COMM 227 Nonverbal Communication

1. Define and differentiate the foundation of verbal vs. nonverbal communication.  
2. Develop an understanding of the role cross-cultural interaction, social cognition, impression formation and image management play in molding nonverbal patterns. 
3. Demonstrate and examine the nurture and nature influences on nonverbal behaviors and interpretations. 
4. Explain the foundations of the nonverbal communication codes, including appearance, kinesics, auditory, proxemics, haptics, as well as oculesics  and chronemics. 
5. Examine how nonverbal communication may be used to express emotions, real and desired identities, as well as intimacy, affection, power, dominance, and deception. 
6. Apply effective nonverbal techniques to real life situations. 

General Education Outcomes:

1. Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals. 
2. Respond to the needs of diverse audience and contexts. 
3. Build and manage relationships. 

Cultural Literacy Outcome:

1. Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference 

• Introduction to Nonverbal Communication  
  • The Importance of Nonverbal Communication  
  • Nonverbal Codes 
  • Functions and Processes of Nonverbal Communication  
  • Individual Differences, Emotional Intelligence, and Nonverbal Skills 
• Sociocultural influences on Nonverbal Communication  
  • The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Cross-cultural Interaction  
  • Characteristics of Culture 
  • Interpreting Research on Culture and Nonverbal Communication  
  • Patterns of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures 
• Bio-Evolutionary Influences on Nonverbal Communication  
  • Biology and Evolution in the Study of Nonverbal Communication  
  • The Evolutionary Approach  
  • The Biological/Physiological Approach  
  • How Nonverbal Behaviors Are Affected by Evolution and Biology 
• The Body as a Code: Appearance and Adornment  
  • The Importance of Physical Attractiveness   
  • Attractiveness Features  
  • Body Features 
  • Coloring  
  • Adornment and Olfactics  
• The Visual and Auditory Codes: Kinesics and Vocalics  
  • Kinesics  
  • Vocalics  
• Contact Codes: Haptics and Proxemics  
  • Haptics 
  • Proxemics 
• Places and Time Codes: Environment, Artifacts, and Chronemics  
  • Environmental and Artifacts 
  • Chronemics  
• Message Production and Processing  
  • Is Body Language Really a Language? 
  • Properties of Coding Systems 
  • Neurophysiology of Nonverbal Encoding and Decoding  
  • Nonverbal Behavior and Message Production 
  • Message Processing  
• Social Cognition and Impression Formation  
  • The Process of Social Cognition 
  • Accuracy and Consistency of Impressions  
  • Types of Impressions and Relevant Nonverbal Cues   
• Expressing Real and Desired Identities 
  • Principles of Image Management  
  • Theories of Image Management  
• Relational Messages: Intimacy and Affection  
  • Intimacy as a Relational Message 
  • Nonverbal Immediacy and Positive Involvement  
  • Nonverbal Affection Behaviors  
  • Courtship Behavior  
  • Shows of Similarity and Synchrony 
  • Formality-Informality and Social Versus Task Orientation  
  • Creating an Intimate Environment    
• Relational Messages: Power and Dominance  
  • Defining Power and Related Terms 
  • Principles of Power and Dominance  
  • Credibility 
  • Social Influence  
  • Nonverbal expressions of Power and Dominance across Cultures and Genders 
• Managing Conversations  
  • Setting the Stage for Interaction 
  • Managing Conversations 
  • Beginning and Ending Interactions 
  • Turn-Taking in Conversations  
  • Topic Management and Exchange  
  • Interaction Adaption Patterns 
• Deceiving Others  
  • The Pervasiveness of Deception  
  • The Nature of Nonverbal Deception 
  • Actual and Perceived Indicators of Deceit 
  • Factors Influencing Deception Displays 
  • Detecting Deceptions