Kaufman, at psychologytoday.com provided a good intro on non-verbal communication for writers.

As suggested by Donald Maass– The Emotion Thesaurus .

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Jeanne Kisacky trained to be an architect before going back to her first love–writing. She studied the history of architecture, has written and published nonfiction, and has taught college courses. She is the author of the recently published book, Rise of the Modern Hospital: An Architectural History of Health and Healing, 1870-1940 . She currently fights valiantly to keep her writing time despite the demands of a day-job, a family, and a very particular cat.

31 Comments

It’s a very good topic – pointing out something writers should do automatically.

There is a division in my mind: if there is a lot of other stuff going on in a scene, I will use ‘said’ as a dialogue tag (instead of using the space for an action or a bit of description), because the reader needs to know what is important. And the same happens if I use ‘smiled’ instead of a more nuanced description of a gesture or bit of behavior. I don’t want to overload the reader’s input processing.

But some scenes need the nuance, because that’s where the ‘action’ – what is really going on – is being described. The care someone takes with helping someone else get her chair is the important part, and it’s better expressed non-verbally.

If every scene has everything, the story is slowed down too much, and it is hard to see where the desired emphasis is. Pace, balance, variety… some movements use up half the dance floor, others are intricate in-place step combinations or a tiny head tilt.

Alicia – thanks for your comment, it clarifies and expands on the possibilities and the dangers of describing physical communications. I agree many writers do it automatically. But it also never hurts to shine a light on something that can be so powerful, and yet is often done instinctively rather than intentionally. I think using it both sparingly and tellingly is a huge part of getting the balance in writing. It doesn’t take many words to make the difference between a smile and something far more telling.

Those resources you include are terrific, thanks. Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi’s book The Emotional Thesaurus is also a vast encyclopedia of physical clues to inner feelings.

Donald –Thanks for adding the suggestion of the Ackerman and Puglisi book. It is comprehensive, and perfect for writers.

Hey Jeanne – “She’s certainly chosen a rich topic,” I thought to myself with a smile and a nod.

Er, sorry. When I get to the editing stage, I find that cutting most of my non-verbal communication is the best solution. Not just because of my tendency to repetition (especially for smiles and nods). I have only to think of other writers’ (even admired favorites) non-verbal tics to remind me of what I don’t want to do. For example, anyone who’s read more than a couple of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books knows that when his female characters are angry or annoyed, they “cross their arms under their breasts” (why the breasts always had to be mentioned is beyond me, but it’s the reason it’s so memorable, and even oft discussed in the fan chat rooms).

I recently noticed my characters are overly prone to “huff a laugh.” I suppose I like the thought of the only sound being a breath. Plus, for certain instances, I like the idea of giving a single laughing sound. And I dislike the terms: chuckle, guffaw, chorle, snicker, etc. But I understand that I can’t have a half-dozen instances of huffed laughs in a manuscript.

In spite of the fact that so much communication *is* non-verbal, I like to think of letting the words carry the weight as a challenge (especially when it comes to dialog). Our medium has its limitations, for sure. And since I tend toward visual thinking during composing, I always overcompensate for those limitations. I understand it’ll be different for every writer. But for me, the cleaner I can make character interaction, the better. Though I very much appreciate the reminder to use nuance to change it up. Thanks!

Vaughn–thanks for the thoughtful response. The Robert Jordan example makes me laugh, although perhaps in this era there is also an element of cringing as well. You make the case for less is more, and I think that it is easy to overdo non-verbal cues. And that is when the tics show up. The crossing the arms under the breast is just a lengthy lazy writer cue–a code word that’s a little longer than ‘frown’ but which certainly isn’t making the scene stronger. I think the trick is finding the times to use it–when more nuance would help the scene–and the times to let the ‘smile’ just be a smile.

I teach about non-verbal communication when training leaders, so the information was familiar. However, I realized as I was reading that I don’t employ non-verbal cues enough in my writing. Thanks for the reminder – I need to practice what I preach!

Anne–you are well-situated for translating the research into usable guidelines for writers! If you come up with anything valuable in practicing what you preach, drop a note or comment to update us.

Jeanne–IMO, your post today should be added to the file of must-reads from Writer Unboxed contributors. The human face has something like a thousand muscles, all of them selected in the process of evolution to better equip our species to compete and succeed. Everything else you speak of is part of that process of natural selection. I think that if a writer figures out how to establish characters–how they look, sound, move, etc–it becomes easier for readers to see/hear/smell what the characters are, and what they mean when they speak. It’s a great mistake to forget all this. Thanks for a great post.

Barry–you made me blush. I think that one of the things about non-verbal communication is that it is instinctive. We do it without thinking. We write it without thinking. And as you say, each character has individualized expressions–“how they look, sound, move”–when a writer gets it right, then the character truly comes alive.

Great post. I love the examples of your dog’s nuanced communication and your comprehensive list of non-verbal cues. It is a rich resource for anyone who writes, although I was struck with how conversant you are with all this when you write non-fiction.

Deborah-Thanks! The dog has changed my life, and not just in terms of watching for non-verbal cues. Believe it or not, I think writing non-fiction is easier than fiction.

It’s almost as if you’ve known what I’ve been struggling with recently! Thanks for the post and resources.

You’re welcome! Happy non-verbal communicating.

How timely your post is for this writer. I’m aware that in my current WIP I face a rewrite challenge because, for just one little example, I have characters shake their heads a lot to communicate a negative reaction to something said or done. It’s a natural and common gesture, and I suspect I’ll be hard-pressed to come up with alternatives. On the other hand, you’ve given me fresh ideas and new resources. Many thanks.

Ray — glad it was helpful! You know it was the repetition that got to me too. It’s not so much that every expression in every scene needs to be fully nuanced and individualized, it’s that it’s way too easy to just turn emotions into code, and not do the work necessary to make it real.

Exactly! It’s the repetition. In editing client novels, I have a mental counter in my head for every time I see a less-than-ordinary word used. When it reaches a point of being noticeable, I do a search for the word and then tell my client about the frequency. Sometimes I suggest an alternative, but it’s really up to the author.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights on non-verbal communication in writing, Jeanne. In my editing work I continually encounter material that strives to use this important tool, but usually winds up projecting ‘stick figure’ reactions. The character reacts to something and that reaction reads like a frozen moment in time.

In reality, we are all in constant conflict about our reactions. We fight to maintain and regain control over emotions that cannot be denied, so they slip out in odd little physical actions — that are then noticed by the person experiencing them and more actions are taken to hide or laugh off those ‘tells’.

Non-verbal communications often cascade. Again, control is the ultimate concern — and my little theory on that is that our ancient survival code says: don’t draw attention to yourself! Predators eat you if you grieve too loudly, celebrate excessively, especially if we do so solo. One person, lost in excessive emotion, is vulnerable. Entire tribes grieving a loss, preparing for war, or celebrating births and weddings have safety in numbers.

So, I urge my authors to consider what the situation is and what kind of vulnerability will be created by outward reactions, and what is demanded of the character to maintain/retain control, and keep vulnerability at bay.

Thanks again for your post — I look forward to the next one!

Maria–thank you for adding your insights, most definitely the communication of emotions is complicated by vulnerability. You describe the push/pull well, and the over-riding need for control. What you wrote made me realize that what was missing for me in my ‘stick figure’ reactions was a sense of all of this hope for connection/fear of pain or loss of control that are just below the surface of gestures. I think one of the tricks to getting non-verbal cues ‘right’ in fiction is knowing when to highlight this vulnerability, and when to highlight the cover-up–or as you put it trying to “laugh off those ‘tells.’ “

Great post, Jeanne. For me, the challenge is describing nonverbal cues in a fresh way that doesn’t distract the reader by drawing attention to itself (what one of my old creative writing teachers called “the body absurd” — “she threw her eyes across the room” instead of “she looked away.”) I admire writers who can describe actions almost poetically, with a few well-chosen words or subtle comparisons that heighten their emotional significance.

Christine–I love the phrase ‘the body absurd.’ It is the danger lurking in trying to make every moment precious. I was worried that this post was going to create a lot of eyes bouncing around rooms. I agree, all it takes is a few well-chosen words, at moments that need just that little more information to make them resonate. The difficulty is in choosing which scenes need it, and then letting all the others be. Kind of like the dilemma of whether or not to use any dialogue tags other than ‘said.’

Great post and important topic, Jeanne! I spend a lot of time (at my day job—in a memory care community for seniors) learning how to “read” and connect with people who are in the later stages of dementia. These folks are prone to retreating inward and often have little movement or vocalization, so I’ve had to really pay attention to nonverbal body language to help me understand what they are trying to communicate. And I find it amazing—just how much can be conveyed between two people without words. It feels like sacred space, actually.

That said, I appreciate the information you’ve provided here, and the compilation of sources explaining more, as well as the Further Reading links. While I am very aware of nonverbal communication, it is another thing entirely to try and incorporate the description of it into storytelling without using cliche phrases. So I’m very much looking forward to reading the links, as well as awaiting your next post. I echo others who’ve said this is a keeper (and a printer-outer). ;)

Barb — your job really must have honed your observational skills to a fine point. Glad you think this post is a keeper, and I agree shifting from observation to description is a far more difficult task. I’m still working on it, as the tendency is to shift from repeating code words to going over board with specific plot-stopping descriptions.

Great summary with good examples. Passing this one along.

This is so timely for me because my characters tend to stare, glance, gaze, squint, and they also sit, shrug, walk, sigh, and roll their eyes.

I loved your description of learning your dog’s expressions. Animals are enormously expressive, aren’t they? Since I’m allergic to furry pets, I can’t observe my dog or cat (darn it), but I do need to be more observant of people’s non-verbal communications. One thing I have learned it that one’s eyes can literally turn red when a person is enraged–especially if drunk.

I find in my early drafts, my characters do a lot of head shaking, eye rolling, shrugging, and nodding. In the rewrite, it helps to search for those common gestures and look for a way to better capture the emotion.

Excellent information. Love the dog!! I bought a copy of The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi which has helped me a lot in writing non verbal communication.

Hi, an interesting post you left here. I followed the way from the story reading ape’s re-blog. Myself and a few challenge seeking persons are undertaking a workshop teaching improvisation. The class or exchange of ideas, is held in a local theatre in Bury St Edmunds Suffolk (impromptu name drop) The actual site of some recent filming of the New Pickwick Papers, starring among others Hugh Laurie. Name and venue dropping bypassed nicely; move back on point. Anyway the last few weeks we have been undertaking masked performance. At first it was very difficult, getting my head around the concept of no words or facial gestures, I think the journey has helped me visualise some of my writing, allowing the smallest of gestures to convey the action, describe the scene. I thought it tied well into your post and hoped you would be interested. Many of your points made reflect in a slightly different but transferable way, from performance to story telling and story making. thank you.

Perhaps if you are in the south of France, I could buy you a café or some excellent wine. Alas, my budget doesn’t go very far these days… Great post!

Thank you for an interesting post I read much of the above reactions and found them fascinating. In a way it’s all about balance, isn’t it. Too much talk of the moon and not enough of the shadows…Too much description regarding the flora and fauna not enough dialogue…Too much telling and not enough showing… Sorry to bring Trump’ into this, but – as I enjoy ‘reading’ faces – his is a classic.. Anyone familiar with the face of Mussolini (World War 11) can’t fail to recognise the similarity. The pouting lips, and slight thrust of the head; the overt ‘awareness’ look of BEING THERE! I’ll say no more. All intriguing!

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Comparison of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Communication is an instrumental tool which facilitates effective interaction among individuals. Although it is vital in improving interpersonal relationships, most people take it for granted and fail to enhance their communication skills. It can be either verbal or nonverbal, and the type used to exchange information or ideas is influenced by various factors, including the parties involved as well as the environment. Verbal communication involves the conveyance of a message using oral or written words. Conversely, nonverbal communication uses body language to send a particular message. While verbal and nonverbal communications involve transferring and receiving information and are not connected to the brain, they are significantly different in such features as structure, miscommunication, continuousness, and distance and time.

Verbal communication develops differently in various cultures and is structured while nonverbal communication is not. Verbal communication is regulated by grammar rules to ensure that the conveyed message is clear (Wahyuni 80). This aspect of specific pattern of communication is vital since it guarantees a similar understanding of a particular message among the individuals using the same language. Conversely, nonverbal communication lacks a definite array of conveying a message. It has no guiding rules, and one can interpret the sent information according to their wish. Nevertheless, nonverbal communication has an instrumental role in supporting verbal communication to enhance meaning of sent information.

The chances of miscommunication in verbal communications are significantly lower than in nonverbal communication. Notably, every word used in verbal communication has a specific meaning, minimizing the possibility of being misinterpreted. The intended message significance is preserved even when words are translated into other languages. Conversely, there are numerous facial expressions which people can make using muscles in their faces. The lexes depend on how someone responds to a particular stimulus. Additionally, there are types of nonverbal communications whose meaning varies from one culture to another (Wahyuni 82). For instance, avoiding direct eye contact when speaking to an older person is a sign of respect in some cultures, but it can be interpreted as a person being shy. Therefore, the likelihoods of misinterpreting nonverbal communication are high, mainly when cultural background differs.

The chances of miscommunication depending on situations and places are also lower in verbal communication than in nonverbal communication. Whereas one receives immediate feedback when using verbal communication, it is impossible in nonverbal communication because it takes some time to show the emotions (Wahyuni 82). Indeed, an individual has to process the meaning of a message conveyed verbally before responding nonverbally. The tone of verbal communication minimizes the possibility of miscommunication in different situations, even when someone is playacting. However, miscommunication can be inevitable in various places, such as Asia and the United States because of varying cultures. Nevertheless, misunderstanding of nonverbal communication does not occur in all situations. Thus, verbal communication is easily influenced by social as well as cultural factors.

Distance is insignificant in verbal communication, and it takes a short period of time to convey a message, contrary to nonverbal communication. People use different means of sending information such as phone calls, letters, and chats to transmit messages. The distance does not matter even though one has to choose the medium wisely to guarantee effective communication. However, long-distance inhibits nonverbal communication, requiring individuals’ face-to-face interaction to show and receive a particular message. Additionally, it is time consuming compared to verbal communication. One can take time to receive and interpret nonverbal messages before giving appropriate feedback. Therefore, verbal communication is faster, efficient, and convenient regardless of location of involved parties.

Contrary to nonverbal communication, verbal communication has limited continuousness because it is easier for someone to interrupt. It has a starting point when one initiates communication and stops when it is terminated or interrupted. Different factors such as sound and visible movements can interrupt verbal communication. On the other hand, nonverbal communication continues without inference once it is initiated. Nonverbal cues are evident even when individuals have stopped talking. For instance, people smile or laugh after they comment on something good. Therefore, nonverbal communication can endure external elements that interfere with transmission of information.

Despite the differences between nonverbal and verbal communication, their role and usage consistency are similar. Both forms of communication involve sending and receiving messages, regardless of the medium used to transmit information. In most cases, individuals use verbal and nonverbal communication in parallel to guarantee the useful meaning of the anticipated outcomes (Bhat and Kingsley 39). Nonverbal communication has various functions such as reinforcement, regulation, accentuation, and substitution. Moreover, both verbal and nonverbal communication are not inherent because they are learned. People learn how to pronounce words, write well-structured sentences, and use their faces and other parts of the body to convey a meaningful message. Further, they have no direct connection to the brain of individuals. Undeniably, the brain only receives, processes and interprets messages, and generates appropriate feedback. Thus, verbal and nonverbal communications complement each other to enhance the meaning of conveyed messages.

In conclusion, verbal and nonverbal communication differ in structure, miscommunication, continuousness, and distance and time. Verbal communication is regulated by grammar rules, has minimum miscommunication possibilities, is not inhibited by distance, takes a short time, and is quickly interrupted, contrary to nonverbal communication. However, common features associated with verbal and nonverbal communication are that they are not inherent or directly connected to individual’s brain and involve transferring and receiving of information. Additionally, they are used in parallel in most cases, with nonverbal playing the role of reinforcement or accentuation of particular message.

Works Cited

Bhat, B. Vishnu, and Manoj Kumar Kingsley. “Effective Non-Verbal Communication.” Effective Medical Communication , edited by Subhash Chandra Parija and Balachandra V. Adkoli, Springer, 2020, pp. 39–47.

Wahyuni, Akhtim. “The Power of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in Learning”. Proceedings of the 1St International Conference on Intellectuals’ Global Responsibility (ICIGR 2017) , vol. 125, 2018, pp. 80-83. Web.

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Essays About Communication: Top 5 Examples and Prompts

Are you writing essays about communication? Check out our top essay examples and writing prompts to help you get started.

Communication is power and is critical to building a well-connected society. Communicating well is vital in working with people and shedding light on problems and solutions. Practical communication skills can help build relationships. 

If you’re writing an essay on communication and are having a hard time choosing a topic to focus on, here is our round-up of the best essay examples to get you started:  

1. The Benefits of Communication and Teamwork by Karenina Loayza

2. it’s time to tune in: why listening is the real key to communication by kate murphy, 3. a love language spoken with hands by ross showalter, 4. the role of body language in communication by ashley tulio, 5. the power of storytelling in marketing by dylan jacob, 1. how-to develop communication skills, 2. how-to write an inspiring speech, 3. should all leaders be good communicators, 4. theories of mass communication, 5. how are schools developing children’s communication skills, 6. communicating face-to-face vs. online , 7. marketing communications: what are they, 8. is communicating on social media effective, 9. is it possible to communicate effectively on virtual workplace platforms, 10. how-to communicate in the workplace.

“In one task, we were blindfolded and had to describe a set of irregular pieces. With varying degrees of English and different experiences of the world, it was like explaining an elephant to an alien.” 

Loayza narrates an exercise in class where they have to describe surrounding objects as accurately as possible to keep others from stumbling on them. The writer said the exercise demonstrated effectively the need for good communication skills for teams to succeed.

“Schools and universities have courses in debate, rhetoric and elocution, but rarely classes that teach listening. You can get a doctorate in speech communication and join Toastmasters International to perfect your speaking skills, but who strives for excellence in listening?”

Murphy muses on a world that glorifies the speakers but leaves no room for the listeners like her. She points out how social media has created a generation that prefers interacting behind the screen and filtering out opinions that do not resonate with theirs. Instead, Murphy emphasizes listening as a foundation for better human relations and offers solutions for how others can develop their listening for successful communication. 

“Will showed me that not everyone makes promises they don’t intend to fulfil. I don’t have to invest in someone who promises an action they’ll never do. Relationships only move forward once the work of communication begins.”

Showalter, a deaf man, laments how non-deaf ex-lovers have promised to learn sign language to better communicate with him – only to see these promises broken. Then, one morning, a remarkable man in his life sends a video message reviving hopes for Showalter and redefines his standard in relationships for the better. 

“Non-verbal communication can affect our words as it can reiterate our message, contradict our words, reinforce our statement, substitute the meaning of what we are trying to say, and complement what we are trying to say. Body language is something that is usually natural and is often done instinctively rather than consciously.”

Tulio, a communications specialist, stresses the importance of using body language for expression. She provides tips on maximizing gestures and body movement to convey emotions in person and through videoconferencing. 

“In marketing, storytelling provides an avenue to connect to consumers unlike any other. Brands are empowered to share and sell their values and personality in a form that feels less like advertising and more like a concerted effort to strengthen relationships with customers.

The author cites the viewpoints of a business school professor who explains how storytelling can shape the world’s perception of a brand. Finally, the author outlines the vital elements that make an exciting story capable of connecting with an audience and effecting action among consumers.

10 Writing Prompts On essays about communication

To further expand your horizon on the subject, you can work around our list of prompts that are interesting and relevant to date:

You can narrow down this essay to target employees, students, aspiring leaders, or those who want to improve their conversation skills. First, list down recommendations such as expanding their vocabulary and listening. Then, explain how they can incorporate this into their daily routine. 

Writing a speech that strikes a chord requires extra work in developing empathy and understanding the audience. Next, you can focus on providing recommendations for your essay, such as putting in a personal touch and linking this story to the broader subject. Make sure you also offer simple writing tips such as using the active voice as much as possible, keeping sentences short, and keeping the tone conversational. 

Cite research studies that detail why effective communication is a critical skill that makes a leader. Then, write about the organizational pitfalls of poor communication. Later, leaders who can speak engagingly and listen attentively to their team members can address these pitfalls. 

Communication theory is the study of processes in sending and receiving information. Discuss the four main theories of mass communication: the Authoritarian Theory, the Libertarian Theory, the Soviet-Communist Theory, and the Social-Responsibility Theory. Explain each one. Explain how each remains relevant in understanding modern communication processes. 

Interview schools within your community and learn about their language curriculum and other efforts to empower children to communicate well. You can also interview child development experts. Find out the biggest challenges in helping children improve how they express their thoughts and ideas. Then, find out what schools and parents are doing to address them. 

While you’d hear many people expressing a preference for face-to-face meetings, there are undoubtedly benefits to online meetings, which some usually dismiss. Weigh in on the pros and cons of in-person and online meetings, especially in the current scenario of an ongoing pandemic. 

What are the new marketing channels marketers are leveraging to reach their audience? Several surveys and studies show where most marketing campaigns allocate their budgets. One example is video content. 

An interesting angle would also involve looking at epic brand fails. Cite two or more cases, find a communication mishap common between them and provide what lessons can today’s brands learn from these epic fails. 

From interacting with loved ones and finding someone to date and love, social media has dramatically changed our ways of communication. It might be great to interview the elders who have experienced communicating through snail mail. Dive into their nostalgia and discover how they compare the experience of letter writing against instant chatting through mobile apps. 

Several apps today aim to transform workplaces to be more connected for interaction and communication. First, list down the top apps most used in the corporate world and discuss why these communication forms are preferred over email. Then, delve into the drawbacks and aspects of the apps that need improvements according to what business users say. 

Recent studies show that employees quit their jobs when they feel unable to talk about their needs in the workplace. Research the communication culture in the top companies in a specific field. How are they engaging with their employees? How are they driving conversations toward critical concerns?

TIP: You don’t have to write an extended essay. Here is a guide to writing a concise and organized five-paragraph essay.

For more help with writing, check out our best essay writing tips for a stress-free writing process. 

Yna Lim is a communications specialist currently focused on policy advocacy. In her eight years of writing, she has been exposed to a variety of topics, including cryptocurrency, web hosting, agriculture, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy and international trade. A former journalist in one of the top business papers in the Philippines, Yna is currently pursuing her master's degree in economics and business.

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Analysis of Non-verbal Communication

20 June, 2020

5 minutes read

Author:  Donna Moores

Communication in whatever form serves a specific purpose of passing information. Nonverbal communication constitutes a large portion of human communication behavior. Nonverbal communication could range from mild hand gesticulations, aggressive body language or even a faint smile. I have had several opportunities to observe people from a distance in a bid to analyze what they were trying to communicate in a nonverbal manner. I have come to realize that the environment plays a significant role in the measure of how well nonverbal communication are used in disseminating information. Places like parks, college libraries, the bus station, restaurants and cafes are notably some of the places where nonverbal communications may be critically observed.

Two days ago, I went to grab a cup of my favorite coffee at the Starbucks café and decided to sit for a while to pen down a few thoughts. I ended up observing a couple just a few rows in front of my table. The observation began at about 8:38 am and ended about 30 minutes later. The café was unusually quiet, probably because the weather was bit chilly or because it was one of those days where everyone seemed to be in a relaxed mood. The couple just a few tables ahead of where I sat were equally quiet but it was obvious they were communicating in what many would deem as nonverbal. The young man, from his boyish grin and strong masculine physique I guessed would be around the age of 24, but his well-tailored suit made him seem older. He was lean with brown eyes and well-trimmed black hair. The lady, on the other hand, was evidently a student. Her college books were stacked on the table and her laptop bag was resting on one of the chairs. She looked young and pretty but seemed very feminine and petite.

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Because both individuals were so engrossed with the other, it was easy to actually stare at them to observe every gesture that was made. The first thing anyone would have observed was the fact that they maintained eye contact throughout their time together, only looking down at the table for a few seconds probably because the other had looked too hard. The young lady was apparently blushing. I knew this because her face was flushed and her body language exhumed an air of shyness, from the way she crossed her legs and tuck her hands into her thighs, leaning forward and moving randomly from side to side at intervals. Their lips didn’t move much and if it did I was out of earshot. The young man I was fascinated by, because he somewhat kept his composure. He sat up straight at all times, laughed a couple of times and had his boyish grin the rest of the time. At some point in time, he would lean forward, stretch out his hand and tuck the ladies hair behind her ears. It was evident they were a little more than ordinary friends. It seemed so but the young man’s air of confidence and composure didn’t give much away. However, I was able to come to this conclusion when he reached out and took her hand in his.

In the thirty minutes I spent observing the couple, I was able to observe certain nonverbal gestures that communicated affection. First was their facial expressions and constant eye contact coupled with the lady’s flushed cheeks and the looking down at the table at intervals. Secondly was the touching of hands in the most gentle on manners and the tucking of the hair. Lastly, the body language of both individuals seemed the strongest signal of the communication. The man with his upright posture portrayed a level of charisma which I believe was one of the things the lady liked about him, and she with a slouched posture leaning over the table with her hands held together on her thigh depicted a high level of affection for the young man. The young man’s tilting of his head to allow him to look into her eyes and the grin on his face portrayed strong feelings of admiration for the young lady. Overall it was extremely pleasant to watch and observe the couple.

The couple’s time together was enjoyable for them as it was for me. It was clear they appreciated each other’s company. The nonverbal cues and gestures, the lack of personal space, the engrossed hand holding in the most affectionate of manners and locked eye contact was evidence of this notion. I observed on this occasion that nonverbal communication could be just as powerful as any other form of direct communication. However, unless one is compelled to actually observe, many forms of nonverbal communication go unnoticed. I have come to the realization that nonverbal communication might just be the most powerful form of communication there is, as it portrays a totality of what a person might truly be trying to get across, in terms of information which most other communication styles might not be able to truly accomplish.

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Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

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Nonverbal Behavior and Communication Process Essay

The participants that are observed are a group of young people, most possibly students. There are four males and three females in the group. Each of them varies in appearance. There are two African Americans, four whites, and one female apparently of Asian descent. All of the group members appear to belong to the middle to upper middle class. They also seem healthy, energetic, and eager to participate in the conversation. They have most likely been friends for a long time and have not seen each other recently.

The nonverbal communication behavior evaluated in this observation is the usage of contact codes described by Hecht et al. (8). The accentuated points are tactile communication behaviors such as touches. Additionally, there is an effort to analyze the group members’ understanding of their personal space. In other words, how close they are willing to let their friends go within the personal space, and if there will be any attempts to prevent them from going further. Therefore, the attention is on “tactile communication, or haptics” (Hecht et 8).

The place that the observation is taking place in is a café downtown. It is a small but comfortable place with dim lighting and a lot of attention towards design and interior in general. The place is shaped to create the feeling of comfort and safety. The ceiling is about eleven to twelve feet high, and the floor is covered with soft carpets. There are three other people in the hall, all of them are relatively far from the observed group; they do not attempt to communicate in any way. The observed group occupies a relatively large table; they ordered some snacks and coffee. While most of the participants drink coffee, one white and the female of Asian descent preferred to have tea. The observation took place on 26, September 2017.

As the instructions stated, the observation took place for only twenty minutes and concluded before the group departed. The interaction between the group members went in a friendly atmosphere. The participants were exchanging news, stories, jokes, and they were never silent in general. Each of the participants seemed to be very happy to see their friends. While the participants were communicating, they exchanged a lot of gestures, tactile contacts, and vocals. Although the most often type of nonverbal communication was the usage of vocals, contact codes also received a lot of attention via various types of physical contact (mostly hugging, patting, and gentle hits as a part of a joke or to demonstrate friendly intentions). The participants often exchanged jokes and some gestures that only they were able to understand which indicated that there is plenty of shared experiences and memories in the group.

Amongst the participants, all of the females and one male tended to prefer hugging physical contacts, while the rest of the males mostly resorted to patting and soft hits. The most active in terms of physical contact was a white female. She was especially energetic and eager to hug every member of the group or simply talk to them. The least active member of the group was a white male that seemed to enjoy listening and participating in the conversation on rare occasions. The rest of the participants remained equally active throughout the conversation and tended not to express their emotions too much and did not resort to physical contact most of the time.

The outcomes of the observation relate to McCornack’s definition of nonverbal communication, which he describes as “the intentional or unintentional transmission of meaning through an individual’s nonspoken physical and behavioral cues” (211). Each member of the group tried to convey a message when using physical contact or vocals. However, most of the interactions detected in this observation were designed to express emotions, which Hecht et al. reckon as one of the functional aspects of nonverbal communication (10). The observation, therefore, confirms the provisions provided in the publications both by Hecht et al. and McCornack.

However, the most important aspect of this observation remains the fact that it most visibly demonstrated the basics of nonverbal communication. As this process remains mostly undetected in regular conversations, the only way to evaluate its importance as well as to detect it is to use such kinds of observations and field experiments. However, it is also important to understand the context in which the observation takes place. For example, who are the people that one observes? What is the environment in which their interactions take place? What are the relationships between the participants? Such questions are important to understand the significance of each means of nonverbal communication which the participants resort to during their interactions. If all of these questions are answered, it becomes significantly easier to understand as well as to detect nonverbal communication patterns and mechanisms.

The observation itself must also be implemented according to a particular set of rules. For example, an excessively long observation would most likely result in failing to notice important aspects of nonverbal communication, especially if it is carried out for the first time and the observer is inexperienced. Additionally, it is important to prepare for the observation. If there is no preparation and scientific basis to support the gathered evidence, the data becomes simply useless due to the fact that the observer will not be able to analyze it.

Works Cited

Hecht, Michael, et al. The Nonverbal Communication Reader: Classic and Contemporary Readings . Waveland Press, 1999.

McCornack, Steve. Reflect & Relate: An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication . Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013.

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• Communication

Nonverbal communication

Updated 21 February 2022

Subject Communication

Downloads 60

Category Psychology ,  Sociology

Topic Individual ,  Nonverbal Communication ,  Society

Non-verbal Communication

Non-verbal contact includes the use of facial expressions, gestures, body language and posture, as well as the actual physical space between people that communicate. According to (Bevan & Sole, 2014), one of the most important functions of non-verbal communication includes regulating the flow of experiences. Individuals appear to rely heavily on non-verbal ways to manage their discourse. Mainly, the pitch is used to inform others of the purpose of the conversation. It may also be used to signal the conclusion or start of a talk session. Furthermore, non-verbal expressions such as hand gestures and eye contact can efficiently suggest that it is someone else's turn to speak hence limiting unnecessary interruptions (Hargie, 2011). Furthermore, a broad range of nonverbal cues and signals can be employed to extend the length of speech without verbal communication (Guerrero & Floyd, 2006).

Non-verbal Communication in a Classroom Setting

One of the most relevant hypothetical approaches showing the significance of non-verbal communication is the classroom setting (Comadena, Hunt, & Simonds, 2007). A teacher speaking to students may use a broad range of body expressions and pitch to direct the conversation. For example, the introduction may involve a high pitch while the ending of the class is marked by a low pitch. Other gestures may also be applied to shift from one speaker to another without verbal communication. An example is pointing at a student to respond to a question or pausing and through eye contact, create a chance for students to ask questions or contribute.

Bevan, J. L., & Sole, K. (2014). Making connections: Understanding interpersonal communication. Bridgepoint Education.

Comadena, M. E., Hunt, S. K., & Simonds, C. J. (2007). The Effects of Teacher Clarity, Nonverbal Immediacy, and Caring on Student Motivation, Affective and Cognitive Learning. Communication Research Reports.

Guerrero, L. K., & Floyd, K. (2006). Nonverbal Communication in Close Relationships. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Hargie, O. (2011). Skilled Interpersonal Interaction: Research, Theory, and Practice, 5th ed. London: Routledge.

Mann, S., Vrij, A., Leal, S., Granhag, P., & Warmelink, L. (2012). Dave Forester Windows to the Soul? Deliberate Eye Contact as a Cue to Deceit. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 36 (3), 205-215.

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Verbal and Nonverbal Communication, Essay Example

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Through long years of development, humanity has worked out the combined system of communication, that  enables people to interact and transfer information either through verbal or nonverbal way.

Verbal communication founds on the use of language, which is defined by prominent linguist Sapir as “purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions, and desires by means of a system of voluntarily produced symbols” (Sapir,2007, p.17).

Evidently, spoken language remains the most wide-spread and universal way of rendering information. Therefore, it is the most examined method of language; each road sign conveys specific meaning (“roadwork” or “overtaking prohibited”). Words in their entity serve the chief elements of communication. All the signs accepted in society may be translated by means of communication; their precise meaning becomes clear through the system of verbal and nonverbal devices. The latter affirm, doubt, and justify what is said. The speaker shows ironic or sarcastic attitude to the word by corresponding intonation solely.

Nonverbal communication plays a significant part in information exchange and provides effective personal self-expression because most part of information man receives through the visual channel. Researchers identify kinesics (messages sent by the body and face), paralanguage (voice characteristics: pitch, volume, pace), chronemics (connected with status and punctuality), proxemics (distance between communicators), olfactics (acceptable or unacceptable scents).

Nonverbal codes are considered more reliable and honest in comparison with verbal means because of their less conscious and controlled character.

There are similar expressive movements for different cultures. According to Hindle, “one of the expressions people of different cultures may produce when angry is characterized by opening the corners of the mouth in a particular way and by frowning…, clenching the fists, stamping on the ground and even hitting at objects” (Hindle,1972, p. 299).

Cultural differences in communication codes are object of study for many modern researches. Albert Mehrabian claims that first attempts to identify “the differences encountered during an interaction between members of different cultures” were done by Hall in 1959 (Mehrabian, 2009, p. 6).

One gesture may have different meanings in different cultures. Nodding for “yes” in most countries means “no” in Bulgaria; and vice versa for “not”. Acceptable in one culture may be supposed offensive in another. Indians break bread with right hand solely because the left hand is connected with toilet functions.

Interpersonal space plays a significant part of the process of communication. The attitude of the addressee towards the speaker changes if the comfortable distance is broken. Scientists pay attention to gender related traditions in various countries. In Islamic and Asian cultures touch to the opposite gender person may be considered offend or sexual infringement; in European culture touch of close friends is an ordinary expressive gesture. Shaking hands, men greet each other; this gesture is not adopted among women.

In the process of communication, people belonging to one ethnicity or social group create believes, myths, values. Thus, words bear cultural information revealing distinctions in the spoken language, as well. Ignorance of relevant nuances hampers from understanding a foreign culture. As a rule, notions of this kind are translated through explanation (national heroes, holidays, dishes, historical events etc). Thus, words are not only the signs which identify notions.

The unity of verbal and nonverbal devices enables effective communication. Learning major accepted and forbidden things of the culture you are going to interact with may be helpful to avoid misunderstanding.

Hindle, R. A. (1972). Non-verbal Communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Mehrabian, A. (2009). Nonverbal Communication. New Jersey: Aldine Transaction.

Sapir, E.(2007). Language: an Introduction into the Study of Speech. BiblioBazaar.

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Home Essay Examples Sociology Nonverbal Communication

Verbal And Nonverbal Communication

• Category Sociology
• Subcategory Communication
• Topic Nonverbal Communication

Communication is interacting with people (e.g. talking, body language, having relationships either in private life or work-related relationships…etc.).Its cycle involves the sending and receiving of messages, and it is a two-way process. Communication skills basically mean having the ability to process this cycle in the most effective way, which are the key features needed to build a strong and effective doctor-patient relationship and are needed to exchange information and feelings between physician and patients.

Generally, there are 2 types of communication:

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• Verbal communication, which’s a commonality among linguists, and it’s all written and spoken communication. In this type, we communicate through words and their aspects, as we express our feelings through them.
• Nonverbal communication, It’s silent language. The information we get or perceive through facial expressions, body language, posture…etc., that hasn’t been written or expressed through words, are considered as nonverbal messages. It’s not a language that’s formally taught, but it’s a universal language with some exceptions in a few nonverbal cues or signals that are interpreted differently in different cultures.

The relationship between these two types of communication is fundamental in both everyday and clinical interactions because to build a strong relationship, understanding the message is essential, which depends on how well the information and emotions are expressed by the sender of the message, and how well they’re understood by the receiver of the message (e.g. how well the client can express his/her emotions, and how well the physician can understand them).

Verbal communication is communicating either orally or by written words. It’s the use of words and speech to express our message. There are some types of verbal communication such as ( face to face discussion, speeches, television & radio, telephone conversations, seminars, video, and written documents…etc.) all these can be considered as verbal communication, within two main types which are oral communication and writing.

Oral communication includes everyday conversations, speeches, and seminars. This type has a huge impact on communicating with others as well as it’s important in learning and teaching because we tend to remember and understand what’s spoken more than what’s written. And also written words are included in verbal communication. Written includes emails, books, letters, fax, notes, newspapers, commercials… etc. There’re three main aspects involved in effective communication: the words, the way you say them, and how you reinforce these words with nonverbal cues. All these aspects affect the sending and receiving (understanding) of the message. Appropriate words and appropriate ways of saying should be considered, for example talking with a friend is different than presenting at a conference. Reinforcement includes nonverbal signals needed to strengthen the verbal message, for example, a nodding head or maintaining eye contact shows interest in what others are saying. There are some basic elements of verbal communication, such as:

• Voice: although voice is considered as a nonverbal cue, but without it there’ll be no verbal communication. Voice specificities such as voice tone, which’s very basic in communication, and changes the meaning of a word.
• Language: language is an essential element in verbal communication. There are 6000-7000 known languages in the world, in order to communicate with others, and to avoid misunderstanding, you should be able to fully understand their language, otherwise it’ll be a barrier and may lead to misunderstanding. Language has some properties and principles such as:
• Language is symbolic; words we use have no meaning if they’re not representing something. For example, the word flower is not the flower itself, rather it’s just a symbol of a flower.
• It’s rule-governed; The three primary types of rules contained in language are:
• Syntactic rule, which directs the arrangement of the words in a sentence.
• Semantic rule, which guides the meaning of the words, and the way we interpret them. Without this rule of the shared meaning of words, communication would be impossible
• Pragmatic rule helps us to understand and interpret the words more specifically, which helps us consider the context of the situation, as well as our relationship with the one we’re communicating with. For example, the statement “I killed it” can have a variety of meanings according to the context.
• It defines and limits the objects and what we want to say. Language defines the meaning of words, while simultaneously can limit the meaning. For example when someone asks you about a country, and you only talk about one feature of it, here you limit the understanding of that person about that country.
• Language lets us create and express our messages to others through words. Combinations of words can be used to transmit the message in a way that reflects your feelings, personality…etc.

Nonverbal Communication:

Nonverbal communication is interacting without writing and speech, such as your body posture, voice, facial expressions, gestures…etc. It is your use of distance, use of time, and the environment you create. Within any interaction between two people, over 90% of the communication that occurs is channeled through the nonverbal band, which has a great impact and influence on the receiver’s decoding or interpretation of any message. Nonverbal behaviors allow the observers to discern people‘s emotional state, e.g. happiness, anger, surprise, fear, disgust, sadness, etc. Different types of nonverbal communication such as:

Body movement: this is the way people use their bodies to communicate or enhance their verbal communication, and these are important forms of communication. Body movement includes posture, gestures, eye contact, and facial expression…

• Posture: This is how you position and move your body, which can communicate a great deal about you, for example, how much you’re interested in a conversation can be conveyed by your patient (audience) by the way you’re leaning towards or away from them, and turning your back or standing to leave can convey a lack of interest or signal to the end of the conversation.
• Gestures are any movement of the hands, and arms, which indicate different meanings. The way we wave, point, and use our hands when we’re speaking, we’re expressing ourselves with gestures. For example, open arms can sign honesty, hands held behind the back while speaking can communicate anxiety or reluctance, whereas expressive hand gestures can convey confidence, enthusiasm, and conviction. However, gestures are not universal and their interpretations are usually culturally based, for example, the “okay” gesture made with the thumb and the forefinger means “everything is all right” to an American. But in France, it means “You’re worth zero,” and in Japan, it means “money,” so a gesture can get you a smile or a slap depending on how it’s interpreted.
• Eye contact can also indicate several different types of messages, usually appropriate eye contact while speaking or listening is an expression of respect, interest, and confidence, and lack of eye contact is often a clue to the presence of anxiety, lack of confidence, as well as negligence and disrespect, however, prolonged eye contact or staring can be an expression of aggression. Like gestures, eye contact is also culturally based in interpretation, so we need to be aware and sensitive of the cultural differences in nonverbal signals, in order to avoid misinterpretation.
• Facial expression and our face are probably the most observed part and the most important conveyor of our emotions when we speak, it can express enthusiasm, approval, confusion or boredom…etc. Researchers have suggested that there are at least 640 different facial expressions when you take into account the different eyebrow/forehead, eyes/eyelid, and lower face expressions, which of them, can be used to make verbal messages seem smoother or assertive

Paralanguage: this is how we speak, it relates to all aspects of the voice which are not strictly a part of the verbal message, including the tone and pitch of the voice, speed, and volume, at which a message is delivered, and pauses and hesitations between words, aside from the actual words or contents of our message. These qualities of paralanguage enable the audience to fully understand what is being said.

• Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of our voice, and it’s determined by the physical length and thickness of our vocal cords, and most factual communications include changes in the pitch of your voice. It may rise when we are frightened, anxious, or excited, because the vocal cords tense and shorten, which causes the voice to get higher, and it can lower if we are attempting to sound more powerful or authoritative.
• The pace is the rate of speed at which we talk. Some speak fast, others slow, which is their own rate of speed. We tend to increase our pace of speech when we’re excited, or nervous, and a fast pace is often difficult to understand. Meanwhile, we tend to use a slow pace when we’re sad, and uncertain, which can be frustrating for the audience or the patients. In order to maintain interest during a speech or conversation, you should try to vary your pace.
• Volume is related to the loudness or softness of your voice. Without enough volume you cannot be heard, however, shouting or harsh sounding voice might be perceived as insulting. We can also adjust our volume to meet the requirements of the communication setting we are in. In a noisy, crowded room we raise our volume and speak above the other voices, whereas in a quiet place we tend to speak lower than normal volume. Sometimes lowering your voice almost to a whisper would help you make a point better than shouting.
• Quality refers to the overall sound of our voice. Each of us tends to have a distinctive tone. One’s voice can be loud and deep, while another voice is soft and high pitched.
• And the last aspect is articulation or pronunciation. Some people speak through clenched teeth with a little lip movement, which causes the sound to be trapped in the mouth and makes it hard for the audience to understand it. To avoid misunderstanding, and have good articulation, one should unclench the jaw, open mouth and properly enunciate each sound, and pay attention to the ends of words. This would help the listener as a certain lip-reading will be possible. And also mispronouncing words might be an indicator of ignorance or incompetence. So you must also use the correct sounds and emphasize each word, to make it easier for the listener to understand what has been said.

Personal presentation: this is the way you appear to others, which includes clothing, touching, and grooming.

• Clothing has an important role as it’s the most obvious display of who we are, because how we dress says a lot about us ( e.g. social class, beliefs, and attitudes…etc.), and it can also be a reflection of our mood and emotions. Researchers agree that clothing has the most effect on credibility.
• Grooming habits such as length and style of hair, makeup, perfume, and many other habits reflect a great message about who we are, and how we want to be perceived.
• Touching is the most intimate form of nonverbal communication. Touching behavior, or haptics (as it’s called by social scientists), can be used to reassure someone or express empathy, but you should be sensitive about the personal and cultural preference of the person you want to touch.

Proxemics: this is the study of using our space. As there are different levels of physical closeness appropriate to different types of relationships in different cultures and societies, people learn these different distances from the community they grow up in. Our personal space generally can be divided into four zones:

• Intimate distance ( 0 to 45 cm/ 0 to 18 inches) , this zone is classified as our own property, only our most intimate relationships and those who are emotionally close to us( e.g. family and close friends) are permitted into this area.
• Personal distance (45 cm to 1.2 m/ 18 inches to 4 feet), is the distance at which we interact at social events or in conversations with our family, friends, and relatives.
• Social distance (1.2 to 3.6 m/ 4 to 12 feet), is the distance we feel most comfortable when meeting new people, or sitting during committee meetings…etc.
• Public distance (3.7 to 4.5 m/ 12 to 25 feet), is used for public ceremonies, speeches, or it’s the distance to maintain between strangers in public. Often more than 25 feet is used in shouting or exaggerating nonverbal cues.

Correlation between verbal &nonverbal communication, and their importance in medicine and doctor-patient relationship:

Both verbal and non-verbal communication, individually take a huge part in the interaction between patients and doctors, and in expressing emotions. Proper communication between doctors with other colleagues or patients is essential to avoid errors in diagnoses and performing medical treatments. But in order to communicate and understand in the most effective way, both verbal and nonverbal techniques should be used together appropriately. To understand what we mean by this, we should consider these examples:

• Ali (yawning, and very pale, with dark pitches under his eyes): “I feel a little tired, but I’m ok.”
• Lily (to Lana, with a stern facial expression, in an angry tone of voice, and gesturing furiously): “You’re late!”
• Liam (faking a smile, and lying): “the cake was absolutely delicious! Really…”

In all these sentences, the non-verbal phenomena mentioned will affect the way the utterance is understood, for example, in the first sentence, the physical manifestation of Ali’s tiredness indicate to his audience that he’s absolutely tired and can’t pay enough attention to what they’re saying, however, he would like them to believe that he’s present. In the second one, Lily’s frown, her aggressive, high tone, and her gestures will determine the degree of anger in her, her audience. And in the last one, Liam fakes a smile, which indicates that he’s being ironic, and by this, he means the opposite of what he has said. Here we see the importance of using both techniques (verbal, and non-verbal) in an appropriate way because they can totally shift the meaning of a sentence. And this is the same in the medical field, in order to build a good physician-patient relationship, the physician should be efficient, and smart enough to read all the messages his/ her patient is expressing, either these messages are verbal ( what they say), or non-verbal. When speaking, try to match your voice, body, and gestures with the content of your verbal message.

The importance of using verbal communication in the care of patients has long been known. Both qualitative and quantitative studies have shown evidence of the benefits of effective communication in patients, a study was aimed to explore how much and what types of verbal communication nurses use when caring for unconscious or sedated patients. The findings of this study highlighted the need for formal support systems and continued education for medical staff about the benefits of verbal communication. Also, nonverbal communication has a huge role in medical examinations and doctor-patient relationships, as it’s an important method of exchanging information on the emotional status and contextualizing the meaning of verbal communication. . Patient‘s attempts to mask feelings can be detected by observing their body behavior, conversely, the physician can convey his/her attention and concern in the most effective manner possible.

In order to communicate verbally, show your interest and empathy for the patient, and transmit your message effectively, you should consider the process of it:

• Preliminary communication: this usually involves the first impression and greeting with the patient. Appropriate greeting with a smiling face, and maintained eye contact, alongside handshake (if it was appropriate), while introducing yourself to the patient are important.
• Reinforcement: encourage the patient to discuss, and talk about their illness and concerns, while maintaining eye contact, and nodding your head. While they’re talking show interest with a warm facial expression, to encourage them openly express him/ herself.
• Effective listening: pay close attention to what the patient says, and avoid distractions.
• Questioning: by asking questions you can further information to achieve diagnosis, and also you can obtain whether you’ve understood what they’re saying. There are 2 types of questions, open-ended question, which gives you more information and response from the patient. And close-ended question, which can beneficial for directing questions.
• Reflecting and clarifying: you can summarize your patient’s message with your own words, this will convey the patient that you’re paying them attention and interest, as well as communicating your underestimating back to the patient.
• Closing communication: at the end of the discussion, you should be able to diagnose the patient based on the information they’ve provided you. You have to ensure the patient has understood the condition and give them enough clarification to satisfy them with the information provided.

Communication is interacting with others. Its two types are verbal communication, which includes oral and written communication, and nonverbal communication, which’s using body language to interact with others and reinforcing our verbal messages, it includes body posters, gestures, facial expression, tone, and speed of voice…etc. Both verbal and nonverbal communions have a great role in interacting with others in our daily life, as well as in doctors interacting with their patients. In order to build a healthy, strong relation, we should use both verbal and nonverbal cues appropriately, considering personal and cultural boundaries. 

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• School Education /

Essay on Communication in 100, 200 and 300 Words: The Essence of Survival

• Updated on  
• Oct 20, 2023

Do you know how important it is to communicate with others? Communication is the primary means through which individuals share information, ideas and thoughts. Communication fosters strong relationships. In this essence, writing an essay on communication becomes important where you highlight the importance of communication, how it affects our everyday lives and what skills are required to become a communication professional . Let’s explore all these questions with some essays on communication.

This Blog Includes:

Essay on communication in 100 words, essay on communication in 200 words, essay on communication in 300 words.

Also Read: Essay on Freedom Fighters

Communication is the cornerstone of human interaction and is crucial to sharing ideas, thoughts and information. By communicating, people foster relationships, which is vital for personal and professional growth. Effective communication facilitates understanding, resolves conflicts, and promotes collaboration. Whether verbal or nonverbal, it forms the basis of successful teamwork, decision-making, and social integration.

Clear communication is key to a harmonious society, nurturing empathy, and building trust. It encourages brainstorming, creative thinking, and the development of new solutions to complex problems. Its impact is profound, shaping the way we interact, learn, and evolve, making it an indispensable tool for human connection and progress. 

What makes communication important is that it serves as the bedrock for exchanging ideas, information, and emotions. It is the essence of human interaction, enabling us to convey our thoughts, beliefs, and intentions to others. Effective communication is essential in every aspect of life, whether in personal relationships, professional environments, or social interactions.

Effective communication can form the basis of trust and mutual understanding and understanding. In personal relationships, communication fosters understanding and empathy, allowing individuals to express their feelings and needs, while also listening to and acknowledging others. 

In the professional realm. Communication allows the smooth functioning of organizations. With communication, individuals can disseminate information, set clear expectations and encourage collaboration among team members. Moreover, effective communication in the workplace enhances productivity and promotes a positive work culture.

The uses and benefits of communication are not limited to just personal and professional realms. In social environments also, communication allows diverse groups to understand each other’s cultures, beliefs, and values, promoting inclusivity and harmony in society.

You can call communication a fundamental pillar of human existence, as it helps in shaping our relationships, work environments, and societal interactions. Its effective practice is essential for nurturing empathy, building trust, and fostering a more connected and understanding world.

Also Read: Essay on the Importance of English Language

How crucial communication is can be explained by the fact that it allows the smooth transfer of ideas, thoughts, feelings and information. Communication is the lifeblood of human interaction, playing a crucial role in the exchange of ideas, information, and emotions. It serves as the cornerstone of relationships, both personal and professional, and is integral to the functioning of society as a whole. 

In personal relationships, it is essential to have effective communication for clear understanding and empathy. It allows individuals to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs, while also providing a platform for active listening and mutual support. Strong communication fosters trust and intimacy, enabling individuals to build meaningful and lasting connections with others.

Without communication, you might struggle for organizational success in the professional world. Clear and effective communication within a team or workplace ensures that tasks are understood, roles are defined, and goals are aligned. It enables efficient collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making, contributing to a positive and productive work environment. Moreover, effective communication between employers and employees promotes a sense of transparency and fosters a healthy work culture.

In a broader sense, communication is vital for social integration and cultural understanding. It bridges the gaps between diverse groups, facilitating the exchange of values, beliefs, and perspectives. Effective communication fosters inclusivity and respect for cultural differences, contributing to a more harmonious and cohesive community.

However, communication is not just about sharing information and ideas. It also encompasses nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice, all of which play a significant role in conveying meaning and emotions. It is the glue that binds individuals and communities together, fostering understanding, empathy, and collaboration. Practicing clear and empathetic communication is vital for creating a more connected, inclusive, and harmonious world.

Related Articles:

Communication is the process of exchanging ideas, information, thoughts and feelings between individuals or groups through the use of verbal and nonverbal methods.

To write an essay on communication, you need to describe what communication is, what the importance of communication in our lives and how it can help us know different aspects of life.

To become an effective communicator, you must become an active listener and understand what others have to say. You must learn to express your thoughts clearly and concisely. You also need to ensure your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice perfectly align with your ideas.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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