Question 1

The nonverbal act of looking downwards and avoiding eye contact may well be a sign of _________.
A) stress
B) uncertainty
C) guilt
D) disbelief
E) affection

Accepted Answer

Avoiding eye contact can indicate the person is feeling guilty.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a cultural rule that shapes our nonverbal communication?
A) Metaphor
B) Syntactic ambiguity
C) Distance when speaking
D) Conventional greetings
E) Raising the flag

Accepted Answer

Cultural rules often dictate the appropriate physical distance to maintain during communication, which varies across different cultures.

Question 3

Which distance zone is measured at more than 12 feet apart?
A) Intimate space
B) Personal space
C) Social space
D) Angry space
E) Public space

Accepted Answer

Public space is the correct term for the distance zone measured at more than 12 feet apart, typically used for speaking to a group or audience.

Question 4

According to Ray Birdwhistell, it is estimated that humans can transmit through bodily movement more than _______ physical signals useful in meaning making.
A) 100
B) 300,000
C) 700,000
D) 1 million
E) 1.6 million

Accepted Answer

Ray Birdwhistell's research suggests that humans can transmit through bodily movement more than 700,000 physical signals useful in meaning making.

Question 5

Smiles, frowns, crinkled foreheads, puckered lips, and raised eyebrows are all examples of _________.
A) facial expressions
B) facial symbols
C) relatedness factors
D) reenforcers
E) markers

Accepted Answer

Smiles, frowns, crinkled foreheads, puckered lips, and raised eyebrows are all examples of facial expressions.

Question 6

___________ is/are using nonverbal cues to indicate closeness.
A) Haptics
B) Touch and eye contact
C) Nonverbal immediacy
D) Silence and environmental factors
E) Markers

Accepted Answer

Nonverbal immediacy refers to using nonverbal cues such as eye contact, body orientation, and touch to indicate closeness to another person. Haptics refers specifically to touch, and markers are visual cues like clothing or jewelry. Silence and environmental factors are not directly related to indicating closeness through nonverbal cues.

Question 7

Both verbal and nonverbal communication is composed of _______ symbols to which we give meaning, and we, in turn, behave according to those meanings.
A) universal
B) subtle
C) static
D) arbitrary
E) objective

Accepted Answer

Verbal and nonverbal communication are composed of arbitrary symbols, meaning they have no inherent connection to what they represent and are agreed upon by a specific culture or society. For example, the word "dog" has no inherent link to the four-legged animal we associate with it, but rather it is a symbol agreed upon by English-speaking individuals. Nonverbal communication, such as gestures or facial expressions, is also composed of arbitrary symbols that are agreed upon by a culture or society.

Question 8

Gestures that emphasize verbal meaning, for example using your hand to demonstrate how tall your pile of textbooks will be this semester, are ___________.
A) illustrators
B) regulators
C) emblems
D) adaptors
E) markers

Accepted Answer

The term "illustrators" specifically refers to gestures that accompany speech to emphasize or clarify the verbal message, such as using hand movements to indicate size or shape.

Question 9

HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Mehrabian" 	 "_blank" Albert Mehrabian's research on nonverbal communication includes his assertion that 55 percent of communicated meaning comes from_______.
A) eye movements
B) tone of voice
C) body movements
D) smiles and other movements of the mouth
E) facial expressions

Accepted Answer

Albert Mehrabian's research on nonverbal communication is famously summarized in the 7-38-55 rule, where 55% of communication is through facial expressions, 38% through tone of voice, and 7% through words themselves.

Question 10

_______ is the idea that when social expectations are violated, attention to nonverbal communication is heightened, with either positive or negative effects.
A) Nonverbal Coding Systems
B) Politeness Theory
C) Rudeness Theory
D) Expectancy Violation Theory
E) Symbolic Interaction

Accepted Answer

Expectancy Violation Theory states that when social expectations are violated, attention to nonverbal communication is heightened, with either positive or negative effects. This theory suggests that people have expectations for how others will behave in various social situations, and when those expectations are violated, people become more aware of the situation and tend to focus on nonverbal behavior to try and make sense of it.

Question 11

Why does nonverbal communication, unlike verbal communication, never end? What does this have to do with the idea that you cannot not communicate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does nonverbal communication, unlike verbal communication,...

Question 12

What are the four different distance zones typically recognized by American culture? What does each zone imply? Give one example for each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the four different distance zones...

Question 13

Why is paralanguage considered nonverbal communication rather than verbal communication? Give at least 3 examples of paralanguage and examples of how they are used to make meaning.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is paralanguage considered nonverbal communication rather...

Question 14

What are gesticulations and what form of nonverbal code do they best represent? Name and give examples of the five types of gesticulations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are gesticulations and what form of...

Question 15

Why are nonverbal messages considered more honest than verbal messages? Of all the nonverbal codes, which is arguably the most honest? Why? Give an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are nonverbal messages considered more honest...

Question 16

Nonverbal communication, like all communication, is integral to meaning making and identity. How might nonverbal communication differ from verbal communication in this regard? How might it be similar? Offer examples where appropriate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nonverbal communication, like all communication, is integral...

Question 17

Artifacts can be a powerful form of nonverbal communication, allowing us to shape our own identities. How do artifacts help us achieve this communicative goal? What are some artifacts you surround yourself with and what do they say about you?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Artifacts can be a powerful form of...

Question 18

Why is physical appearance a particularly important nonverbal code in identity formation and maintenance? When can it be harmful and when can it be useful, and do you wish that your culture placed less importance on it? Use examples to support your arguments.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is physical appearance a particularly important...

Question 19

Of the several types of nonverbal communication coding systems you've studied, which one had you never thought about as a form of communication? Why was that? Explain why you now understand it as a form of nonverbal communication. Or if you still do not consider it to be a form of nonverbal communication; justify your reasoning.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Of the several types of nonverbal communication...

Question 20

What is the relationship between nonverbal immediacy and expectancy violation theory? Are errors in nonverbal immediacy always detrimental to the relationship of the communicators? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the relationship between nonverbal immediacy...

Quiz 4: Nonverbal Communication

The nonverbal act of looking downwards and avoiding eye contact may well be a sign of _________.

Which of the following is an example of a cultural rule that shapes our nonverbal communication?

Which distance zone is measured at more than 12 feet apart?

According to Ray Birdwhistell, it is estimated that humans can transmit through bodily movement more than _______ physical signals useful in meaning making.

Smiles, frowns, crinkled foreheads, puckered lips, and raised eyebrows are all examples of _________.

___________ is/are using nonverbal cues to indicate closeness.

Both verbal and nonverbal communication is composed of _______ symbols to which we give meaning, and we, in turn, behave according to those meanings.

Gestures that emphasize verbal meaning, for example using your hand to demonstrate how tall your pile of textbooks will be this semester, are ___________.

HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Mehrabian" \t "_blank" Albert Mehrabian's research on nonverbal communication includes his assertion that 55 percent of communicated meaning comes from_______.

_______ is the idea that when social expectations are violated, attention to nonverbal communication is heightened, with either positive or negative effects.