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1. Describe similarities and differences between verbal and non-verbal communication.
One similarity between verbal and non-verbal communication is that both are powerful. What we choose to say and do while communicating, deliberately or not, conveys the meaning of the message that we give to other people. Both verbal and non-verbal communication can provide positive and negative emotions as well as convey liking or interest in others. The differences between verbal and non-verbal communication are represented by the amount of relational content that is conveyed when communicating. Non-verbal communication conveys most of the relational content of the message regardless of what we are saying. When our non-verbal cues are contradictory to verbal cues, the non-verbal cues are often more believable. Verbal communication can be less ambiguous than non-verbal communication. It is impossible not to communicate non-verbally, but we can purposely not speak about an issue. This distinction helps us to understand why non-verbal communication can be powerful. Saying nothing in a situation, says something.
2. Why do you think non-verbal communication has so much influence on human perception? Why do we value it more than verbal communication when we are evaluating the relational content of messages? What are the limitations of non-verbal communication in this regard?
Non-verbal communication has an influence on our perceptions because as humans, we are quick to judge and confirm our own messages. Non-verbal behaviours give us the opportunity to “see” if someone agrees with us or disagrees, is happy or sad or angry. Interpersonal communication is the foundation of relationships, so when we notice that someone is behaving according to how we expect, it makes us feel good. If someone behaves in opposition to how we expect, we often want to understand why and try to gather more information. As mentioned, non-verbal communication is more valued when it contradicts verbal messages. In this case, we tend to believe what we “see” in someone’s behaviour rather than what they say. Some limitations of non-verbal communication include its ambiguity and difficulties in understanding cultural differences in non-verbal behaviours.
4. The research evidence regarding the power of physical attractiveness over human perception is disconcerting. What can we do to overcome our biases (both positive and negative) in this area? Do you think it is fair to characterize our perceptual biases related to physical appearance as a prejudice similar to racism or sexism? Why or why not?
Research on physical attractiveness tells us that attractive people are perceived more positively. This can be understood by how quickly we form impressions of others. To overcome our biases on physical attractiveness we need to remember the principles of increasing our accuracy in interpersonal perception. Chapter 3 outlines several ways to do this. We can build empathy to better judge others’ behaviour by considering the other person’s perspective, remembering that emotions are contagious, and having a genuine concern for the well-being of others. Taking the time to do this helps us to connect more meaningfully with others and withhold initial impressions. It is fair to equate our perceptual biases with respect to physical appearance to racism and sexism to the extent that they lead to differential responses to people based on their appearance, which resembles behaviours owing to racist or sexist beliefs.