Question 1

During a recent conversation, Alexis observed Patricia making a nonverbal gesture that she could not interpret. Later, she asked Patricia what she had really meant. Which strategy was Alexis using to get the information?

Accepted Answer

Perception-checking involves seeking additional information to confirm or correct your interpretations of someone's behavior or communication. In this scenario, Alexis is attempting to clarify her interpretation of Patricia's nonverbal gesture by asking for more information.

Question 2

Our _____ determines what we consider appropriate touching.

Accepted Answer

Touch ethic refers to the set of cultural norms and values that determine what types of touch are appropriate in different contexts and relationships. Visual dominance ratio refers to the degree of eye contact between individuals, territorial markers refer to physical objects or spaces that people use to signal ownership or control over an area, and public space refers to areas that are open and accessible to the general public, such as parks or sidewalks.

Question 3

Nonverbal communication may best be defined as communication other than written or spoken language that _____.

Accepted Answer

Nonverbal communication creates meaning through various forms such as body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and gestures. It can complement or reinforce verbal communication or convey a message on its own. It is not strictly intentional or involuntary, and it can both contradict or support the meaning conveyed by verbal language.

Question 4

With tears in her eyes, Lori told her husband he should use their one ticket to the World Series game because he had been a fan since he was a little boy. What function of a nonverbal message is Lori demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

Lori's tears contradict her verbal message of encouraging her husband to go to the game, showing she might be upset or sad about the situation, which demonstrates the contradicting function of nonverbal communication.

Question 5

The reason we say that nonverbal communication is more believable than verbal communication is that _____.

Accepted Answer

Verbal communication is a conscious activity, which means that we have more control over what we say compared to our nonverbal communication, which is often a spontaneous and unconscious activity. Therefore, nonverbal communication is more likely to reveal our true feelings and intentions.

Question 6

Nonverbal communication scholar Albert Mehrabian says that nonverbal communication conveys _____ of the emotional meaning of our messages.

Accepted Answer

Albert Mehrabian's research is often summarized by stating that nonverbal communication conveys the vast majority of the emotional meaning of our messages, specifically suggesting that 93% of emotional communication is nonverbal.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of an artifact?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 8

The librarian whispered to the students that only talking quietly was allowed. By whispering her message to emphasize her point, the librarian was using a nonverbal cue to _____ her message.

Accepted Answer

The librarian used a nonverbal cue (whispering) to accentuate her message and emphasize the importance of talking quietly.

Question 9

The six primary emotions of the human face identified by researchers Ekman and Friesen include all of the following except _____.

Accepted Answer

The six primary emotions identified by Ekman and Friesen are happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust. Grief is a form of sadness and is included under this category.

Question 10

Kevin wanted his grandmother to know how much he appreciated the money she gave him for his birthday. He gave her a big hug, and said with enthusiasm, "Thanks Gram. I really can use this!" Kevin's voice and hug are examples of which function of nonverbal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Kevin's hug and enthusiastic tone complemented (supported) his verbal message of gratitude, emphasizing the sincerity of his words.

Question 11

While on a trip to the Mediterranean, Carl notes that men tend to stand very close to each other-actually touching-when talking to one another on the street. Carl is observing the _____ space between these men.

Accepted Answer

The description of men standing very close to each other and touching indicates an intimate distance, which is the smallest distance category in Edward Hall's theory of proxemics. Personal distance would be about an arm's length away, social distance about four feet, and public distance beyond that.

Question 12

Stephanie was disapproving when Danielle asked a total stranger for directions, something Stephanie was brought up to believe was dangerous. This scenario demonstrates the _____ theory.

Accepted Answer

The scenario demonstrates the expectancy violations theory, which states that people have expectations for behavior in social situations and may feel discomfort or disapproval when those expectations are violated. Stephanie's disapproval of Danielle asking a stranger for directions suggests that she has a certain expectation for how one should behave in that situation, which is different from Danielle's behavior.

Question 13

Leah moves closer to George and begins to converse with him from about two feet away. Leah has chosen to move within George's _____ space.

Accepted Answer

Leah has moved within George's personal space, which is typically between two and four feet away from a person. Intimate space is reserved for close relationships and is within 18 inches, social space is between four and 12 feet, and public space is beyond 12 feet.

Question 14

Kinesics is demonstrated through a person's _____.

Accepted Answer

Kinesics is the study of body movements, gestures, and posture, therefore it is demonstrated through a person's body.

Question 15

When her children rushed into the house after school, Marlo raised her finger to her lips to indicate they should be quiet because she was on the phone. What function was this behavior serving?

Accepted Answer

Marlo's action of raising her finger to her lips substitutes for verbal communication, indicating the need for silence without speaking.

Question 16

What form of nonverbal behavior did researcher William Chaplin relate to personality?

Accepted Answer

William Chaplin's research found a correlation between the firmness of a handshake and certain personality traits, suggesting that a handshake can be an indicator of an individual's personality.

Question 17

According to Mehrabian's research, the most significant source of emotional meaning in our communication is our _____.

Accepted Answer

Mehrabian's research suggests that the face is the most significant source of emotional meaning in our communication, emphasizing the importance of facial expressions in conveying feelings and attitudes.

Question 18

Jenner tends to mumble when he speaks and he has long periods of silence as he tries to remember what he wants to say. These nonverbal aspects of Jenner's voice are examples of _____.

Accepted Answer

Jenner's mumbling and long pauses are examples of paralanguage, which are nonverbal aspects of communication that affect the meaning of spoken words. Proxemics refers to the use of space and distance in communication, kinesics refers to body language, and affect displays refer to facial expressions that convey emotion.

Question 19

Janet discussed her performance review with her new supervisor, Mrs. Abrams. As they were talking, Janet sat in a chair about eight feet away from her supervisor, who was behind her desk. Which spatial zone was Janet using?

Accepted Answer

Janet was using social space, which ranges from 4 to 12 feet and is commonly used for business interactions and professional settings. The distance between Janet and her supervisor is around 8 feet, which falls within the social zone.

Question 20

When Nigel used a "thumbs up" gesture in his speech to indicate enthusiasm, he was surprised to see anger on a few faces in the audience. Later, he learned that this is considered a rude gesture in some countries. Nigel forgot about the _____ nature of nonverbal communication.

Accepted Answer

The scenario highlights the importance of considering cultural variations in nonverbal communication. The fact that Nigel's thumbs up gesture was considered rude in some cultures suggests that nonverbal communication is culture-bound, meaning that different cultures attach different meanings to nonverbal cues.

Quiz 4: Understanding Nonverbal Messages