Communication behaviors, whether they involve verbal messages, gestures, or some combination thereof, usually occur in “packages,” an important principle originally articulated some fifty years ago (Pittenger, Hockett, & Danehy, 1960). Usually, verbal and nonverbal behaviors reinforce or support each other. All parts of a message system normally work together to communicate a particular meaning. You don’t express fear with words while the rest of your body is relaxed. You don’t express anger through your posture while your face smiles. Your entire body works together—verbally and nonverbally—to express your thoughts and feelings.
In any form of communication, whether interpersonal, small group, public speaking, or mass media, you probably pay little attention to this “packaging.” It goes unnoticed. But when there’s an incongruity—when the weak handshake belies the confident verbal greeting or when the constant preening belies the verbal expressions of being comfortable and at ease—you take notice and begin to question the person’s honesty.
Contradictory messages may be the result of the desire to communicate two different emotions or feelings. For example, you may like a person and want to communicate a positive feeling, but you may also feel resentment toward this person and want to communicate a negative feeling as well. The result is that you communicate both feelings; for example, you say that you’re happy to see the person but your facial expression and body posture communicate your negative feelings (Beier, 1974). In this example, and in many similar cases, the socially acceptable message is usually communicated verbally while the less socially acceptable message is communicated nonverbally.
In any form of communication, whether interpersonal, small group, public speaking, or mass media, you probably pay little attention to this “packaging.” It goes unnoticed. But when there’s an incongruity—when the weak handshake belies the confident verbal greeting or when the constant preening belies the verbal expressions of being comfortable and at ease—you take notice and begin to question the person’s honesty.
Contradictory messages may be the result of the desire to communicate two different emotions or feelings. For example, you may like a person and want to communicate a positive feeling, but you may also feel resentment toward this person and want to communicate a negative feeling as well. The result is that you communicate both feelings; for example, you say that you’re happy to see the person but your facial expression and body posture communicate your negative feelings (Beier, 1974). In this example, and in many similar cases, the socially acceptable message is usually communicated verbally while the less socially acceptable message is communicated nonverbally.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий