Non-Verbal Communication and Human Behavior Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Introduction

People seem to elicit different non-verbal behavior patterns when they are surrounded by strangers or communicate with someone they know. As such, some of the pedestrians tend to maintain a fairly rapid walking pace. This seems to suggest that they are uncomfortable on the street due to its poor and unfriendly design or they are rather busy with other matters. It is also noteworthy to mention that people tend to avoid touching each other when maneuvering in the crowd.

Wood (2015) suggests that such non-verbal behavior is conditioned by culture. Thus, in the U.S. touching another person is considered a gesture that demonstrates a closer relationship. People who walk in pairs seem to be more relaxed and confident which is seen through their posture and active hand movements. Engaged in conversation, they tend to wave their hands, point at objects, and demonstrate their security by other means.

Nonverbal Communication

Observations of the kinesthetic domain also allow concluding that people feel safer in the presence of their friend or significant other. The walking distance between pairs of pedestrians is significantly lower which illustrates the tendency to share personal space with someone relatively familiar rather than a stranger. The presence of a friendly person also appears to make the other individual more prone to touching hands or shoulders.

However, this is highly variable due to the degree of relatedness, friendship, or cultural factors. Thus, some pairs were noticed to be mostly reserved in their body language. No active hand movements, hands in pockets, and other features of a dissatisfied state of insecurity. As a result of a field analysis it became evident that although many pairs tend to feel more secure in the crowd as opposed to individuals and respond with relatively less strain, there are certain differences in the behavior of others. The latter could be explained by environmental, cultural, or personal factors.

Reference

Wood, J. T. (Ed.). (2015). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2020, December 9). Non-Verbal Communication and Human Behavior. https://ivypanda.com/essays/non-verbal-communication-and-human-behavior/

Work Cited

"Non-Verbal Communication and Human Behavior." IvyPanda, 9 Dec. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/non-verbal-communication-and-human-behavior/.

References

IvyPanda. (2020) 'Non-Verbal Communication and Human Behavior'. 9 December.

References

IvyPanda. 2020. "Non-Verbal Communication and Human Behavior." December 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/non-verbal-communication-and-human-behavior/.

1. IvyPanda. "Non-Verbal Communication and Human Behavior." December 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/non-verbal-communication-and-human-behavior/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Non-Verbal Communication and Human Behavior." December 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/non-verbal-communication-and-human-behavior/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1