Conversational Analysis

Tools to analyze and ultimately improve conversation and communication generally have traditionally come in the form of suggestions or guidelines written in a textbook or a how-to-do-it trade book. But, recently, software programs such as Cogito have been developed. These programs are based on an extremely thorough analysis of all sorts of communication signals, especially nonverbal signals, for example, varied or consistent emphasis, mimicking or mirroring, and vocal-cord tension. They read these signals as you are speaking and they offer guidance (don’t vary your emphasis too much, you’re not mirroring the other person’s nonverbals, the person is getting agitated). The target audience for such tools is vast and is currently being tested with and in use with some health care providers and call-in centers.  Here are a few references that might prove helpful.

http://www.cogitocorp.com/

Bercovici, J. (2017, July/August). The machine that makes you human. Inc. 76-82.

Zarya, V. (2017, May).The future of collaboration. Fortune 175, 71-72.

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Height

Here is a revision of a little quiz to introduce the topic of height in a nonverbal or other communication class.  It contains both historical and contemporary personalities and should play well in the classroom.

The Self-test

Try estimating the heights of the following famous people whom you’ve probably read about or heard about (but probably not seen in person) by circling the guessed height. In each of these examples, one of the heights given is correct.

1.      Baby Face Nelson (bank robber and murderer in the 1930s): 5ʹ5ʺ, 5ʹ11ʺ, 6ʹ2ʺ

2.      Ludwig Van Beethoven (influential German composer): 5’6”, 6’0”, 6’5”

3.      Kim Kardashian (media personality): 5’2”, 5’5”, 5’8”

4.      Buckminster Fuller (scientist, credited with inventing the geodesic dome): 5’2”, 5’10”, 6’3”

5.      Bruno Mars (singer): 5’5”, 5’8”, 5’10”

6.      Mahatma Gandhi (Indian political leader whose civil disobedience led to India’s independence from British rule): 5’3”, 5’8”, 6’0”

7.      Jada Pinkett Smith (actor): 5’0”, 5’6”, 5’9”

8.      Joan of Arc (military leader, burned for heresy at age 19, and declared a saint) 4’11, 5’4”, 5’10”

9.      T. E. Lawrence of Arabia (adventurer and British army officer) 5’5”, 6’0”, 6’5”

10.  Salma Hayek (actor): 5’2”, 5’5”, 5’8”.

The Follow-up

This exercise was designed to see if you would overestimate the heights of a number of these people. Fame seems to be associated with height, and so most people would think these people were/are taller than they really were/are. The specific heights for all are the shortest heights given above: Baby Face Nelson, 5¢5ʺ; Ludwig Van Beethoven, 5¢6ʺ; Kim Kardashian, 5’2”; Buckminister Fuller, 5¢2ʺ; Bruno Mars, 5’5”; Mahatma Gandhi, 5¢3ʺ; Jada Pinkett Smith, 5’0”; Joan of Arc, 4¢11ʺ; T. E. Lawrence, 5¢5ʺ; and Salma Hayek, 5¢2ʺ.      

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Nonverbal Mistakes

Here’s an article on body language that you should avoid; body gestures that can create a negative impression in another person. It's best to look at these gestures as creating negative impressions under certain circumstances but, certainly, not in all situations:

1. Crossing your arms across your chest can indicate defensiveness.

2.      Leaning forward can indicate aggressiveness.

3.      Breaking your eye contact too early in the interaction.

4.      Putting your hands on your hips when standing can indicate aggressiveness.

5.      Taking a step or two back when asked a question or for a decision.

6.      Putting your hands behind your back or in your pockets can make you look overly stiff.

7.      Nodding more than usual can make you look less than serious.

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Nonverbal Cues to Lying

Here’s an interesting article on lying and the nonverbal cues that often (but, not always) reveal that a person is, in fact, lying. The author correctly points out that the first thing one needs to know is how the person behaves normally—what we call establishing a baseline of behavior. Deviations from this baseline are the most revealing. Here are the 11 signs. 

1. Liars change their head position more than truth-tellers

2. Liars' breathing changes

3. Liars stand still

4. Liars repeat words and phrases

5. Liars provide more information than needed

6. Liars touch or cover their mouth

7. Liars cover vulnerable body parts

8. Liars shuffle their feet

9. Liars find it difficult to speak

10. Liars stare without blinking

11. Liars point a lot

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Deception Detection at Airports

Here is a New York Times article on deception detection at airports or, rather, the lack of it. And after a $1 billion plus investment! There is also a great interactive link within the article that will prove interesting in a class discussion.

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Lie Detection

Here is a report on a study which provides some interesting evidence that although we are only able to detect lying at about 50 percent accuracy (consciously), we may do better relying on our unconscious mind. Briefly, the researchers found that subjects took longer to attach "truthful" labels such as truthful, honest, and valid to visuals of people (shown at speeds below the level of consciousness) who were identified as liars. They also took longer to attach "lie" labels such as dishonest, deceitful, and invalid to visuals of those identified as truth tellers. Conversely, truth labels were more quickly attached to truth-tellers and deception labels were more quickly attached to liars.

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Functions of Smell

In the current issue of Wired(May 2014) there’s a brief article on Menssana Research and their efforts to detect sickness from breath samples. According to their website, they do NOT provide diagnostic tests for disease but instead a breath test to tell you if you don’t need to get more tests. So, for example, in the case of a lung cancer test, if the breath test is negative, the person need not go for additional tests. If the test is positive, then additional testing (such as a chest CT) is needed.  We do something similar when we make judgments about someone having, say, an upset stomach from their bad breath.

So, in The Nonverbal Communication Book the four functions of smell that I identify--to attract others, to aid taste, to aid memory, and to create an image—need to be increased to add: to detect illness and well-being.

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Body Language

Take a look at this Body Language infographic. It was created by and sent to me by Brietta Mengel. Thank you, Brietta.  It should make for interesting discussions in interpersonal communication or in nonverbal communication, even with the old (and greatly misused) Mehrabian study. 

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Power, ethics, and chairs

 

Here’s an interesting study I found in the current issue of the Harvard Business Review (November 2013). It should prove useful in nonverbal communication but really in any course in which ethics, power, or environment are considered. In brief, the study explored the relationship between the size of one’s chair (which allows for body expansion or encourages contraction) and the tendency to engage in unethical behavior. For example, random selected participants were placed in large or small chairs. All the participants were purposely overpaid but 78% of those in expansive postures kept the extra overpayment while only 38% of those in contractive postures did. Well, there is much more to the study which you can read at http://www.andyjyap.com/#!reserach/cm8a--thewebsite of the lead author, Andy Yap. The HBR discussion, however, is also interesting because it’s a part of their feature, “Defend Your Research” and so there’s a brief 2-page interview with Yap in which he explains some of the implications and limitations of the study.

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Nonverbal Communication

Kendall-Hunt has put up a website for my The Nonverbal Communication Book. (www.KendallHunt.com/devito).  The website has links to the Preface, the TOC, and a sample chapter--(click "Samples"). I chose the chapter on temporal communication--Time Messages. This sample chapter is open access and so students as well as instructors can use it. It's a really very different nonverbal communication textbook and that's why I wanted the chapter made available online. If anyone does use it in class or just looks at the chapter--as student or instructor, I'd sure appreciate hearing any reactions, negative as well as positive.

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The Nonverbal Communication Book TOC

Here is the Table of Contents for The Nonverbal Communication Book.

The Nonverbal Communication Book

 

Contents in Brief

 

Welcome to The Nonverbal Communication Book

 

Part One. Foundations of Nonverbal Communication

1.      Introducing Nonverbal Communication

 

Part Two. The Codes of Nonverbal Communication

2.      Body Messages

3.      Facial Messages

4.      Eye Messages

5.      Artifactual Messages

6.      Space Messages

7.      Touch Messages

8.      Paralanguage and Silence Messages

9.      Time Messages

 

Part Three. Putting It All Together

10.  Attraction, Deception, Immediacy, and Power

 

Appendixes

A.    Researching Nonverbal Communication

B.     Creating a Video on Nonverbal Communication

 

Glossary of 200 Nonverbal Communication Concepts

 

References

 

Index

 

 

Contents in Detail

 

Welcome to the Nonverbal Communication Book [Preface]

 

Part One. Foundations of Nonverbal Communication

 

Chapter 1 Introducing Nonverbal Communication

The Nature of Human Communication

Communication Context

Senders and Receivers

Messages

Channels

Noise

The Nature of Nonverbal Communication

The Areas of Nonverbal Communication

The Myths and Truths of Nonverbal Communication

The Benefits of Studying Nonverbal Communication

Some General Benefits

Some Specific Benefits

Ten Principles of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal Messages Interact with Verbal Messages

Nonverbal Messages Help Manage Impressions

Nonverbal Messages Help Form and Define Relationships

Nonverbal Messages Structure Conversations

Nonverbal Messages Are Rule Governed

Nonverbal Messages Can Influence and Deceive

Nonverbal Messages Are Crucial for Expressing Emotions

Nonverbal Messages May be Intentional or Unintentional

Nonverbal Messages Are Ambiguous

Nonverbal Messages Are Influenced by Culture, Gender, and Individual Differences

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

Diagramming a Model of Human Communication

Identifying Nonverbal Communication

Explaining the Values of Nonverbal Communication Study

Paraphrasing and Identifying the Interaction of Verbal and Nonverbal Messages

Explaining “Getting to Know You”

[Identifying Gender Differences]

Paraphrasing and Illustrating the Principles of Nonverbal Messages

 

Part Two. The Codes of Nonverbal Communication

 

Chapter 2. Body Messages

The Body General

Body Type

Body Height

Body Weight

Body Disabilities

Body Movements

Emblems

Illustrators

Adaptors

Affect Displays

Regulators

Body Posture

Inclusiveness/Non-inclusiveness

Face-to-Face/Parallel

Congruence/Incongruence

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

[Exploring Body Types]

Identifying the Connection between Body Type and Personality

[Estimating Heights]

              Explaining and Exemplifying the Five Body Gestures

              Identifying the Meanings of the Three Postures

On the Job

Smile, Smile, Smile

Leadership Material

Politeness in Nonverbal Communication

Being polite with body messages

If you want to

Sell a car/refrigerator/house

Signal interest in/attraction to/liking for another person

 

Chapter 3. Facial Messages

Face Communication

Facial Shape and Size

Facial Emotional Expression

Facial Recognition and Judgments

The Smile

Facial Management

To Qualify

To Modulate

To Falsify

Facial Styles

The Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Emotional Contagion

Culture and Facial Expression

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

[Describing Facial Movements]

Distinguishing Smiles

Identifying Facial Management Strategies

Recognizing First Impression Tendencies

 [Testing the Facial Feedback Hypothesis]     

On the Job

Blanked Expressor

Displaying Authority

Politeness

      Being polite with facial messages

If you want to:

Flirt/express romantic interest/initiate a relationship

Demonstrate credibility/competence/character/charisma

 

Chapter 4. Eye Messages

Purposes of Eye Movements

To Help You Think

To Reveal and to Conceal Emotions

To Regulate Conversation

To Change Psychological Distance

To Include and to Exclude Others

Types of Eye Movements

Pupil Dilation

Culture and Gender Differences

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

[Expressing Meanings through Eye Communication]

Distinguishing Right and Left Movers

Identifying Eye Movement Functions

Explaining Eye Behavior Impressions

Identifying Pupil Dilation in Advertisements

On the Job

Winking

Staring

Over Your Shoulder

Politeness

Being polite with eye messages

If you want to:

Show supportiveness/empathy/concern

Express agreement/approval

 

Chapter 5. Artifactual Messages

Color Communication

Colors and Personality

Colors and Culture

Space Decoration

Space Decoration and Person Perceptions

Space Decoration and Product Perceptions

Space Decoration and Emotional Perceptions

Clothing

Protection

Gender, Cultural, and Religious Identification

Status

Occupation and Group Identification

Social Awareness, Social Consciousness

Personality and Inner Feelings

Cosmetic Clothing

Influence

Message Sending Clothing

Body Adornment

Jewelry

Hair

Body Piercing and Tattoos

Smell Messages

            Functions of Smell

            Smell Phenomena

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

[Identifying Clothing]

Explaining Color Meanings

Using Colors to Create a Product Image

Identifying Product Placement

Designing a Living Space

Clothing the Superhero

Illustrating the Functions of Clothing

Explaining the Holidays Nonverbally

On the Job

The Power Desk

Clothing Appropriateness

Artifactual Code

Politeness

Being polite with artifactual messages

If you want to:

Ace the job interview

Dominateor control the conversation

 

Chapter 6. Space Messages

Proxemic Distances

Theories of Space

Protection Theory

Equilibrium Theory

Expectancy Violations Theory

Crowding and Privacy

Crowding

Privacy

Territoriality

Types of Territories

Territorial Encroachment

Reactions to Encroachment

Territorial Markers

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

[Identifying Your Own Use of Space]

Illustrating Proxemic Distances

Creating Seating Arrangements

Identifying the Factors Contributing to Crowding

Describing Your Privacy Settings

Selecting Seats at the Company Meeting

Examining Your Territories

Using Markers Effectively

On the Job

Close Talking

Space Hog

Space Invasion

Politeness in Nonverbal Communication

Being polite with spatial messages

If you want to:

Appear approachable/friendly/open

Appear likeable/attractive/friendly

 

Chapter 7. Touch Communication

The Meanings of Touch

Touch and Compliance

Tie Signs

Touch Avoidance and Touch Deprivation

            Touch Avoidance

            Touch Deprivation

Touch Differences

Status, Gender, and Touching

Relationship Stage and Touching

Culture and Touching

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

[Explaining Who Touches Whom]

Shaking Hands

Identifying the Meanings of Touch

[Recognizing the 14 Touch Tie Signs]

Relationships and Touching

On the Job

Shake or Hug

Too Much Touching

Nonverbal Politeness

Being polite with touch messages

If you want to:

To show rapport/similarity/understanding

To apologize/gain forgiveness/lessen a bad impression

 

Chapter 8. Paralanguage and Silence

Contents

Paralanguage

Paralanguage and People

Paralanguage and Communication Effectiveness

Paralanguage and Conversational Regulation

Silence

Culture and Silence

The Spiral of Silence

The Ethics of Silence

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

[Regulating Paralanguage]

Expressing Praise and Criticism

Distinguishing between Literal and Opposite Meanings

Identifying and Illustrating the Functions of Silence

Making Silence Decisions

On the Job

The Monotone

Unwanted Interruptions

Voicing Disagreement

Nonverbal Politeness

Being polite with paralanguage messages

Being polite with silence messages

If you want to:

Be especially clear/unambiguous/understandable

Appear confident/in control/at ease/without apprehension

 

Chapter 9. Time Messages

Psychological Time

Past Orientation

Present Orientation

Future Orientation

Interpersonal Time

Punctuality

Wait Time

Lead Time

Duration

Simultaneity

Talk Time

Work Time

Relationship Time

Synchronicity and Asynchronicity

Response Time

Cultural Time

Formal and Informal Time

Monochronism and Polychronism

Displaced and Diffused Orientation

The Social Clock

Biological Time

Biorhythms

Daytime Preferences  

Time Management

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

[Identifying Your Psychological Time Orientation]

Distinguishing between Appropriate and Inappropriate Time Responses

Explaining Interpersonal Time

Analyzing Time Expressions

Making Self-Disclosure Decisions

Charting Your Biorhythms

[Identifying Your Daytime Orientation]

Analyzing Your Own Time Management

 

On the Job

Workplace Promptness

Multitasking

Politeness

Being polite with time messages

If you want to:

Appear a professional leader/in control of the situation, especially at meetings

Express intimacy/connection/liking for/warmth/affection

 

Part Three. Putting It All Together

 

Chapter 10. Attraction, Deception, Immediacy, Power

Attraction

Principles of Attraction   

Increasing Attractiveness

Lying

Principles of Lying

Increasing Lie Detection Ability

Immediacy

Principles of Immediacy

Increasing Immediacy

Power

Principles of Power

Increasing Power

Summary

Key Terms

And in Addition

 

Exercises

Describing Attraction In Your Life

Describing Lying In Your Life

Describing Immediacy In Your Life

Describing Power In Your Life

 

Appendix A. Researching Nonverbal Communication

Appendix B. Creating a Video on Nonverbal Communication

Glossary of 200 Nonverbal Communication Concepts

References

Index

 

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