IPC EXAM 2 questions and answers
graded A+ updated
Nonverbal Communication - correct answer ✔✔-all aspects of communication other than words
-includes not only gestures and body language but also how we utter words: inflection, pauses,
tone, volume, and accent
-includes feature of environments that affect interaction; personal objects such as jewelry and
clothes; physical appearance; and facial expressions
-nonverbal behaviors account for 65-93% of the total meaning of communication
How is nonverbal communication similar to verbal communication? - correct answer ✔✔-
symbolic, rule-guided, intentional or unintentional, and reflects culture
Nonverbal Communication is Symbolic - correct answer ✔✔-it represents other things
-ex: smile to symbolize pleasure in seeing a friend
-arbitrary, ambiguous, and abstract; we can't be sure what a wink or hand movement means
-can't guarantee that others will perceive the meanings we intended to communicate with our
nonverbal actions
Nonverbal Communication is Rule-Guided - correct answer ✔✔-within particular societies,
general understandings of what many nonverbal behaviors are appropriate in various situations
and what they mean are shared
-follow rules (unconsciously) to create different interaction climates
-ex: people dress differently to attend a funeral rather than a soccer game
-ex: home: furniture is selected and arranged to promote comfort; work: furniture is selected
and arranged to promote work efficiency and focus
,Nonverbal Communication may be Intentional or Unintentional - correct answer ✔✔-both
verbal and nonverbal can be deliberately controlled or unintentional
-similarly they can be unconscious or unplanned
Nonverbal Communication Reflects Culture - correct answer ✔✔-shaped by cultural ideas,
values, customs, and history
-ex: in the US most people use knives, forks, and spoons to eat but in asian countries, chopsticks
are preferred
-ex: US wear slacks and jeans; india wear saris
Nonverbal Communication tends to Be Perceived as More Believable - correct answer ✔✔-
people believe that nonverbal communication is more reliable than verbal communication in
expressing true feelings; especially when verbal and nonverbal are inconsistent
-ex: glares when saying i'm glad to see you
-does not mean that nonverbal behaviors actually are honest or that we really can interpret
them reliably
Nonverbal Communication is Multichanneled - correct answer ✔✔-nonverbal often occurs
simultaneously in 2 or more channels whereas verbal tends to take place in a single channel
-may be seen, felt, heard, smelled, and tasted and may receive nonverbal through several of
these channels at the same time
-vocal verbal communication is received through hearing and written communication and sign
language is received through sight (single channel)
-one implication of this is that selective perception is likely to operate
Nonverbal Communication is Continuous - correct answer ✔✔-more continuous compared to
verbal
-verbal symbols start and stop
, -we continuously adjust our posture and facial expressions; nonverbal features of the
environment such as lighting and temperature are ongoing influences on interaction and
meaning
Principles of Nonverbal Communication: May Supplement or Replace Verbal Communication -
correct answer ✔✔5 ways in which nonverbal behaviors interact with verbal communication
1. nonverbal behaviors may repeat verbal messages ex: saying yes while nodding your head
2. nonverbal behaviors may highlight verbal communication. ex: emphasizing words by
increasing your volume
3. nonverbal behavior can complement or add words. ex: see a friend and say "i'm glad to see
you" and underline the message with warm embrace; music/lyrics
4. nonverbal behaviors may contradict verbal messages such as when someone says nothing is
wrong! in a hostile voice
5. substitute nonverbal behaviors for verbal ones
ex: you might point to the left when asked to give directions
Principles of Nonverbal Communication: May Regulate Interaction - correct answer ✔✔-more
than verbal cues, nonverbal behaviors regulate the flow of communication between people
-we generally sense when someone else is through speaking and when it is our turn to talk and
we also know when a professor welcomes discussion from students and when professor is in
lecture mode; seldom do explicit verbal cues tell us when to speak and keep silent
-turn-taking in conversation is regulated nonverbally
-invite specific people to speak by looking directly at them
Principles of Nonverbal Communication: Often Establishes Relationship-Level Meanings
(Responsiveness) - correct answer ✔✔-key to responsiveness is immediacy which is the
behavior that increases perceptions of closeness between communicators
-face to face interaction immediacy behaviors include smiling, making eye contact, head
nodding and attentive posture
-online: emoticons, replying immediately to chat
graded A+ updated
Nonverbal Communication - correct answer ✔✔-all aspects of communication other than words
-includes not only gestures and body language but also how we utter words: inflection, pauses,
tone, volume, and accent
-includes feature of environments that affect interaction; personal objects such as jewelry and
clothes; physical appearance; and facial expressions
-nonverbal behaviors account for 65-93% of the total meaning of communication
How is nonverbal communication similar to verbal communication? - correct answer ✔✔-
symbolic, rule-guided, intentional or unintentional, and reflects culture
Nonverbal Communication is Symbolic - correct answer ✔✔-it represents other things
-ex: smile to symbolize pleasure in seeing a friend
-arbitrary, ambiguous, and abstract; we can't be sure what a wink or hand movement means
-can't guarantee that others will perceive the meanings we intended to communicate with our
nonverbal actions
Nonverbal Communication is Rule-Guided - correct answer ✔✔-within particular societies,
general understandings of what many nonverbal behaviors are appropriate in various situations
and what they mean are shared
-follow rules (unconsciously) to create different interaction climates
-ex: people dress differently to attend a funeral rather than a soccer game
-ex: home: furniture is selected and arranged to promote comfort; work: furniture is selected
and arranged to promote work efficiency and focus
,Nonverbal Communication may be Intentional or Unintentional - correct answer ✔✔-both
verbal and nonverbal can be deliberately controlled or unintentional
-similarly they can be unconscious or unplanned
Nonverbal Communication Reflects Culture - correct answer ✔✔-shaped by cultural ideas,
values, customs, and history
-ex: in the US most people use knives, forks, and spoons to eat but in asian countries, chopsticks
are preferred
-ex: US wear slacks and jeans; india wear saris
Nonverbal Communication tends to Be Perceived as More Believable - correct answer ✔✔-
people believe that nonverbal communication is more reliable than verbal communication in
expressing true feelings; especially when verbal and nonverbal are inconsistent
-ex: glares when saying i'm glad to see you
-does not mean that nonverbal behaviors actually are honest or that we really can interpret
them reliably
Nonverbal Communication is Multichanneled - correct answer ✔✔-nonverbal often occurs
simultaneously in 2 or more channels whereas verbal tends to take place in a single channel
-may be seen, felt, heard, smelled, and tasted and may receive nonverbal through several of
these channels at the same time
-vocal verbal communication is received through hearing and written communication and sign
language is received through sight (single channel)
-one implication of this is that selective perception is likely to operate
Nonverbal Communication is Continuous - correct answer ✔✔-more continuous compared to
verbal
-verbal symbols start and stop
, -we continuously adjust our posture and facial expressions; nonverbal features of the
environment such as lighting and temperature are ongoing influences on interaction and
meaning
Principles of Nonverbal Communication: May Supplement or Replace Verbal Communication -
correct answer ✔✔5 ways in which nonverbal behaviors interact with verbal communication
1. nonverbal behaviors may repeat verbal messages ex: saying yes while nodding your head
2. nonverbal behaviors may highlight verbal communication. ex: emphasizing words by
increasing your volume
3. nonverbal behavior can complement or add words. ex: see a friend and say "i'm glad to see
you" and underline the message with warm embrace; music/lyrics
4. nonverbal behaviors may contradict verbal messages such as when someone says nothing is
wrong! in a hostile voice
5. substitute nonverbal behaviors for verbal ones
ex: you might point to the left when asked to give directions
Principles of Nonverbal Communication: May Regulate Interaction - correct answer ✔✔-more
than verbal cues, nonverbal behaviors regulate the flow of communication between people
-we generally sense when someone else is through speaking and when it is our turn to talk and
we also know when a professor welcomes discussion from students and when professor is in
lecture mode; seldom do explicit verbal cues tell us when to speak and keep silent
-turn-taking in conversation is regulated nonverbally
-invite specific people to speak by looking directly at them
Principles of Nonverbal Communication: Often Establishes Relationship-Level Meanings
(Responsiveness) - correct answer ✔✔-key to responsiveness is immediacy which is the
behavior that increases perceptions of closeness between communicators
-face to face interaction immediacy behaviors include smiling, making eye contact, head
nodding and attentive posture
-online: emoticons, replying immediately to chat
