Beginning Beginning PerspectivesPerspectives

The eyes are the mirror of the The eyes are the mirror of the soulsoul

- Yiddish proverb- Yiddish proverb

http://learnbyblogging.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/random-kid-eyes.jpg

Nonverbal BehaviorsNonverbal Behaviors

►DefinitionDefinition Can we completely separate NV & verbal Can we completely separate NV & verbal

behaviors into distinct categories?behaviors into distinct categories? Are we in control of all of our NV Are we in control of all of our NV

behaviors?behaviors? Are human behaviors the only type of NV Are human behaviors the only type of NV

communication behaviors?communication behaviors? Physical characteristicsPhysical characteristics ArtifactsArtifacts

Body Movement & PositionBody Movement & Position

►GesturesGestures Speech IndependentSpeech Independent Speech relatedSpeech related

►PosturePosture►Touching (haptics)Touching (haptics)►Facial ExpressionsFacial Expressions►Eye behaviorsEye behaviors►Vocalics (vocal behavior) the “how” Vocalics (vocal behavior) the “how”

something is saidsomething is said

A little reading….A little reading….► ““In 1967, when David Reimer was 8 months old, his genitals were In 1967, when David Reimer was 8 months old, his genitals were

accidentally mutilated when he was being circumcised. On the advice of accidentally mutilated when he was being circumcised. On the advice of

physicians, his parents agreed to a surgical sex change and attempted physicians, his parents agreed to a surgical sex change and attempted

to raise David as a girl. Nurture, it was believed, would triumph over to raise David as a girl. Nurture, it was believed, would triumph over

nature, and David became Brenda. Despite 12 years of social, mental, nature, and David became Brenda. Despite 12 years of social, mental,

and hormonal conditioning, David never felt he was a girl. His parents and hormonal conditioning, David never felt he was a girl. His parents

gave him dolls, dressed him as a girl, and tried in every way to reinforce gave him dolls, dressed him as a girl, and tried in every way to reinforce

his identity as Brenda. But his twin brother expressed what others his identity as Brenda. But his twin brother expressed what others

observed as well: observed as well: ““I recognized Brenda as my sister, but she never, ever I recognized Brenda as my sister, but she never, ever

acted the part…when I say there was nothing feminine about Brenda…I acted the part…when I say there was nothing feminine about Brenda…I

mean there was mean there was nothing nothing feminine. She walked like a guy. Sat with her feminine. She walked like a guy. Sat with her

legs apart. She talked about guy things…she played with legs apart. She talked about guy things…she played with my toys.my toys.””

(Knapp & Hall, 2009)(Knapp & Hall, 2009)

…………………….blend……………..blend…………….

► InnateInnate ► LearnedLearnedAND

3 primary sources of NV 3 primary sources of NV behaviorbehavior

1.1. Inherited neurological programsInherited neurological programs

2.2. Experience common to all members Experience common to all members of speciesof species

3.3. Experience that varies with culture, Experience that varies with culture, class, family, or individualclass, family, or individual

5 research strategies (innate 5 research strategies (innate NVC)NVC)

1.1. Sensory deprivation Sensory deprivation (deaf/blind)(deaf/blind)

2.2. Neonates Neonates

3.3. Identical twins- raised apartIdentical twins- raised apart

4.4. Nonhuman primatesNonhuman primates

5.5. Multicultural studiesMulticultural studies

Sensory DeprivationSensory DeprivationSimilaritiesSimilarities

►Spontaneous expressions of sadness, Spontaneous expressions of sadness, crying, laughing, smiling, pouting, anger, crying, laughing, smiling, pouting, anger, surprise, & fear are not significantly surprise, & fear are not significantly different in blind/deaf childrendifferent in blind/deaf children Babies born with severe birth defectsBabies born with severe birth defects

►Reach out to be heldReach out to be held►Wish to be embraced/held when distressedWish to be embraced/held when distressed►Show similar sequence of refusal gesturesShow similar sequence of refusal gestures

Sensory DeprivationSensory DeprivationDifferencesDifferences

►Display rulesDisplay rules Subtle graduations in emotional displaysSubtle graduations in emotional displays Intensity (laughter, crying)Intensity (laughter, crying) Sighted children more likely to learn Sighted children more likely to learn

display rulesdisplay rules

Neonates (infants)Neonates (infants)

►Do infants Do infants make the same make the same affect displays affect displays as adults?as adults?

►Do they Do they communicate communicate the same the same emotions?emotions?

NeonatesNeonates

►Differential Emotions Theory (DET)Differential Emotions Theory (DET) Facial expressions= geneticFacial expressions= genetic Same facial patterns in babies and adultsSame facial patterns in babies and adults Joy, surprise, interestJoy, surprise, interest

►But are they experiencing the same But are they experiencing the same emotions?emotions?

Agreed….Agreed….► Infants faces communicate emotional statesInfants faces communicate emotional states► Consistent facial movements for pain:Consistent facial movements for pain:

► Lowered browLowered brow► Eyes squeezed shutEyes squeezed shut► Vertical winkles at noseVertical winkles at nose► Open lips and mouthOpen lips and mouth► Taut cupped tongueTaut cupped tongue

…pain…

Twin StudiesTwin Studies

► Hereditary influence Hereditary influence (50%)(50%)

► Identical twinsIdentical twins Interests, attitudes, Interests, attitudes,

personality, tendenciespersonality, tendencies Distinctive expressions, Distinctive expressions,

gesturesgestures More research in NVC More research in NVC

needed!needed!

►Genetic predisposition- Genetic predisposition- unalterable?unalterable?

Nonhuman PrimatesNonhuman Primates

►Phylogenetic originsPhylogenetic origins►Darwin: nonverbal Darwin: nonverbal

expression = link expression = link evolutionevolution Similarities between Similarities between

humans and animals. humans and animals. Do you buy it? Do you buy it? Do humans and animals Do humans and animals

send the same messages send the same messages nonverbally?nonverbally?

Multicultural StudiesMulticultural Studies►Cross-contextual NV encoding and Cross-contextual NV encoding and

decodingdecoding►similarity= possible genetic explanationsimilarity= possible genetic explanation►Facial muscle patterns => discrete Facial muscle patterns => discrete

emotionsemotions►Two behaviors:Two behaviors:

Eye brow flashEye brow flash Facial expressions of emotionFacial expressions of emotion

Cultural influence on NVCCultural influence on NVC

►Power DistancePower Distance High- display emotions to save High- display emotions to save

face (preserve status face (preserve status differential)differential)

► Individualism/ Individualism/ CollectivismCollectivism Individualist- display Individualist- display

differences in emotional display differences in emotional display in publicin public

►Culture may override Culture may override biological determinants?biological determinants?

Nonverbal BehaviorNonverbal Behavior

►What are the main camps regarding What are the main camps regarding origin of nonverbal behavior?origin of nonverbal behavior?

►What does What does ““universaluniversal”” mean regarding mean regarding NVC? (evidence for/ against?)NVC? (evidence for/ against?)

►Nurture vs. NatureNurture vs. Nature Where do you standWhere do you stand