Page 17 - DENG102_COMMUNICATION_SKILLS_II

Communication Skills-II

notes l Sadness

l Disgust
l Contempt
l Interest
l Bewilderment
l Determination
Eye Contact: The eyes play an important role in face-to-face communication. Eye contact is one
of the most powerful forms of non-verbal communication. When we look at somebody’s face
we focus primarily on his eyes and try to understand what he means. The eyes, along with the
eyebrows, eyelids and the size of pupils convey our innermost feelings. Authority relationships
as well as intimate relationships are frequently initiated and maintained with eye contact. Eye
contact builds emotional relationship between the listeners and speaker.
l Eyebrows and eyelids raised and combined with dilated pupils tell us that the person is
excited, surprised or frightened.

l Eyebrows with upper and lower eyelids closed and combined with constricted pupils tell
us that the person is angry or in pain.

l Looking at somebody for a long time shows the intensity of our interest in him. If the eye
contact is brief, or we take our eyes off the person very soon, it indicates nervousness of
embarrassment on our part. Prolonged eye contact can signal admiration.

l Direct eye contact of more than 10 seconds can create discomfort and anxiety.
l Generally people’s eyes approach what they like and avoid what they do not like. Eye
contact between a speaker and audience increases the audience’s assessment of the speaker
as a credible source.
l People generally maintain more eye gaze and mutual eye gaze with those whose approval
they want, those to whom they bring good news, and those to whom they like. They also
do so with people towards whom they feel positive and whom they know and trust.
l Averted eyes show anger, hurt feelings, and a hesitancy to reveal the inner self. They also
reveal negativism and the need to increase psychological distance as in an elevator, waiting
room, or other small space.
Eye behavior communicates in many ways. It shows emotions. It establishes conversational
regulators. It also monitors feedback. It serves as a reminder. The eyes not only supply information,
they receive it as well. Major aspects of communication are covered through eyes. Of course, eye
contact and eye movements convey-their meaning in combination with other facial expressions.

Gestures: In addition to facial expressions and eye contact, another import element of kinesics is
the use of gestures. Gestures are the physical movements of arms, legs, hands, torso and head,
made to express or help to express thought or to emphasize speech. They play a very important
role in conveying meaning without using words.
Ekman and Friesen have identified five types of body gestures:

1. Emblems: A large number of body movements have come to be identified as a substitute
for verbal translations. They often replace verbal message entirely. Such symbols become
emblems. The list is long and comprehensive and it includes about seventy of such
emblems.

12 lovely Professional university