Nonverbal Communication: Forms and Functions

Rating:
Summary: The Best out there!!
Review: Dr. Peter A. Andersen is a distinguished, international scholar from the San Diego State University (SDSU) School of Communication. As author of over 100 book chapters, research papers, and journal articles, he is one of the most published scholars in the field of communication. Dr. Andersen has consulted for dozens of school districts, child-care centers, health organizations, political campaigns, universities, and business organizations. He has served as first Vice President of the Western Communication Association, as editor of the Western Journal of Communication, and as first Director of Research for the Japan-U.S. Telecommunications Research Institute, a program of SDSU's International Center. He teaches courses in many areas of interpersonal and mass communication, including a course entitled, "Communication and Virtual Reality."

Dr. Andersen's book, Nonverbal Communication, has been used for courses in that subject on university campuses all across the country. It is held in high esteem by his fellow communication professors as an accurate, authoritative overview of the major, scientific findings in this area of study.

But this book isn't only for current or past college students who are accustomed to wading through challenging textbooks. Dr. Andersen's writing is amazingly clear, direct and accessible for such a comprehensive, impeccably documented scholarly work.

This 394-page, large-format trade paperback has 40 pages of references (a gold mine of further-information possibilities). There is also an 8-page index to help you quickly search out specific issues that interest you most.

The topics covered in the book regarding nonverbal communication (NVC) include the following: the definition of NVC and how it is different from verbal communication; how the body is involved (facial expressions, hand and arm gestures, eye contact and movements, personal space, touching); the impact of environment (seating, temperature, color, lighting, sound); timing and speed; cultural cues; gender and sex; emotions and stress; immediacy (friendly, warm, involving actions); intimate relationships; persuasion, deception, and power.

Here is a sampling of quotes from the book:

"�A basic set of at least six facial expressions�are innate, universal, and carry the same [essential] meaning throughout the world." This suggests that "basic expressions are not learned but are part of an innate [genetic/biological] system of communication." These "six basic facial expressions are pancultural and universal: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust and surprise."

"Smiling is primarily a function of other people's presence and not [one's own] internal emotional states�.The more involved people are with another person, the more they smile [around them]."

"Becoming an adult [in essentially all cultures] requires manifesting fewer outward emotions, particularly for men. Unfortunately, failing to express emotions [can] cause an increase in�stress and disease."

"Emotions evolved as universal communication systems that promote the individual and group survival of human beings�.Throughout the ages, the expression and recognition of emotions have provided the human species with a unique survival advantage�.Emotional communication permits most people to adjust to the behavior of others to ensure that cooperation rather than conflictual relationships are the norm."

In sum, anyone working in a field involving lots of people contact (sales, human resources, childcare, teaching, healthcare, counseling, etc.) will find this book an extremely informative read. I give it an unqualified thumbs up (a well-known hand gesture of NVC signifying enthusiastic approval <G>).