FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND GESTURES
What are facial expressions, and why are they important in communication?
Facial expressions are movements of the face that show emotions or feelings, and they are important because they communicate meaning without words.
What is body language?
Body language is the use of posture and movement to communicate feelings, attitudes, or information without words.
What role do the eyes play in nonverbal communication?
The eyes help communicate feelings and information without words through looking, staring, and blinking.
What is one way people communicate without words through touch?
People use touch to communicate emotions such as affection, familiarity, and sympathy.
How can appearance act as a form of nonverbal communication?
Appearance communicates information through clothing, hairstyle, and overall look without using words.
Give two examples of emotions that can be shown through facial expressions.
Examples include happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. (Any two are correct.)
According to the passage, why did interest in body language increase after the 1970s?
Interest in body language increased after the 1970s due to research and popular media attention, especially following the publication of Julius Fast’s book Body Language.
What usually happens to a person’s blinking rate and pupils when they see something they like?
Their blinking rate increases, and their pupils dilate.
According to Julia Wood, what can touch communicate besides emotions?
Touch can also communicate status and power.
Why are first impressions based on appearance important in situations like job interviews?
First impressions can influence judgments, so dressing appropriately can positively affect how employers perceive a job seeker.
According to the passage, why are facial expressions often noticed before a person speaks?
Facial expressions are often noticed first because the face is usually the first thing people see when interacting with someone.
Why are postures such as arm-crossing and leg-crossing sometimes misinterpreted?
Arm-crossing and leg-crossing are sometimes misinterpreted because body language is often subtle and not as definite as people once believed.
Name two emotions that can be expressed through eye behavior.
Examples include hostility, interest, and attraction. (Any two are correct.)
How do high-status individuals tend to use touch differently from lower-status individuals?
High-status individuals are more likely to invade others’ personal space with greater frequency and intensity.
How can appearance influence a person’s success or income, according to research?
Research shows that attractive people tend to earn more money and receive better job opportunities and benefits.
How can gestures have different meanings in different cultures? Give one example from the text.
Gestures can have different meanings in different cultures. For example, the “V” sign with the palm facing out means peace or victory in the U.S., but it can be an insult in Britain and Australia.
What is proxemics, and how does it relate to personal space?
Proxemics is the study of personal space and how people use distance to communicate how comfortable they feel with others.
How do people commonly interpret steady eye contact compared to shifty eye contact?
Steady eye contact is often seen as a sign of honesty and trustworthiness, while shifty eye contact is often viewed as a sign of lying or deception.
How do men and women tend to differ in their use of touch for communication?
Women tend to use touch to show care, concern, and nurturance, while men are more likely to use touch to assert power or control.
How does culture influence judgments about physical appearance?
Different cultures value different body types; for example, thinness is often valued in Western cultures, while fuller figures may represent health, wealth, and status in some African cultures.
Why might judges limit the use of gestures in a courtroom, and how can gestures influence people’s opinions?
Judges may limit gestures in a courtroom because gestures can influence jurors’ opinions, such as making an argument seem boring or making a witness appear less credible.
What factors influence how much personal space a person needs, and how does this distance change in different communication situations?
Personal space is influenced by social norms, cultural expectations, situational factors, personality, and familiarity. The distance changes depending on the situation, such as being closer in casual conversations and farther away when speaking to a crowd.
Why might judging honesty based on eye contact alone be unreliable?
Research suggests that eye gaze does not accurately predict lying behavior, so eye contact alone is not a reliable indicator of honesty.
What did Harry Harlow’s monkey study reveal about the importance of touch in early development?
The study showed that deprivation of touch in infancy can impair development, leading to long-lasting deficits in behavior and social interaction.
What are artifacts, and why are they considered a powerful form of nonverbal communication?
Artifacts are objects, images, or clothing (such as uniforms or avatars) used to communicate information about identity, values, or occupation. They are powerful because people can quickly understand important information about someone at a glance.