BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT On BEHAVIOR COMMUNICATION IS ALSO KNOWN AS NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

By

NITIKA AGGARWAL A0101910374 MBA Class of 2012

AMITY BUSINESS SCHOOL AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH SECTOR 125, NOIDA - 201303, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA 2011

BEHAVIOR COMMUNICATION IS ALSO KNOWN AS NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Communication is the process of transmitting and receiving information on a particular topic between two people. It is a process not a product. It is not simply producing a brochure, a poster or a social drama. Behavioral Communication is a psychological construct that addresses people's use of day-today behaviors as a form of communication. Specifically, it refers to people's tendency to express feelings, needs, and thoughts by means of indirect messages and behavioral impacts. Basically, any behavior (or its absence when one is expected) may be judged as communicative if it has the intent to convey a message. For example, an expressive hairstyle, a show of a certain emotion, stonewalling (emotional withdrawal), or simply doing (or not doing) the dishes all can be means by which people may convey messages to each other. The construct of behavioral communication is conceived as a variable of Individual differences. This means that some people more than others tend to engage in behavioral communication in spite of the plausible alternatives of using verbal communication. A measure of the construct, The Behavioral Communication Questionnaire (M. Ivanov, 2008), has been introduced at the Society for Personality Assessment conference in March, 2008. The conceptual framework of the construct has been presented at Western Psychological Association Conference in April, 2008. In March 2010, a manuscript detailing the construct and its measurement has been published by the journal of Personality and Individual Differences, an official scientific journal for the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences. This manuscript is authored by Michael Ivanov, Ph.D. and by Paul D. Werner, Ph.D., professor of psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. A second phase of the research into behavioral communication has been completed in 2012. In this study, the role of behavioral communication was explored within the context of romantic relationships and within a larger array of personality and communication variables. The report has been published as a part of the doctoral dissertation titled Perceptual Agreement: Reality and Illusion in Romantic Relationships by Michael Ivanov, Ph.D. Researchers and other interested parties are welcome to contact the author for more information.

How can differences among people in the proclivity to say things by doing rather than verbally be understood and measured? Behavioral Communication (BC) is defined as a variable of individual differences concerning the use of behaviors that indirectly express one's feelings, needs, and thoughts, as a substitute for more direct and open forms of communication. BC thus provides a conceptual framework to account for many instances of day-to-day behavior from communication standpoint.Strong positive intercorrelations among these versions of the BCQ suggested that people report consistency in what and how they communicate regardless of with whom they communicate. The capacity to communicate with others is at the heart of human experience. We use language, thought, feelings, creativity and movement to let others know about ourselves. Through that communication, we also develop our capacity to understand others. The way we come to communicate and understand is shaped by our early experience of relationships the context in which we begin to learn about, and make sense of the world. Good early attachment experiences facilitate the capacity to communicate effectively, while adverse early experiences can inhibit communication. NON VERBAL BEHAVIOR The communication without words. The face is used a great deal. Hand signals, shrugs, head movements, etc. also are used. It is often subconscious. It can be used for: Expressing emotion (e.g. smiling to show happiness) Conveying attitudes (e.g. staring to show aggression) Demonstrating personality traits (e.g. open palms to show accepting qualities) Supporting verbal communication Non-verbal behavior also varies across cultures (such as the ok finger O), although the six major emotions (anger, fear, disgust, sadness, happiness and surprise) are common across the world. Non-verbal behavior is commonly called body language. NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION According to experts, a substantial portion of our communication is nonverbal. Every day, we respond to thousands on nonverbal cues and behaviors including postures, facial expression, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our handshakes to our hairstyles, nonverbal details reveal who we are and impact how we relate to other people. Scientific research on nonverbal communication and behavior began with the 1872 publication of Charles Darwin's The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Since that time, there has been an abundance of research on the types, effects and expressions of unspoken

communication and behavior. While these signals are often so subtle that we are not consciously aware of them, research has identified several different types of nonverbal communication. In many cases, we communicate information in nonverbal ways using groups of behaviors. For example, we might combine a frown with crossed arms and unblinking eye gaze to indicate disapproval. 1. Facial Expression Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication. Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. While nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger and fear are similar throughout the world. 2. Gestures Deliberate movements and signals are an important way to communicate meaning without words. Common gestures include waving, pointing, and using fingers to indicate numeric amounts. Other gestures are arbitrary and related to culture. 3. Paralinguistics Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection and pitch. Consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. When said in a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm. The same words said in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval and a lack of interest. 4. Body Language and Posture Posture and movement can also convey a great deal on information. Research on body language has grown significantly since the 1970's, but popular media have focused on the overinterpretation of defensive postures, arm-crossing, and leg-crossing, especially after the publication of Julius Fast's book Body Language. While these nonverbal behaviors can indicate feelings and attitudes, research suggests that body language is far more subtle and less definitive that previously believed.

5. Proxemics People often refer to their need for "personal space," which is also an important type of nonverbal communication. The amount of distance we need and the amount of space we perceive as belonging to us is influenced by a number of factors including social norms, situational factors, personality characteristics and level of familiarity. For example, the amount of personal space needed when having a casual conversation with another person usually varies between 18 inches to four feet. On the other hand, the personal distance needed when speaking to a crowd of people is around 10 to 12 feet. 6. Eye Gaze Looking, staring and blinking can also be important nonverbal behaviors. When people encounter people or things that they like, the rate of blinking increases and pupils dilate. Looking at another person can indicate a range of emotions, including hostility, interest and attraction. 7. Haptics Communicating through touch is another important nonverbal behavior. There has been a substantial amount of research on the importance of touch in infancy and early childhood.Harry Harlow's classic monkey study demonstrated how the deprivation of touch and contact impedes development. Baby monkeys raised by wire mothers experienced permanent deficits in behavior and social interaction. Touch can be used to communicate affection, familiarity, sympathy and other emotions. 8. Appearance Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles and other factors affecting appearance are also considered a means of nonverbal communication. Research on color psychology has demonstrated that different colors can evoke different moods. Appearance can also alter physiological reactions, judgments and interpretations. Just think of all the subtle judgements you quickly make about someone based on his or her appearance. These first impressions are important, which is why experts suggest that job seekers dress appropriately for interviews with potential employers.