Understanding Nonverbal Communication

Learn about the popular, and often incorrectly referenced, study from the 1960s that opened the door to the modern study of nonverbal communication. Understand why nonverbal communication matters so much, and learn how it interacts with verbal communication to reemphasize or deemphasize the message.

Examine the biological drives, such as territorialism, that influence our nonverbal reactions. Define the three "levels" of territories and see how they affect our reaction. Understanding this is an inherent reaction in everyone can help reduce social conflicts.

See how you send signals by just by the colors you choose to wear, or the makeup and scent you apply. Trace the evolution of why certain colors or smells still send subtle and often unconscious messages. Study how the use of space, architecture, lighting, and other, seemingly ambiguous external factors can all have an impact on how we feel, react, and behave.

Can we predict behavior and personality based on the body or the face? Are taller people more likely to earn more money than shorter people? What makes someone's face attractive? Dr. Frank looks at the myths and facts about how age-old cultural references in seeking mates and partners have evolved into snap judgments about personality types, which can have an effect on our potential success.

Unravel the long history of how nonverbal communication has evolved, how and why we originally interacted with others, and how the biological history of our bodies suggests that our ability to communicate verbally was so limited, the only way we could send messages to friends and foes was through facial expressions and body language.

Take a closer look at facial expressions. Learn how Darwin, as well as contemporary psychologists Paul Ekman and Carroll Izard, studied facial and body expressions to determine that certain expressions of emotion may be universal across cultures, despite social display "rules" that often contradict each other from culture to culture.

Probe into the nonverbal elements of the voice: the configurations of pausing, the irregularities of speech, and vocal tone. How fast you talk, how much you say, and how long you wait to respond all send messages about the message you are about to convey. Discover how much you can - and can't - tell about a person just from their voice and speech patterns.

Body language communicates many things, and often contradicts what our words convey. Divide the body into the areas that send the clearest signals about your intent to better understand how to use your posture and gestures to communicate. Explore how the position of your hands and head, your gait as you walk, and how much space you take up all send indications about who you are and how you feel.

How good are we at reading people? Can we train ourselves to be better at this skill, or is it an inherent ability? Explore a number of studies that measure the ability to read facial expressions, voice and tone, and body language. Get some tips for improving your own ability to read nonverbal communication.

Examine the nonverbal communication differences that are driven by the integration of biology and culture, including the unwritten rules that every culture adopts. You'll learn about the concepts of mono- and polychronic time cultures, of high and low context cultures, and individualist versus collectivist cultures.

When under scrutiny, most people react with aroused emotions - anxiety, for example - even when they are telling the truth. Start by learning the difference between a deception and a lie; for example, not disclosing all the facts versus outright fabricating a story. Then explore the scientific data behind our ability to read honesty.

Conclude by revealing how the ability to better read nonverbal communication can affect our daily relationships and help us have a better chance of success in all areas of life. From job interviews to doctor's visits, Dr. Frank will show you the impact nonverbal communication has in everyday situations.