Major Factors Of Nonverbal Communication

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Don’t judge a book by its cover. This is a common saying frequently heard and utilized to demonstrate to others that there is more that lies beneath the surface. It is not always the physical appearance that will get someone to a certain place. It’s a person’s character, values, aspirations, and goals that paints a deeper picture. However, this was not the case during the first nationally televised presidential debate in the 1960s in the United States. Nonverbal communication is a form of communication without the use of words. Several factors make up nonverbal communication. There are major and minor factors. The major factors are: facial expressions, eyes, touching, and tone of voice. Minor factors also include: dress, posture, and spatial distance between two or more people. During my observation of the 1960 presidential debate between United States Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice-President Richard Nixon, there was quite an obvious distinction between the two candidates. Viewers …show more content…

Burgoon (1994), she states that nonverbal communication plays an important role in the process of social influence for several reasons. First, we can use nonverbal behavior to create certain impressions of ourselves. If we are successful in making ourselves appear powerful, authoritative, credible, or attractive, we may also be more persuasive. Second, through the use of nonverbal behaviors, people can establish intimate relationships. In other words, nonverbal cues, such as touch, can be influential in developing rapport. Third, nonverbal behaviors can heighten or distract attention from persuasive messages that are likely to reinforce learning. Fourth, through nonverbal cues, a person can be reinforced to imitate a model’s behavior. Fifth, nonverbal cues can be used to signal a person’s expectations and elicit behavior that conforms to those expectations. Lastly, nonverbal behaviors can be used to violate people’s expectations so as to distract

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