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- Complementing. Complementing is defined as nonverbal behavior that is used in combination with the verbal portion of the message to emphasize the meaning of the entire message.
- Contradicting. At times, a person’s nonverbal communication contradicts verbal communication. This is referred to as a “double bind.” Imagine a situation where a friend says, “The concert was amazing,” but their voice is monotone.
- Accenting. Accenting is a form of nonverbal communication that emphasizes a word or a part of a message. The word or part of the message accented might change the meaning of the message.
- Repeating. Nonverbal communication that repeats the meaning of verbal communication assists the receiver by reinforcing the words of the sender. Nonverbal communication that repeats verbal communication may stand alone, but when paired with verbal communication, it serves to repeat the message.
- Overview
- 9 Types of Nonverbal Communication
- Nonverbal Communication Examples
- Why Nonverbal Communication Is Important
- How to Improve Your Nonverbal Communication Skills
- A Word From Verywell
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Nonverbal communication means conveying information without using words. This might involve using certain facial expressions or hand gestures to make a specific point, or it could involve the use (or non-use) of eye contact, physical proximity, and other nonverbal cues to get a message across.
A substantial portion of our communication is nonverbal. In fact, some researchers suggest that the percentage of nonverbal communication is four times that of verbal communication, with 80% of what we communicate involving our actions and gestures versus only 20% being conveyed with the use of words.
Every day, we respond to thousands of nonverbal cues and behaviors, including postures, facial expressions, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our handshakes to our hairstyles, our nonverbal communication reveals who we are and impacts how we relate to other people.
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9 Types of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Communication Types
While these signals can be so subtle that we are not consciously aware of them, research has identified nine types of nonverbal communication. These nonverbal communication types are: Facial expressions Gestures Paralinguistics (such as loudness or tone of voice) Body language Proxemics or personal space Eye gaze, haptics (touch) Appearance Artifacts (objects and images)
Facial Expressions
Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication. Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. The look on a person's face is often the first thing we see, even before we hear what they have to say. While nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, and fear are similar throughout the world. The Universal Expression of Emotion
Gestures
Deliberate movements and signals are an important way to communicate meaning without words. Common gestures include waving, pointing, and giving a "thumbs up" sign. Other gestures are arbitrary and related to culture. For example, in the U.S., putting the index and middle finger in the shape of a "V" with your palm facing out is often considered to be a sign of peace or victory. Yet, in Britain, Australia, and other parts of the world, this gesture can be considered an insult. Nonverbal communication via gestures is so powerful and influential that some judges place limits on which ones are allowed in the courtroom, where they can sway juror opinions. An attorney might glance at their watch to suggest that the opposing lawyer's argument is tedious, for instance. Or they may roll their eyes during a witness's testimony in an attempt to undermine that person's credibility.
Nonverbal Communication at Home
Consider all the ways that tone of voice might change the meaning of a sentence when talking with a family member. One example is when you ask your partner how they are doing and they respond with, "I'm fine." How they say these words reveals a tremendous amount about how they are truly feeling. A bright, happy tone of voice would suggest that they are doing quite well. A cold tone of voice might suggest that they are not fine but don't wish to discuss it. A somber, downcast tone might indicate that they are the opposite of fine but may want to talk about why. Other examples of nonverbal communication at home include: Going to your partner swiftly when they call for you (as opposed to taking your time or not responding at all) Greeting your child with a smile when they walk into the room to show that you're happy to see them Leaning in when your loved one speaks to show that you are listening and that you are interested in what they're saying Shoving your fist into the air when you're upset that something isn't working
Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace
You can also find nonverbal communication in the workplace. Examples of this include: Looking co-workers in the eye when speaking with them to be fully engaged in the interaction Throwing your hands in the air when you are frustrated with a project Using excitement in your voice when leading work meetings to project your passion for a specific topic Walking down the hall with your head held high to convey confidence in your abilities
Nonverbal Communication in Other Situations
Here are a few additional examples of nonverbal communication that say a lot without you having to say anything at all: Greeting an old friend at a restaurant with a hug, handshake, or fist bump Placing your hand on someone's arm when they are talking to you at a party to convey friendliness or concern Rolling your eyes at someone who is chatting excessively with a store clerk as a line begins to form Scowling at someone who has cut you off in traffic, or "flipping them the bird"
Nonverbal communication serves an important role in conveying meaning. Some benefits it provides include:
•Strengthening relationships: Nonverbal communication fosters closeness and intimacy in interpersonal relationships.
•Substituting for spoken words: Signaling information that a person might not be able to say aloud. This can be helpful in situations where a person might not be heard (such as a noisy workplace) or in therapy situations where a mental health professional can look at nonverbal behaviors to learn more about how a client might be feeling.
•Reinforcing meaning: Matching nonverbal communication to spoken words can help add clarity and reinforce important points.
•Regulating conversation: Nonverbal signals can also help regulate the flow of conversation and indicate both the start and end of a message or topic.
Nonverbal communication is important because it can provide valuable information, reinforce the meaning of spoken words, help convey trust, and add clarity to your message.
If you want to develop more confident body language or improve your ability to read other people's nonverbal communication behaviors, these tips can help:
•Pay attention to your own behaviors: Notice the gestures you use when you're happy versus when you're upset. Think about how you change the tone of your voice depending on the emotions you are feeling. Being aware of your own nonverbal communication tendencies is the first step to changing the ones you want to change. It can also give you insight into how you're feeling if you're having trouble putting it into words.
•Become a student of others: It can also be helpful to consider how others around you communicate nonverbally. What do their facial expressions say? What type of gestures do they use? Becoming familiar with their nonverbal communication patterns helps you recognize when they might be feeling a certain way quicker because you're actively watching for these cues. It can also help you recognize nonverbal behaviors you may want to adopt yourself (such as standing tall when talking to others to display self-confidence).
•Look for incongruent nonverbal cues: Do you say that you're fine, then slam cupboard doors to show that you're upset? This can give those around you mixed messages. Or maybe when someone is speaking with you, they are saying yes while shaking their head no. This is another example of incongruent behavior. Both can be signs of feeling a certain way but not yet being ready to admit or discuss it.
•Think before you act: If your middle finger seems to automatically fly up when a car cuts you off—even if your young child is in the back seat, causing you to regret it as soon as it happens—you can work to stop this reaction. Train yourself to stop and think before you act. This can help you eliminate or replace nonverbal behaviors that you've been wanting to change.
•Ask before you assume: Certain types of nonverbal communication can mean different things in different cultures. They can also vary based on someone's personality. Before assuming that a person's body language or tone means something definitively, ask. "I notice that you won't look me in the eye when we speak. Are you upset with me?" Give them the opportunity to explain how they are feeling so you know for sure.
Nonverbal communication plays an important role in how we convey meaning and information to others, as well as how we interpret the actions of those around us.
The important thing to remember when looking at nonverbal behaviors is to consider the actions in groups. Consider what a person says verbally, combined with their expressions, appearance, and tone of voice and it can tell you a great deal about what that person is really trying to say.
11 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
1.American Psychological Association. Nonverbal communication (NVC).
2.Hull R. The art of nonverbal communication in practice. Hear J. 2016;69(5);22-24. doi:10.1097/01.HJ.0000483270.59643.cc
- Reinforcement. This function means that you can use nonverbal communication to duplicate and support a verbal message. This function makes a spoken message more clear to avoid misunderstandings.
- Substitution. There are times when nonverbal communication is enough to send a message. It can be more expressive and meaningful than words. In many cases, it’s easier to do and understand.
- Contradiction. Verbal and nonverbal communication are two sides of the same coin. But, they sometimes send opposite messages. This is where the contradiction function comes in.
- Accentuation. The accentuation function is like an upgrade to the reinforcement function. To accentuate means to put emphasis on something. While the reinforcement function supports the meaning of your words, the accentuation function adds intensity or power to them.
Communication generates meaning by sending and receiving symbolic cues influenced by multiple contexts. There are three types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, and written. Three forms of communication are relevant to health studies: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and group communication.
- Kinesics. The word kinesics comes from the root word kinesis, which means “movement,” and refers to the study of hand, arm, body, and face movements. Specifically, this section will outline the use of gestures, head movements and posture, eye contact, and facial expressions as nonverbal communication.
- Haptics. Think of how touch has the power to comfort someone in moment of sorrow when words alone cannot. This positive power of touch is countered by the potential for touch to be threatening because of its connection to sex and violence.
- Vocalics. We learned earlier that paralanguage refers to the vocalized but nonverbal parts of a message. Vocalics is the study of paralanguage, which includes the vocal qualities that go along with verbal messages, such as pitch, volume, rate, vocal quality, and verbal fillers (Andersen, 1999).
- Proxemics. Proxemics refers to the study of how space and distance influence communication. We only need look at the ways in which space shows up in common metaphors to see that space, communication, and relationships are closely related.
Learning Objectives. compare and contrast verbal communication and nonverbal communication. discuss the principles of nonverbal communication. provide examples of the functions of nonverbal communication. All five senses can take in nonverbal communication. Health professionals rely on touch, an especially powerful form of nonverbal communication.
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We use nonverbal communication to mislead others. We can also use nonverbal communication to deceive, and often, focus on a person’s nonverbal communication when trying to detect deception. Recall a time when someone asked your opinion of a new haircut.
