Business Communication

Identify characteristics of nonverbal communication Nonverbal communication refers to the interpretations that are made of bodily actions, vocal qualities, use of space, and self-presentation cues. 2 Identify channels through which we communicate nonverbally Nonverbal communication is continuous, multichanneled, intentional or unintentional, possibly ambiguous, and the primary means by which we convey our emotions. The sources of nonverbal messages include use of body motions (kinesics: gestures, eye contact, facial expression, posture, and touch); use of voice (vocalics: pitch, volume, rate, quality and intonation, vocalized pauses); and use of space (proxemics: personal space, physical space, use of artifacts). 3 Discuss how our self-presentation affects communication People gather information about us based on how they interpret our self-presentation cues. Self-presentation cues include physical appearance (for instance, body shape), clothing and grooming, and use of time (or our temporal orientation). Examine how nonverbal communication varies based on culture and gender The nonverbal behaviors that we enact and how we interpret the nonverbal messages of others depends on our culture and gender. Regardless of our cultural background or gender, however, we can become more adept at interpreting others’ nonverbal messages we receive by not jumping to conclusions, by considering cultural and gender differences, by paying attention to all aspects of nonverbal communication and their relationship to verbal communication, and by perception checking. Understand guidelines for improving nonverbal communication We can improve our encoding of nonverbal communication by being conscious of the nonverbal behavior we are displaying, by being purposeful or strategic in its use, by making sure that our nonverbal cues do not distract from our message, by making our nonverbal communication match our verbal messages, and by adapting our nonverbal behavior to the situation. Key Terms nonverbal communication behaviors |body orientation |proxemics | |kinesics |haptics |personal space | |gestures |vocalics |physical space | |illustrators |paralanguage |artifacts | |emblems |pitch |endomorph | |adaptors |volume |mesomorph | |eye contact or gaze |rate |ectomorph | |facial expression |quality |chronemics | |emoticons |intonation |monochronic time orientation | |posture |vocalized pauses |polychronic time orientation | Lesson Plan for Lecture The goal for this chapter is that students understand nonverbal communication, the types of nonverbal signals used, and how they are used to communicate along with verbal messages. In this chapter, students will identify the characteristics of nonverbal communication, describe the sources of nonverbal information, and explain how gender, sex, and cultural context affect how different nonverbal messages will be received. The chapter concludes by offering suggestions to improve both the construction and the interpretation of nonverbal messages. Chapter Outline with Accompanying Power Point Slides 1 Characteristics of Nonverbal Behavior (See Power Point Slides 3-5) A. Nonverbal communication is continuous B. Nonverbal communication is multi-channeled C. Nonverbal communication can be intentional or unintentional D. Nonverbal communication meaning can be ambiguous E. Nonverbal communication is the primary conveyor of our emotions 2 Sources of Nonverbal Communication (See Power Point Slides 6-7) A. Kinesics: the interpretation of body motions used in communication (See Power Point Slide 8) 1)Gestures: movements of our hands, arms, and fingers that we use to describe or to emphasize a. Illustrators: gestures that augment a verbal message b. Emblems: gestures that substitute for words c. Adaptors: gestures that respond to a physical need 2) Eye contact, or gaze: how and how much we look at people with whom we are communicating 3) Facial expression: the arrangement of facial muscles to communicate emotional states or reactions to messages 4)Emoticons: typed symbols that convey emotional aspects of an online message. 5)Posture: the position and movement of the body; body orientation: posture in relation to another person 6) Haptics: the interpretation of touch a. Reaction to touch is affected by individual preference, family background, and culture. b. Reaction to touch differs within context (public versus private) B. Vocalics: the interpretation of the message based on the paralinguistic features; paralanguage: the voiced but not verbal part of a spoken message. (See Power Point Slide 9) 1)Pitch: the highness or lowness of vocal tone 2)Volume: the loudness of softness of tone 3)Rate: the speed at which a person speaks 4) Quality: the sound of a person’s voice 5)Intonation: the variety, melody, or inflection in one’s voice 6)Vocalized pauses: extraneous sounds or words that interrupt fluent speech C. Proxemics: the interpretation of a person’s use of space (See Power Point Slide 10) )Personal space: the distance you try to maintain when you interact with other people 2)Physical space: the part of the physical environment over which you exert control 3)Artifacts: objects and possessions we use to decorate the physical space we control 3 Self-Presentation Cues (See Power Point Slides 11-13) A. Physical appearanc e 1)Endomorph: round and heavy body type 2)Mesomorph: muscular and athletic body type 3)Ectomorph: tall and thin body type B. Clothing and personal grooming: physical appearance sends a message and one should adapt their style of clothing and personal grooming techniques to the setting C. Use of time; chronemics: the way others interpret your use of time 1)Monochronic time orientation: a time orientation that emphasizes doing one thing at a time, adheres to schedules and rigid appointment times, and schedules interpersonal relationships )Polychronic time orientation: a time orientation that emphasizes doing multiple things at once, views schedules as flexible, and subordinates scheduled activities to interpersonal relationships 4 Cultural and Gender Variations in Nonverbal Communication (See Power Point Slides 14-16) A. Kinesics 1)Eye contact is not universally appropriate and differs in cultures and subcultures 2) Facial expressions and gestures a. Many similarities in facial expre ssions across cultures b. Gestures differ across cultures c. Displays of emotion differ based on culture and gender; gesture style is often used to label masculinity or femininity 3) Haptics, or touch, is closely linked to culture. Some cultures encourage contact and touch, others do not. The meaning of touch also differs by gender. B. Paralanguage 1)Volume varies greatly by culture 2)United States stereotypes masculine voices as low-pitched and loud, and feminine voices as high-pitched and expressive C. Proxemics and territory refer to the difference between individualistic and collectivistic concepts of personal space D. Artifacts and physical appearance: culture and gender influence clothing choices E. Chronemics: The dominant U. S. culture has a monochromic time orientation, while many Latin American and Arab cultures have polychronic orientation. 5 Guidelines for Improving Nonverbal Communication (See Power Point Slides 17-19) A. Interpreting nonverbal messages )Don’t automatically assume a particular behavior means something specific 2)Consider cultural, gender, and individual influences on behavior when interpreting nonverbal cues 3)Nonverbal messages should be interpreted in context 4)Use perception checking B. Sending nonverbal messages 1)Be conscious of your own nonverbal behavior 2)Be purposeful i n your use of nonverbal communication 3)Don’t let your nonverbal cues distract from your message 4)Make sure your nonverbal cues match your verbal communication 5)Adapt nonverbal behavior to the situation Lesson Plan for Group Work Discussion and Assignment Ideas 1Visit the website http://www. ree-hugs. com and read about the campaign to promote more conscious touch. Why do you think this campaign has received such a strong reaction? Do you think our society is more or less open to touch than a generation ago? Would this campaign have been possible 50 years ago? 100 years ago? 2Quotes: These can be used to introduce topics, questions perspectives, or gain individual opinion. Providing students with a quote and prompting them to write or reflect on their personal feelings about the quote can help to spark discussion and interest. Suggested prompts may include â€Å"Define this concept in your own words†; â€Å"Do you agree with this statement? Explain†; â€Å"What text material can be used to support or refute this idea? † Voices: I think they must go deeper into us than other things. —George Elliot The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said. —John Stuart Mill Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. —Leo Buscaglia 3At what age were you able to detect sarcasm? When is sarcasm inappropriate even if the intent of the paralanguage is known? How does sarcasm affect electronically mediated communication? Chapter Activities |4. : Gender and Nonverbal | | |Communication | | |Purpose: |To illustrate differing cultural rules regarding appropriate nonverbal behavior for males and | | |females | |Time: |50 minutes | |Process: |Have men and women reverse role-play (women playing men, men playing women) in the f ollowing | | |situations: | | |a. Two male friends who haven’t seen each other for some time meeting on the street. | | |b. Two female friends who haven’t seen each other for some time meeting on the street. | | |c. Three women sitting around a table in a bar and talking. | | |d. Three men sitting around a table in a bar and talking. | | |e. A male student telling his roommate about his significant other breaking up with him. | | |f. A female student telling her roommate about her significant other breaking up with her. | |When all simulations have been presented, discuss them in terms of proxemics, haptics, kinesics, | | |and paralanguage using the following questions: | | |1. What were women’s perceptions of men’s typical nonverbal behavior? | | |2. What were men’s perceptions of women’s typical nonverbal behavior? | | |3. What are the sources of these perceptions? Are they accurate or stereotypical? | | |4. Do such behaviors and perceptions of behaviors affect same-sex com munication? How? | | |5. If you could change anything about these perceptions, what would you change? Why? How? | |4. : Understanding Kinesics | | |Purpose: |To help students understand both the usefulness and the limitations of relying too heavily on | | |body language for meaning | |Time: |15 to 20 minutes | |Process: |Working in teams of two, three, and four, have students enact a two-minute conversation entirely | | |through body motions (such as gestures, facial expression, eye contact) and touch. You can have | | |them pick from the following scripts or make one up for themselves: | | |(3 students) Cheating student. Two group members don’t want to let you cheat. | | |(2 students) Someone is blind. Another person is in a rush, trying to sneak by the blind person, | | |not knowing that person is blind. | | |(4 students) Three people are in the waiting room of a hospital. One is a nurse, trying to get | | |ahead of the others in line. | | |(2 students) Two people are in church. One is falling asleep, and the other is embarrassed and | | |trying to keep that person awake. | | |(2 students) One is showing the other how to change a baby’s diaper. | | |Give the students a few minutes to work out how they will convey the message of their skit | | |without words. Make sure the groups do not share the scripts with one other, as you will be | | |asking the class to guess what each group’s message is. Ask for student volunteers to share a few| | |of the skits with the class. At the end of each skit, every student should write their own script| | |of what messages were conveyed and understood. Have the class compare scripts. How accurately did| | |the students communicate their messages? Which of the body motion categories were most helpful in| | |conveying meaning? When there were inaccuracies, can you identify why? What kinds of information | | |did you feel the greatest frustration in communicating? | |4. : The Versatility of | | |Paralanguage | | |Purpose: |To help students recognize that often it is the paralanguage that conveys the message | |Time: |15 minutes | |Process: |Provide students with a very generic dialogue involving two participants that relies on | | |historical context, emits descriptive words, and can be applied to many situations. Have two | | |students volunteer to perform the scene. Give these students a setting and situation (e. g. , you | | |meet an old friend in the grocery store). Have them use the dialogue and paralanguage to convey | | |this setting. Have other students guess what is going on. Continue to provide different | | |situations for different volunteers, allowing all students to see that a verbal message might | | |apply to any situation but that paralanguage is often the determining, descriptive factor. | |4. 4: Paralanguage Practice | |Purpose: |To have students practice using paralanguage to communicate emotion | |Time: |15 minutes | |Process: |Bring the following items to class: a DVD player manual, a bottle of bubbles, a cake mix box, a | | |shampoo bottle, and a drug prescription information sheet. Write the following emotions on small | | |pieces of paper: anger, disgust, embarrassment, elation, despair, contentment, and loneliness. | | |Have volunteer students select a product and an emotion. Instruct them to read the printed | | |material while communicating the assigned emotion through their paralanguage. Ask the class to | | |guess the emotion being communicated. | |4. 5: The Messages of Artifacts | | |Purpose: |For students to recognize the intentional and unconscious messages that artifacts convey | |Time: |15 minutes | |Process: |Ask students to get into pairs, and ask them to choose as a partner the person in class they know| | |least well. Each student will share one of the following personal artifacts with his or her | | |partner: key chain, wallet, or a purse. Without saying anything, both partners should take a few | | |minutes to silently familiarize themselves with the artifact that belongs to their partner. They | | |will then take turns and share with each other any conclusions they have drawn about the owner of| | |the artifact: Is this person organized? Romantic? Interested in politics? This exercise will | | |demonstrate the conscious and unconscious messages that our artifacts convey. | Video Materials Movies Movies and movie clips can be used to help students grasp concepts. Clips can be shown in class, or movies can be assigned as homework. Following the movie clips, ask students written or oral questions. These questions should address pertinent concepts, thereby actively engaging students in discussion. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) Rated: PG-13 (Language, mature themes) Synopsis: Daniel and Miranda are in the middle of divorce proceedings. When Daniel realizes he is about to lose access to his children, he takes action by enlisting the help of his make-up artist brother, Frank, to create a character, Mrs. Doubtfire, whom he uses to interview for the position of family housekeeper. In the process, he learns about himself and his family. Questions for discussion 1. What role does the song â€Å"Dude Looks Like a Lady† have on the interpretation of the nonverbal communication? 2. What is your reaction to the â€Å"dance†? Why do you think it has such an effect? 3. How does clothing affect the reactions of the bus driver? The purse snatcher? 4. How are Mrs. Doubtfire’s emotions communicated? Pleasantville (1998) Rated: PG13 (Mature themes, sexual situations, mild profanity) Synopsis: David and Jennifer, two children of a broken marriage, are mysteriously transported into the set of a fictional 1950s black-and-white TV series called Pleasantville. As they experience the quaint family-oriented reality of this fictional community, their attitudes and actions bring about a radical change to the landscape. Slowly but surely, the community’s veneer of perfection starts slipping away. As their presence introduces jealousy, anger, and passion, the movie slowly shifts from the monochromatic background into a vibrant landscape of color. Questions for discussion 1. How does the absence of color serve as a means of nonverbal expression throughout the movie? 2. This movie makes a very blatant statement about society and social changes through the use of color, but in real life the effects of the use of color are much more subtle. What are some examples of the effects of the use of color, whether subtle or blatant, in other movies? The use of color in society? Additional suggested movies: Philadelphia (1993) (perception, nonverbal); Before Sunrise (1994) (nonverbal); In and Out (1997) (nonverbal, co-culture, gender); Freaky Friday (2003) (personality expression via nonverbal communication); Tootsie (1982) (masculine and feminine nonverbal behaviors) Student Assignments The following activities can be assigned for students to work on independently or in some cases as in-class or group activities. Unless otherwise noted, students will have access to these assignments through the Critical Thinking Activities online. Activities marked with a yellow icon can also be found on the Instructor Prep Card. Some of these activities may have accompanying worksheets, which you will want to make available to students if you choose to assign them; these worksheets can be found in the Chapter 4 Handouts section online at www. 4ltrpress. cengage. com/comm. Case Assignment: What Would You Do? Use the following case assignment (also found on the Instructor Resource Card) to get your students to consider how different nonverbal behaviors convey different messages. You might use this as a handout, for which students can provide short answers, or you might use this to create an opportunity for class discussion. A Question of Ethics AFTER THE INTRAMURAL, MIXED-DOUBLES TENNIS MATCHES ON TUESDAY EVENING, MOST OF THE PLAYERS ADJOURNED TO THE CAMPUS GRILL FOR A DRINK AND A CHAT. MARQUEZ AND LISA SAT DOWN WITH BARRY AND ELANA, THE COUPLE THEY HAD LOST A MATCH TO THAT NIGHT LARGELY BECAUSE OF ELANA’S IMPROVED PLAY. ALTHOUGH MARQUEZ AND LISA WERE ONLY TENNIS FRIENDS, BARRY AND ELANA HAD BEEN GOING OUT TOGETHER FOR MUCH OF THE SEASON. After some general conversation about the tournament, Marquez said, â€Å"Elana, your serve today was the best I’ve seen it this year. † â€Å"Yeah, I was really impressed. And as you saw, I had trouble handling it,† Lisa added. â€Å"And you’re getting to the net a lot better too,† Marquez added. â€Å"Thanks, guys,† Elana said in a tone of gratitude, â€Å"I’ve really been working on it. † â€Å"Well, aren’t we getting the compliments today,† sneered Barry in a sarcastic tone. Then after a pause, he said, â€Å"Oh, Elana, would you get my sweater—I left it on that chair by the other table. † â€Å"Come on, Barry; you’re closer than I am,† Elana replied. Barry got a cold look on his face, moved slightly closer to Elana, and said emphatically, â€Å"Get my sweater for me, Elana—now. † Elana quickly backed away from Barry as she said, â€Å"OK, Barry—it’s cool,† and she then quickly got the sweater for him. â€Å"Gee, isn’t she sweet,† Barry said to Marquez and Lisa as he grabbed the sweater from Elana. Lisa and Marquez both looked down at the floor. Then Lisa glanced at Marquez and said, â€Å"Well, I’m out of here—I’ve got a lot to do this evening. † â€Å"Let me walk you to your car,† Marquez said as he stood up. See you next week,† they both said in unison as they hurried out the door, leaving Barry and Elana alone at the table. 1. Analyze Barry’s nonverbal behavior. What was he attempting to achieve? 2. How do you interpret Lisa’s and Marquez’s nonverbal reactions to Barry? 3. Was Barry’s behavior ethically acceptable? Explain. Journal Assignments A. Distracting Mannerisms Describe any distracting mannerisms that you may have. Ask someone who knows you well to provide input. Compare your perception with that of the person you asked. How aware of your nonverbal communication behaviors are you? What, if any, changes would you like to make? B. Touch Preferences and Personal Space Are you a person who likes or dislikes being touched? Why? How do you communicate your preference to others? How does this correlate to personal space? Through observation, see if you can distinguish your preferred distance for intimate space. How does your preference for personal space and touch change when interacting with acquaintances, friends, and strangers? C. Environment How does your home, apartment, or dorm room communicate information about you? What is it saying right now? Why? D. The Multi-Channeled nature of Nonverbal Communication For this assignment, select a popular syndicated talk show host who has both a radio and a TV or Internet broadcast. First listen to the host you chose speak on the radio. Then watch him or her on TV or the Internet. Pay attention to how you receive the message over the radio, when only paralanguage is available, versus when you watch the broadcast over a medium in which you can see facial expressions, eye contact, and other nonverbal channels. How is the message affected by the presence or absence of certain nonverbal channels? Do you interpret the message differently when you see it with paralanguage alone, or was the message the same when it was accompanied by other nonverbals? E. Body Motions Find a public setting (for example, a restaurant) where you can observe two people having a conversation. They should be close enough to you so that you can observe their eye contact, facial expression, and gestures, but not close enough that you can hear what they are saying. Carefully observe the interaction, with the goal of answering the following questions: What is their relationship? What seemed to be the nature of the conversation (social chitchat, plan making, problem solving, argument, intimate discussion)? How did each person feel about the conversation? Did feelings change over the course of the conversation? Was one person more dominant? Take note of the specific nonverbal behaviors that led you to each conclusion, and write a paragraph describing this experience and what you have learned. See Chapter 4 Handouts for accompanying Observation Form. Experiential Assignments 4. 1 Vocal Characteristics Spend a few hours listening to public or talk radio. If possible, listen to a station that broadcasts in a language with which you are unfamiliar. Attempt to block out your awareness of the speakers’ words and instead, focus on the meaning communicated by the pitch, volume, rate, and quality of their speech. Be sure to listen to a number of different speakers and record your results in a log. Can you detect any variations in the vocal characteristics of the different speakers? If so, what do you make of these variations and what they say about each speaker’s message? See Chapter 4 Handouts to find a list of observable vocal characteristics. 4. 2 Self-Presentation Audit The Self-Presentation Audit allows you to analyze the image you project, using the dimensions you have studied in your textbook. These include body type, clothing and personal grooming, poise, touch, and use of time. You can find the audit in your Student Workbook or online. Once you have completed the audit, review how you have described yourself with respect to each of the self-presentation dimensions. Then write a short essay in which you describe how you present yourself, evaluate how satisfied you are with this image, and list what, if any, adjustments to your self-presentation you would like to make so that your self-presentation matches the image you are trying to project. See Chapter 4 Handouts for accompanying Self-Presentation Audit Worksheet. 4. 3 Gender Variations in Body Motions Find a place in the cafeteria or another public spot where you can observe the conversation of others. You are to observe the nonverbal behaviors of three dyads for at least five minutes each. First, observe the interaction of two men, then the interaction of two women, and finally, the interaction of a man and a woman. Using the Observation Tally Sheet provided here, record each participant’s behavior and any other behavioral cues you note. Using these observation notes, review the material on male and female use of body motions. Did your observations confirm these trends? If they did not, evelop an explanation about why they didn’t, using the sheet that follows. See Chapter 4 Handouts for accompanying Gender Variations Observation Form. Using their observation notes, students may review the material on male and female use of body motions with the following questions in mind: †¢ Did your observations confirm these trends? †¢ If they did not, develop an explanation about why they didn’t? 4. 4 Vocal Interferences Tape record yourself talking for several minutes about any subject. When you finish, estimate the number of vocal interferences you used. Then replay the tape and compare the actual number with your estimate. How close was your estimate? Wait a day or two and try it again. As your ear becomes trained, your estimates will be closer to the actual number. Keep a record of your improvement using the worksheet provided. Now that you have raised your awareness, identify the vocal interference you use most frequently and develop a communication improvement plan (see sample in Chapter 1) to reduce your use of that vocal interference. See Chapter 4 Handouts for accompanying Vocal Interference Worksheet. 4. 5 Topical Research Touching behavior can be perceived as a sign of comforting, affection, or harassment. Using online resources or your campus library, locate the article â€Å"Just the Right Touch,† Patrick McCormick (June 1999) from U. S. Catholic for a discussion of the use of touch in providing comforting. Under what circumstances is touch most comforting? 4. 6 Researching Periodicals A great deal of research has been done on the importance of touch in healing and health care. Use databases found online or at the campus library to locate this article: â€Å"Studies Give New Meaning to Hands-on Healing†, Psychology Today, March 2000 v33 i2, p. 25. After reading the article, research other articles on the topic and summarize their findings. Were you surprised at what you found? 4. 7 Using Technology As you watch a tape or DVD of a movie or a television program, select a segment where two people are talking with each other for a couple of minutes. The first time you watch, mute the audio (turn off the sound). Based on nonverbal behaviors alone, determine the climate of the conversation (Are the people flirting? In conflict? Discussing an issue? Kidding around? Making small talk? ). What nonverbal behaviors and reactions led you that conclusion? Watch the video a second time, observing nonverbals but also listening to vocal variations in volume, pitch, and rate of speed. Do any of these vocal cues add to your assessment? Then watch it a third time, focusing on what the characters are saying. Now analyze the segment. What percentage of meaning came from nonverbal elements? What did you learn from this exercise? . 8 Using the Internet Using e-mail, chat room, discussion board or online instant messaging software, conduct a running conversation with a friend, classmate or other acquaintance. Do not use videoconferencing software. Be sure to discuss several issues, engaging in both serious and humorous interactions. Analyze the con versation and its outcomes. Were there any ambiguities or misunderstandings? Were there any moments when you could not tell if your partner was being funny, serious, sarcastic, or emotional? Were there any times when your partner could not tell your level of sarcasm, humor, or emotion? Were these problems resolved? If so, how? Would a face-to-face conversation have avoided some or all of these problems? Why? Online Resources http://www. csun. edu/~vcecn006/nonverb. html â€Å"Nonverbal Communication Helps Us Live† A helpful review of the importance of nonverbal communication in everyday life. From California State University Northridge. http://members. aol. com/nonverbal3/eyecon. htm Eye Contact This site that looks at eye contact from a variety of different perspectives, some with photos for examples. From the Center for Nonverbal Studies http://members. aol. com/nonverbal2/index. htm The Center for Nonverbal Studies homepage (Created by David Givens. ) http://www. natcom. org/ctronline/nonverb. tm ComResources Onlines provides information on the various nonverbal behaviors discussed in the textbook including some information on notable nonverbal communication scholars. http://members. aol. com/nonverbal2/center. htm The Center for Nonverbal Studies also includes a nonverbal dictionary. http:/ /www. geocities. com/marvin_hecht/nonverbal. html Nonverbal Communication Research Page http://www3. usal. es/~nonverbal/varios. htm Nonverbal Behavior: Nonverbal Communication Links http://www. free-hugs. com/ Free Hugs Campaign http://featuredreports. monster. com/firstimpression/actions/ Nonverbal Communication Tips for Interviews Supplementary Student Assignments The following activities are additional experiential exercises and assignments that students will not have access to online. Violating Intimate Space Norms Enter a crowded elevator. Get on it and face the back. Make direct eye contact with the person you are standing in front of. When you disembark, record the person’s reactions. On the return trip, introduce yourself to the person who is standing next to you and engage in an animated conversation. Record the reaction of the person and others around you. Get on an empty elevator and stand in the exact center. Do not move when others board. Record their reactions. Be prepared to share what you have observed with your classmates. See Chapter 4 Handouts to find a sheet for recording reactions. Cultural Differences in Self-Presentation Interview or converse with two international students from different countries. Try to select students whose cultures differ from one another and from the culture with which you are most familiar. Write down a list of questions related to the self-presentation behaviors discussed in your text. Try to understand how people in the international student’s country differ from you in their use of nonverbal self-presentation behaviors. Prepare to share what you have learned with your classmates. Essay Assignments 1. Discuss some cultural variations in self-presentation 2. Discuss how vocal interferences can influence the perception you make on others. 3. Describe the four distances of informal space found in Hall’s research. Give an example of when each would be appropriate. 4. What are the elements of paralanguage, and how does each element affect message meaning? Provide examples to illustrate your points. 5. Discuss why effective communicators need to understand cultural and gender differences in the interpretation of nonverbal behaviors. PART I:Self-Review Self-Review materials are designed to help students process and integrate the concepts from multiple chapters.