Chapter 4 Nonverbal Communication 101malicious and self-serving motives, as in the solicitor who tries to get your social
security number and other personal data in order to commit identity theft.
You may be drawn in by a solicitor who sounds warm and friendly, but it is
more likely that you will look for the opposite type of behavior to sniff out a liar
(Canary, Cody, & Manusov, 2008). People who appear anxious, who avoid mak-
ing eye contact, who blink frequently, or who have frequent and awkward body
movements seem deceptive (Leal & Vrij, 2008). However, research shows that
although these cues make us more suspicious, they do not actually make us more
accurate at detecting deception (Van Swol, Braun, & Kolb, 2013). This is partly
because people’s “honest” or “dishonest” demeanor is often inconsistent with
whether they are actually telling the truth or lying (Levine et al., 2011). Liars
often appear anxious only if concerned about the lie or about getting caught
(Canary, Cody, & Manusov, 2008). On one hand, if the lie is unimportant, liars
may instead be relaxed and controlled. On the other hand, someone accused of
lying may show nonverbal or physiological signs of anxiety even if not guilty.
This is one reason why so-called lie detectors (and the newer brain scans) are not
reliable measures of deception (Kirchner, 2013).
Nonverbal Communication Codes
Ask any fans of The Big Bang Theory about the brilliant Dr. Sheldon Cooper’s
greatest struggle and they’ll quickly respond with “understanding other people.”
More specifically, Sheldon confesses to having an immensely difficult time
interpreting others’ emotions (like sadness or disappointment) and responding
empathically. And—played out to great comic effect on the show—he seems
completely unable to decode others’ sarcasm. (At one point, his friend and
roommate, Leonard, has to hold up a sign that says “SARCASM” to help Shel-
don navigate a particularly intense conversation with their neighbor, Penny!)
Truth be told, Sheldon struggles to interpret and understand nonverbal
codes, the symbols we use to send messages without, or in addition to, words.
Although we divide these codes into categories for simplicity and clarity, non-
verbal behaviors seldom communicate meaning in isolation; as you saw in the
last section, clusters of nonverbal behaviors (hugs, smiles, eye contact) function
together to regulate behavior or convey immediacy. The codes we examine here
are gestures and body movements, facial expressions, eye behavior, voice, physi-
cal appearance, space and environment, touch, and time.
Gestures and Body Movements
Did you succumb to the dance craze and Internet meme the “Harlem Shake”?
If so, you’ve joined millions in the silly, shimmying body movements that
communicate sexuality one moment and hilarity the next—all without words
(Cvitanic, 2013). You have probably heard others call such body movements
“body language,” but the way you move your body is not a language at all—
“Harlem Shaking” has no specific, consistently understood definition. Such
behavior is called kinesics—gestures and body movements that send nonverbal
messages. When Eva motions her arm to include Jane in a conversation, or Rodney
walks into an interview standing tall to project confidence, you are witnessing
When you attempt to
deceive others (as when
telling a friend you like her
new boyfriend when you
don’t), are you aware of your
nonverbal messages? Do
you tend to alter your tone
of voice or change your
eye contact? What types of
nonverbal indications do you
look for in others in order to
figure out if they’re telling the
truth?AND YOU?
CONNECT
Kinesics is important
when delivering a speech,
as your body movements
should support your
words. For example, illus-
trators help clarify a point
for your audience; con-
fident posture reassures
your listeners that you’re
prepared and organized.
Certain adaptors (like
yawning), however, can
leave the audience with
the impression that you
are bored with your own
speech. We discuss these
issues in Chapter 14.