- Because it uses multiple channels, nonverbal communication conveys more meaning than verbal communication. However, it also works with verbal communication to create messages.
- According to some studies, men and women actually do differ in their use of nonverbal expression. Similarly, display rules vary from culture to culture, and high- and low-contact cultures have varying degrees of comfort with regard to touch, space, and shared gaze.
- The different types of nonverbal communication include kinesics, vocalics, haptics, proxemics, appearance, beliefs about time, and environmental features.
- Nonverbal messages serve a host of functions: conveying meaning; presenting affect displays; creating self-presentations; managing interactions; and displaying levels of intimacy, dominance, and submissiveness.
- Knowing how to use nonverbal behaviors, when to control them, and how to interpret others' use of them will help you communicate competently in any situation.