EPP2601 – STUDY NOTES
© Pebetsi Study Hub
STUDY UNIT 1: NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
1. What is Non-verbal Communication?
Simple meaning:
● Communication without words.
It includes:
● Body language (facial expressions, posture)
● Gestures (pointing, nodding)
● Images (pictures, signs, charts)
● Tone, silence, environment
Example (policing):
● A police officer smiling = friendly & approachable
● Arms crossed + no eye contact = unfriendly or uninterested
2. Types of Non-verbal Communication
(a) Body Signals
● Facial expressions (smile, frown)
● Body movements (nodding, pointing)
Example:
Victim crying → shows emotional distress
(b) Environment
● Dress code
● Office setup
● Personal space
Example:
● Neat police station → professionalism
,(c) Graphics
● Signs
● Logos
● Charts
● Colours
Example:
● 🚫 Gun sign = no firearms allowed
(d) Sound & Silence
● Tone
● Pitch
● Silence
Example:
● Silence from a suspect → fear, guilt, or shock
3. Benefits of Non-verbal Communication (EXAM IMPORTANT)
1. Fast communication
● Images are quicker than words
Example :
● Road sign = instant understanding
2. Simplifies information
● Helps people understand easily
Example:
● Crime stats shown in a graph
,3. Grabs attention
● Visuals attract people
Example:
● News headline pictures
4. Persuades & motivates
● Appearance + tone influence people
Example:
● Calm officer = victim feels safe
5. Easy to remember
● People remember visuals more
Example:
● Police logo = instantly recognisable
4. Problems of Non-verbal Communication
1. Inconsistency
● Body language ≠ words
Example:
● Officer says “I understand” but looks bored
2. Unsuitable images
● Wrong visuals used
Example:
● Talking about crime but showing cars
, 3. Context misunderstanding
● Culture affects meaning
Example:
● No eye contact = respect (some cultures)
● But seen as suspicious in others
5. Graphical Data (VERY EXAM IMPORTANT)
Used to present statistics clearly
(a) Pie Chart
● Shows parts of a whole
Example:
● Crime per province %
(b) Bar Chart
● Compares categories
Example:
● Crime in Limpopo vs Gauteng
(c) Histogram
● Continuous data
Example:
● Age groups of victims
© Pebetsi Study Hub
STUDY UNIT 1: NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
1. What is Non-verbal Communication?
Simple meaning:
● Communication without words.
It includes:
● Body language (facial expressions, posture)
● Gestures (pointing, nodding)
● Images (pictures, signs, charts)
● Tone, silence, environment
Example (policing):
● A police officer smiling = friendly & approachable
● Arms crossed + no eye contact = unfriendly or uninterested
2. Types of Non-verbal Communication
(a) Body Signals
● Facial expressions (smile, frown)
● Body movements (nodding, pointing)
Example:
Victim crying → shows emotional distress
(b) Environment
● Dress code
● Office setup
● Personal space
Example:
● Neat police station → professionalism
,(c) Graphics
● Signs
● Logos
● Charts
● Colours
Example:
● 🚫 Gun sign = no firearms allowed
(d) Sound & Silence
● Tone
● Pitch
● Silence
Example:
● Silence from a suspect → fear, guilt, or shock
3. Benefits of Non-verbal Communication (EXAM IMPORTANT)
1. Fast communication
● Images are quicker than words
Example :
● Road sign = instant understanding
2. Simplifies information
● Helps people understand easily
Example:
● Crime stats shown in a graph
,3. Grabs attention
● Visuals attract people
Example:
● News headline pictures
4. Persuades & motivates
● Appearance + tone influence people
Example:
● Calm officer = victim feels safe
5. Easy to remember
● People remember visuals more
Example:
● Police logo = instantly recognisable
4. Problems of Non-verbal Communication
1. Inconsistency
● Body language ≠ words
Example:
● Officer says “I understand” but looks bored
2. Unsuitable images
● Wrong visuals used
Example:
● Talking about crime but showing cars
, 3. Context misunderstanding
● Culture affects meaning
Example:
● No eye contact = respect (some cultures)
● But seen as suspicious in others
5. Graphical Data (VERY EXAM IMPORTANT)
Used to present statistics clearly
(a) Pie Chart
● Shows parts of a whole
Example:
● Crime per province %
(b) Bar Chart
● Compares categories
Example:
● Crime in Limpopo vs Gauteng
(c) Histogram
● Continuous data
Example:
● Age groups of victims
