Psychology of Nonverbal Behaviors

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIORS 1
Psychology of Nonverbal Behaviors
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PSYCHOLOGY OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIORS 2
Communication behavior is either verbal or nonverbal. However, this six unit course has
focused only on nonverbal communication behavior. Prior to the course, I wasn’t able to realize
that people around me use nonverbal communication. According to (Smith, 2019), nonverbal
communication is the use of messages that are not words to generate meaning. I have learned
that nonverbal communication occurs every day both at home and work. We communicate with
others through nonverbal channels, and focus on bolts of facial expressions (Leonard, 2012).
However, nonverbal cues are used in respect to the surrounding environment or circumstances. I
have learned that nonverbal cues can be used to express anger, happiness, dissatisfaction, and
satisfaction.
In the course, I have learned that nonverbal behavior of communication entails the use of
body language. The commonly used nonverbal cues in day to day activities include facial
expression, eye contact, bodily appearance, body orientation and movement, tonal variation,
style of voice, and hand gestures (Leonard, 2012). In this unit, I have learned that all
relationships need and involve nonverbal communication; and eye contact is the biggest form of
nonverbal communication. These nonverbal cues are used to communicate, correct, and pass
information in an informal or indirect way. But, the manner in which people communicate in
their relationships nonverbally ranges from gender to gender, culture to culture, and environment
to environment (Kendra, 2020).
This knowledge has greatly impacted the way by which I interact with colleagues, family,
friends, and people in the society (Kendra, 2020). I am now able to interpret what a nonverbal
cue, for instance eye contact, means when my mother looks at me. Also, I am now able to
effectively pass message to a colleague by aid of nonverbal cues, for instance facial expression.
Again, I am unable to interpret and understand the diverse social context of nonverbal behaviors