Disadvantages Of Nonverbal Communication

The interpersonal communication has a significant role to play in the development of a society. Man, being termed as social animal, has to communicate, cooperate and collaborate with other humans in order to be an effective member of a society. For this, efficient interpersonal communication is required which has two important aspects: one is Verbal Communication, other is Non-Verbal Communication. Where importance of Verbal communication cannot be denied, non-verbal communication has appeared to be equally important. In practical life many meanings are expressed through facial expressions, body postures and gestures, diversity of tone, eye contact and gaze, tactile movement and motor skill gestures with or without the communication with words.

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

2.1 Definition

Non-verbal communication comprises of all behaviours and elements of a speech generated by the source which act as messengers to convey the meaning for the receiver. These can be created by the source or its environment. (Haiyan 2009)
Such elements express the meaning of the communicator without the use of words and include gestures, appearance, voice, body posture and environment to convey the communicator’s attitude and behaviour towards a specific situation.

2.2 Types of Non-Verbal Behaviour

There are four basic types of non-verbal communication. These

Environment

2.3.1 Kinesics Behavior or Body Movement

It includes movement of the body like hands, head, feet and legs, posture, eye movement and facial expressions, all of them affecting the message. Body posture shows dominance of one party or the other by the way a person stands, leans forward and point or shake a finger at the other person. The manner in which it is received by others and how they responded will hint how the communication will flow in future.

2.3.2 Physical Characteristics

All physical features and characteristics come under this category like, figure, general attractiveness, body odours, weight, skin complexion, hair colour can affect our communication. First impressions and images of others can be associated, without conscious effort, with past experiences associated with people having similar physical characteristics.

2.3.3 Touching Behavior

It varies from culture to culture. Some cultures allow hugs, other hand shakes, while in some cultures physical touching between males and females is not acceptable in a formal business meeting.

2.3.4