Kinesics

Nonverbal Communication

How someone says something is just as important, or sometimes more important, than what someone says. Nonverbal communication is a consistent form of expression that cannot be separated from verbal dialogue. Consequently, it is common to hear body language discussed in secular media, such as the evaluation of a politician’s authenticity, a display of romantic interest, or ways to maximize connections in business, and rightfully so. Experts indicate that more than half of people’s communication is expressed through nonverbal body language. These, often unintentional, forms of communication can present vital information to both the receiver and an observer.

Transmission of Information

Most people’s understanding of nonverbal messages is involuntarily acquired throughout the life span. Children and adults alike are not formally educated on the meaning of body language, beyond an infrequent discussion of eye contact or firm handshakes. Therefore, the first consideration in accurately using kinesics is recognizing nonverbal communication as a two-step process. Messages are sent through movements or posture (encoded) and then understood (decoded) through the receiver’s existing frame of reference. The individuals communicating are affected by their past experiences, culture, instincts, and formal knowledge as they encode and decode these messages. When counselors intentionally learn to decipher and communicate cues, they can most accurately understand clients and facilitate the joining and counseling process.

Types of Kinesics

Researchers typically discuss five types of kinesics: emblems, regulators, illustrators, affective display, and adaptors. Emblems are gestures that [Page 906]have a verbal equivalent, like using two hands to make a “T” to indicate a timeout. Regulators are movements that moderate and control the flow of a conversation. A head nod can indicate understanding, or a hand motion can encourage someone to say more. Similarly, one’s understanding of the gesture is very important as a “tell-me-more” hand motion could also be interpreted as impatience. Illustrators are simply a gesture indicating the current topic of conversation, such as pointing to a mailbox when discussing the mail. Generally, these gestures are more cross-cultural, but the act of doing them is not synonymous with all cultures. Affective displays are facial expressions that communicate how someone is feeling. Similarly, these are typically more multicultural, although the degree and intensity of facial expressions can vary greatly across cultures. Adaptors are changes in posture that not only are usually unintentional but can also be meaningful. These movements can be functional, such as shifting to be more comfortable in a chair, or the result of anxiety or emotional discomfort, such as scratching or fidgeting. Because the encoder is often unaware of these movements, they are considered helpful windows into the feelings of the individual.

...