HHS310: H & HS Culture: The Helping Relationship (CGD1716A)-Discussion 2 wk2

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication (communication without the use of words) is the basic, primitive form of conveying information from one person to another. It has been estimated that in normal communications between two people, only one-third of the meaning is transmitted verbally and nearly two-thirds is transmitted nonverbally. Nonverbal communication is used when individuals do not possess command of a language. The channels through which it operates are fundamentally affective rather than cognitive, although a cognitive element is clearly involved. Nonverbal communication takes place universally when two individuals meet for the first time, size each other up, and develop ideas about the kind of person with whom they are dealing—whether the other is hostile or friendly, weak or strong, concerned or indifferent.

Infants cry wordlessly, wave their arms, and pucker up their faces to communicate feelings of discomfort. he response of the parents to these early attempts of their infant to say how he or she feels—and how the infant feels is usually in relation to how the parents feel—will determine the infant’s formulation of concepts related to these actions. he parents’ response will also determine the infant’s development of ways to communicate feelings of hunger, happiness, anger, and so on. Only later will come the words that will embody these feelings.

Nonverbal communication is continuous, with or without verbal accompaniment. It is the principal means by which attitudes and feelings are conveyed, particularly in the initial stages of a relationship, but it goes on throughout any continuing contact between people. Because nonverbal communication never ceases, there is great danger that a worker may be communicating contradictory messages. One may say verbally, “I’m so glad that you stopped by,” while at the same time conveying nonverbally, “I’m tired and harassed, it’s late on a Friday afternoon, and I’ll be glad to see the last of you.”

This kind of communication is confusing at best and can be extremely destructive to vulnerable people. We see this with children caught in a situation where there is basic rejection of the child’s needs and demands, and where the anger and frustration about this are communicated constantly by nonverbal means, while the parents verbally profess love and concern. Such children are confused because they do not know which communication is valid.

Sensitive workers, who are aware of their own feelings and recognize the impact expression through nonverbal channels has on the people with whom they are working, will attempt to deal with their own feelings in constructive ways. hey can ventilate feelings of frustration with a fellow worker, hopefully one who will be healthy and knowledgeable enough to encourage ventilation rather than to reinforce the negative feeling. Or workers can use a good supervisor whose responsibility it is to help deal with these feelings. hey can also in some instances acknowledge the existence of the feelings with the person to whom they are talking, try to understand their source, and decide whether it is possible to change the situation that provokes them. his can be done in a way that enhances healthy communication.

In some instances, workers can face and verbalize their own conflicting feelings with both individuals and groups to good effect. he worker who can say directly to a client “I don’t feel well prepared for our session today, but I think we can make it meaningful”

Levine, Joanne. Working with People: The Helping Process (Page 86). Pearson Education. Kindle Edition.

acknowledges a reality of which the client is doubtless aware and sets up a situation in which both can then deal with it.

Over the years, American culture has tended to view expression of feeling as a sign of weakness or “femininity” so that very often deep and significant feelings can only be expressed nonverbally or symbolically. Even then, the expression may be so disguised that it requires knowledgeable interpretation. If there is feeling—and there always is—it will frequently be expressed by nonverbal messages. We are not always aware of nonverbal communications, but they can be potent influences in determining decisions and judgments.

Nonverbal messages are conveyed through the person and the setting. Age, gender, race, speech, personal appearance—physique, posture, body odor, dress, tension, facial expression, behavior, silence or speech, tone of voice, gestures or movements, eye contact, touch, body sounds—all convey messages to the receiver, as does the physical setting—its appearance, aesthetic quality, comfort and privacy (or lack of them), and general climate. he ways in which we convey nonverbal messages about ourselves are endless. Once workers know where to look and what to listen for and to sense in both self and client, their sensitivity and ability to understand will increase. Let us look more closely at some examples of these nonverbal media.

Tone of Voice

Tone of voice is a frequent form of nonverbal communication. From the carefully noncommittal tone designed to conceal to the uncensored exclamation of pain, joy, anger, fear, or grief, it is a revealing part of the whole process of conveying messages. The meaning of words can vary greatly according to the tone of voice in which they are spoken. The worker who wishes to test this need only select a simple phrase such as “I understand” and experiment with the many different meanings one can convey by altering one’s intonation. It is important that the worker’s interpretation of nonverbal communication is accurate. This can be checked by a comment such as “You sound like you’re really angry” or “That sounds like it’s pretty painful for you,” which will open the way for verbal expression.

Facial Expression

Facial expression is another important mode of conveying messages. To an extent, faces tend to become “set” by the life patterns of the individual in expressions of apprehension, happiness, anger, passivity, friendliness, aggressiveness, and so on. Upon this lifetime foundation, response to the immediate situation will be superimposed. For example, the “poker face,” a person who traditionally plays it cool, is much less likely to express through his or her countenance the transitory feelings that are affecting him or her. However, the face that strives for bland concealment or negation of feeling—the “mask face”—conveys a meaning to the knowledgeable observer that is as significant as free change of expression.

Silence

Silence is a potent form of nonverbal communication that can express many different things, according to the context in which it is used. It may be a companionable sharing, an expression of anger or despair, or recognition of an impasse. Its use is influenced strongly by the cultural background of the individual; its meaning varies according to behavior patterns of the group. Silence can create great anxiety and be interpreted as an expression of hostility—thus, workers must be particularly aware of and knowledgeable about the needs of their clients if they choose to employ silence as a means of communication or as a technique.

Gestures and Movements

Gestures and movements are time-honored methods of conveying attitudes and ideas. Relaxation or tension of the body, restless movement, biting the nails, shifting the feet, clenching or wringing the hands, drumming on the table—the list can go on ad infinitum. One of the most frequently stressed indices of communication in this mode is use of the eyes. Eye contact can be a significant factor in assessing the state of mind or feeling of the person with whom the worker is communicating. Here again, culture must be considered along with individual patterns of behavior. The old beliefs about “the evil eye” are still prevalent among many people. Looking directly at a person or not meeting the gaze directly may be considered rude or taboo in a particular culture or family group. The eyes, “the windows of the soul” as they have been rhapsodically called, have special significance in relationships among people.

Physical Appearance

Physical appearance communicates definite messages about one’s state of mind and feeling, as well as about one’s ideas and general personality. Extremes say something about the impression one is striving to create and one’s feelings about oneself. Conformity or nonconformity with the generally accepted patterns of appearance carries a message. Cleanliness or lack of it can be significant. Physical appearance may also bring responses determined by previous experiences or biases. The worker who is an older white woman or a member of an ethnic group may be seen as a stereotype of what is considered desirable or undesirable in that group.

Body Sounds

Body sounds such as belching, sighing, cracking the knuckles, whistling, humming, eating noisily or quietly—all are ways individuals convey messages about themselves.

Demeanor

Overall demeanor or bearing—the way one sits, stands, or lies down—says many things to the observer. Individuals who are stooped and tired, slumping in pain or defeat, or carrying their shoulders straight and head high reveal something about themselves.

Touch

Physical touch is a particularly potent form of nonverbal communication. From earliest childhood, the presence or absence and the kinds of physical contact are important factors in the emotional life of the individual. For infants, touch is a well-demonstrated necessity. Constructively used, it has a tremendous potential for strength and support, but it can also be destructive, as illustrated by the battered child, whose parents, by their actions, are certainly communicating something about themselves. Touch as used by workers with clients needs to be given careful consideration in light of modern conditions. With increasing concern about child abuse and harassment in all forms, touch can be misinterpreted—attitudes can vary widely. One must consider the situation, the context, and the nature of the relationship between client and worker.

Environment

The environment in which communication takes place can convey a meaning or may contradict the words used. Are clients kept carefully at a distance? Are workers prompt, considerate of clients’ schedules, careful to explain changes, and reliable—and vice versa? The client who keeps the television going when talking with the worker, the worker who allows frequent phone interruptions, and the last-minute call or no call at all about previous arrangements—all communicate meanings as effectively as if they were words. Nonverbal communications tend to be strongly culture bound. Their use and significance are determined by the culture in which they originate. This poses for workers the dual task of being aware that their own nonverbal communications might be saying something quite different than intended and that, in interpreting such communications from others, they must be aware of cultural differences.

.Levine, Joanne. Working with People: The Helping Process (Page 88). Pearson Education. Kindle Edition.