Nonverbal Research Articles

Analyzing the influence of physical posture on audience perception in mass media presentations

Non-verbal communication, especially physical posture, affects audience perception. From a cellular and molecular biomechanics angle, different postures may trigger unique intracellular responses. Upright or leaning forward postures might activate neural pathways that enhance neurotransmitter release related to positive perception. In contrast, a slouched posture could disrupt normal cellular signaling, potentially leading to a less favorable audience perception. This study explores the impact of four postures on audience views in a media setting, aiming to offer data on how posture shapes key perceptions and provide valuable insights for Mass-media Presentations (MMP), despite limited prior research on this aspect. A within-subject experimental design was employed, with 34 participants observing media presentations under four posture conditions. Posture was the independent variable, while credibility, trustworthiness, engagement, and authority were the dependent variables. Data were collected using surveys, posture monitoring devices, and eye-tracking data. Statistical analyses, including Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and paired t-tests, were conducted to determine significant differences between posture conditions. Upright and leaning forward postures were associated with the highest audience ratings for credibility, trustworthiness, engagement, and authority. Slouched posture consistently led to the lowest ratings across all measures. The ANOVA results revealed significant differences in perceptions of engagement (F = 10.21, p = 0.0008) and credibility (F = 8.67, p = 0.0013). Paired t-tests and post-hoc analyses confirmed that upright posture significantly outperformed slouched posture across all metrics, with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 1.0). Posture significantly influences audience perceptions in mass media presentations. Upright and leaning forward postures enhance credibility, trustworthiness, engagement, and authority, while slouched posture diminishes these perceptions. These findings provide practical insights for media professionals, suggesting that careful attention to posture can improve the effectiveness of media presentations. Future research could investigate how gestures and facial expressions interact with these cellular and molecular mechanisms to shape audience engagement.

Комбинаторика вербальных и невербальных кодов сообщений (на примере интернет-публикаций веб-сайта Reddit.com)

Reddit.com provides an excellent example of interactive digital communication. Reddit comments and posts organize information in line with certain rules of coding and decoding. They convey meanings by semiotically heterogeneous verbal and non-verbal means. The article describes various combinations of communication codes that act as a communication tool, i.e., verbal, linguistic, verbal-visual, verbal-auditory, and verbal-kinesthetic. The research objective was to identify the structural and communicative organization of semiotically heterogeneous texts in the dynamics of interpersonal Internet communication. The research involved standard methods and covered publications on Reddit.com connected with the activities of the SpaceX corporation. The combinatorics of message codes formed a set of modes and modalities. They were actualized as a model of Internet communication with speech events in a communicative act subjected to regulation and modification, i.e., confirmation / refutation, approval, accusation, ignoring, etc., depending on the channel of perception and understanding. The combinatorics of verbal and non-verbal communication codes made it possible to model and classify the information and communication organization of online publications of the SpaceX business subreddit. The integration of the language system into complex semiotic systems helps to describe mental processes and human cognitive activity. It shapes new views and beliefs, as well as increases the effectiveness of communication.

“I didn’t go into medicine just to be on the phone”: Emotional Expression as Sacrosanct During Derious Illness Patient-Physician Advanced Cancer Care Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Guided by communication accommodation theory, we studied 27 physician reports of patient-physician advanced cancer communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advanced cancer communication requires recognizing patients’ psychosocial states and collaboratively engaging patients empathetically to develop the shared understanding necessary to guide decision-making. However, physicians found their communication underaccommodated, stemming from personal protection equipment, social distancing, and telemedicine. Based on provider perspectives, our study identified that during advanced cancer communication, emotional expression was critical for reflecting care and concern to patients, and discourse management was central to showing interest and engagement to patients by their providers. The failure to convey emotional expression to patients meant rapport-building cues were missing, impeding discourse management when navigating difficult conversations about prognosis and end-of-life care. Despite efforts to adjust emotional expression and discourse management during the pandemic to address the needs of their patients, providers were dissatisfied with their communication outcomes. Physicians struggled to relay verbal and nonverbal emotional expressions effectively, supportively, and compassionately to patients when breaking bad news during advanced cancer communication, resulting in a profound source of moral and emotional distress.

Conflict Resolution in Intercultural Business Contexts: An Interdisciplinary and Reflective Framework

This paper adopts an interdisciplinary and reflective framework and aims to analyze the parameters and factors involved in conflicts arising in intercultural business settings, such as those of firms employing a diverse workforce, involving people of different cultural backgrounds. First, it presents the main concerns that need to be examined in a negotiation or mediation process (outcome vs. relationship) and proposes approaches and strategies for the resolution of major or minor disputes, to minimize costs and “side effects”. Secondly, based on conflict case scenarios involving intercultural interaction, the paper aims to illustrate the link between the negotiation approaches adopted, the participants’ emotional state, and their verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Finally, it aims to bring to the surface the importance of maintaining a communication climate promoting collaboration and establishing “rapport” to pursue an interests-based, integrative negotiation (win-win). Thus, it becomes evident that in the context of today’s globalized enterprises, it is essential, on the one hand, to take into account the increased need for effective intercultural communication (and, sometimes, mediation) and, on the other, to adopt appropriate approaches and strategies to ensure positive and mutually acceptable outcomes by adhering to a reflective model of thinking. Based on the findings and suggestions of the paper, it is proposed that training in conflict resolution strategies aiming for “integrative” outcomes (by applying the proposed CIIS framework as a pilot) should become a component of corporate policies and business communication, given also that migration flows are constantly changing workforce composition.

Non-Verbal Communication in the Tom and Jerry Film

The purpose of this writing is to delve deeper into nonverbal and verbal communication in the cartoon film "Tom and Jerry." In this research, a qualitative research method is used with the semiotic analysis model of Charles Sanders Peirce. Data collection techniques include document analysis and indirect observation. In the film Tom and Jerry, the researchers found nonverbal communication that has several functions, namely repetition, accentuation, complementation, contradiction, substitution, and regulation. In nonverbal communication, there are body movements, touch, vocalics, and others. In the film Tom and Jerry, there is 99% nonverbal communication. In this film, Tom and Jerry mostly always fight and communicate nonverbally. Although this film has no sound, most children and even adults find it entertaining.

From infant observation to parent-infant psychotherapy: how infant observation is applied to therapeutic work with parents and their children

ABSTRACT This paper, an earlier version of which was presented at the University of Vienna Congress on Infant Observation on 20th April 2024, links the positive impact of infant observation, (a pre-training requirement for very many psychoanalytic psychotherapy pieces of training across the world), and its significance in noticing detail and non-verbal communication for practitioners of psychoanalytic parent-infant psychotherapy. The author illustrates the importance of the observation of behaviour, events and the psychotherapist’s countertransference in understanding the communications of the referred child and his or her play and the links between the family history and the symptoms which led to the referral. The parent-infant psychotherapist’s capacity to give words to feelings that the child or children might express is linked with one or both parents’ current difficulties and with significant but unexpressed aspects of their personal and shared history.

Openness and Warmth in the Digital World: Examining Therapeutic Relationships in Online Counseling in Javanese Culture

The advancement of digital technology has significantly transformed counseling practices, including those in Indonesia. This study explores the therapeutic relationships in online counseling, particularly as the cultural values of togetherness and openness characteristic of Javanese society influence them. A qualitative approach, employing a phenomenological study design, was utilized for this research. The subjects included 15 participants, comprising eight counselors and seven clients, selected through purposive sampling techniques. Data collection involved in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and documentation. Techniques such as data triangulation and member checking were employed to ensure data validity. The findings reveal that while non-verbal communication barriers and limited personal interaction pose challenges, digital counseling expands access to services. Interestingly, in some cases, clients exhibit greater openness, benefiting from the anonymity and physical distance that digital platforms provide. This study emphasizes the significance of adopting a culturally informed counseling approach to enhance the quality of therapeutic relationships in the digital era.

Female physicians in senior management positions during a crisis: a constructive multimodal communication framework of feminine leadership

Purpose The purpose of the present study is to explore multimodal, i.e. verbal and nonverbal, gendered communication patterns of female physicians in senior management positions (governmental and health authorities) during a crisis. Design/methodology/approach Using a mixed multi-variable design, repeated ANOVA tests, and planned contrasts, the authors analyzed television appearances of 20 female physicians in senior management positions during the COVID-19 crisis (March/2020-April/2021). Findings The findings revealed patterns of mixed-gendered communication structures. Verbally, female physicians primarily displayed a masculine/agentic communication style of assertiveness, control, confidence and rationality. Nonverbally, however, they expressed a feminine/communal communication style of emotional attention, interpersonal sensitivity, responsiveness, kindness and empathy. Moreover, the analysis delineated integrated multimodal constructive vs. inhibitive communication strategies for crisis communication of female physicians in senior management positions. Research limitations/implications In the current research the authors did not compare females to males in health management positions, which is their follow-up project, but the authors did examine studies of males and females in management positions in the political sphere, which supported their findings. Therefore, the authors were able to demonstrate theoretical implications of multimodal gendered communication frameworks of feminine leadership. Practical implications Delineating verbal and nonverbal gendered communicative structures of effective management in health sectors can help female physicians assume positions of leadership, serve as guide models for other female physicians and contribute to improving effective communication skills during a crisis. Social implications This study contributes to the attempts of promoting gender equity in medicine and management by presenting effective communication strategies in medical crises that can help to promote female physicians’ messages development, social influence, leadership and management success in the future. Originality/value This article presents constructive, multimodal gendered communication frameworks of female physicians in senior management positions used in television appearances during the global COVID-19 crisis. Most previous studies in this area have examined either verbal or nonverbal communication mode. The value of this multimodal examination provides insights that may enhance constructive communication of female physicians in senior management positions during a crisis.

Color in contemporary clothing and its role in non-verbal communication

Color is an important element of expression and communication; therefore it plays an important role in contemporary clothing. Used as means of non-verbal communication since ancient times, the color worn continues to convey information to those around, but today these are different from the past. In this sense, in the present work, the author highlights the factors that determine today’s chromatic choices in clothing and the types of information transmitted through the colors worn, in a comparative analysis. Personal taste, temperament, mood, motivation, occasion are among the information communicated through clothing today. An important influence in contemporary society has the trend system that generates seasonal color palettes. Along with the so-called „color of the year”, these are synthetic visual expressions of global contexts, easily understood by most consumers.

Nonverbal Cues in Teaching Foreign Language for Vietnamese Higher Education Learners

This research focuses on how nonverbal signals affect engagement in university English classrooms in Vietnam. The major obstacles that Vietnamese colleges still need to overcome include large class sizes with plenty of students with different English proficiency levels, inadequate teacher preparation, and outdated teaching methods that lower students' engagement. Qualitative data was gathered via document analysis, student interviews, and classroom observations of two classes comprising 40 non-English major students who come from different regions of Vietnam and their instructors at the Foreign Language Center of Nong Lam University. The results indicate that nonverbal cues significantly improve student comprehension and involvement, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic educational atmosphere. Enhancing non-verbal communication provides Vietnamese instructors with an efficient means to impart English and intercultural communication knowledge. This work adds to the domain of foreign language instruction, specifically the English language, and underscores the significance of non-verbal communication in improving pedagogical approaches.

The Influence of Body Language in Legal Settings

This paper examines the significant role of body language in legal environments and its implications for various courtroom participants, including jurors, judges, attorneys, and witnesses. While verbal communication remains the primary focus in courtrooms, non-verbal cues play a pivotal role in shaping perceptions of credibility, truth, and persuasion. The study reviews common body language signals and their interpretations, considering how these affect judgments, credibility assessments, and decision-making processes. By examining these dynamics, this research aims to highlight the importance of non-verbal communication in the legal field and propose strategies for legal professionals to utilize body language effectively to strengthen courtroom interactions and outcomes. Case studies provide real-world applications, demonstrating how an awareness of body language can impact trial outcomes and suggesting that training in non-verbal communication could be beneficial for legal professionals. Keywords: Body Language, Legal Communication, Non-verbal Cues, Credibility, Persuasion.

Artificial intelligence-generated feedback on social signals in patient-provider communication: technical performance, feedback usability, and impact.

Implicit bias perpetuates health care inequities and manifests in patient-provider interactions, particularly nonverbal social cues like dominance. We investigated the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for automated communication assessment and feedback during primary care visits to raise clinician awareness of bias in patient interactions. (1) Assessed the technical performance of our AI models by building a machine-learning pipeline that automatically detects social signals in patient-provider interactions from 145 primary care visits. (2) Engaged 24 clinicians to design usable AI-generated communication feedback for their workflow. (3) Evaluated the impact of our AI-based approach in a prospective cohort of 108 primary care visits. Findings demonstrate the feasibility of AI models to identify social signals, such as dominance, warmth, engagement, and interactivity, in nonverbal patient-provider communication. Although engaged clinicians preferred feedback delivered in personalized dashboards, they found nonverbal cues difficult to interpret, motivating social signals as an alternative feedback mechanism. Impact evaluation demonstrated fairness in all AI models with better generalizability of provider dominance, provider engagement, and patient warmth. Stronger clinician implicit race bias was associated with less provider dominance and warmth. Although clinicians expressed overall interest in our AI approach, they recommended improvements to enhance acceptability, feasibility, and implementation in telehealth and medical education contexts. Findings demonstrate promise for AI-driven communication assessment and feedback systems focused on social signals. Future work should improve the performance of this approach, personalize models, and contextualize feedback, and investigate system implementation in educational workflows. This work exemplifies a systematic, multistage approach for evaluating AI tools designed to raise clinician awareness of implicit bias and promote patient-centered, equitable health care interactions.

Advanced Assessment Dynamics Neglected Age: Barriers and Skills Communication Worker Social in Bandung City Social Services

Study This aiming For analyze dynamics in the assessment process of carry on elderly neglected in Bandung City Social Service, with focus on the barriers faced by workers social as well as skills necessary communication For overcome challenge The research method used is approach qualitative with technique data collection in the form of interview in-depth, observation, and study documentation. Research results show that Assessment is step important in practice worker social For understand problem client and determine appropriate interventions, especially for elderly displaced with dementia. However, this process face various obstacles, such as limitations cognitive, difficulties communication, change emotions, limitations physical, as well as obstacle culture and language. Elderly with dementia often difficulty give information accurate Because disturbance Power remember or difficulty speaking. In addition, workers social often faced with a lack of tool help communication and training special. Therefore that, skill communication become very important For overcome obstacle this, like ability do interview effective, listening active, and understanding non-verbal communication. Mastery technology supporter, understanding culture, as well as supervision and feedback return is also required For increase effectiveness assessment and support welfare elderly.

The Add-Ons of Verbal Emoticons Into Facebook Walls: Categories, Locations, and Pragmatic Functions

Facebook (FB) continues to stir the limelight and since it is a phenomenal social media platform, with users utilizing it to convey both spoken and nonverbal expressions, the researchers chose this site to investigate the rich repository of verbal emoticons. Anchored on three over-arching frameworks such as Technological Determinism Theory, Thematic Analysis, and Pragmatics attached to the notion of Speech Act (expressive act) Theory, 300 verbal texts (FB Posts) were used as corpus to investigate the occurrences of the iconic virtual emoticons as substitutions and extensions for verbal elements in Facebook statuses or wall posts of 60 purposively selected participants. This study identified the various classifications, positions, and functions of each emoticon based on the structures of the verbal texts in the data. It was revealed that the majority of the Facebook users preferred facial expressions and people emoticons over others. It was also found that most icons were frequently put towards the end of the verbal texts, and their conjoint function is to do the entire turn. This implies that most emoticons were applied to encompass the inclusive message expressed in the verbal transcripts.

Mitigating the Nocebo Effect in Biosimilar Use and Switching: A Systematic Review.

In the context of biosimilar use and switching, a patient's negative perception of a biosimilar might trigger a nocebo effect, where negative expectations unrelated to its pharmacologic action may lead to worsened symptoms, resulting in less perceived therapeutic benefit or worsened adverse events. Considering the crucial role biosimilars have in reducing health care costs and expanding access to safe biologics globally, it is essential to develop and implement effective strategies to mitigate the possible occurrence of such nocebo effects. The aim of this systematic literature review was two-fold: (i) to review strategies that have been applied and/or tested for minimising the nocebo effect in clinical practice, within and outside the context of biosimilar switching, and (ii) to propose recommendations on useful mitigation strategies to minimise the occurrence of the nocebo effect in the context of biosimilar switching. Biomedical databases PubMed and Embase were screened up until the end of April 2023 with a search string consisting of the following search terms "nocebo", "biosimilar", "mitigation", "strategy", and "prevention" and related synonyms. The search strategy was supplemented by snowballing of the included studies. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses, the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles, and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Of the 1617 identified and screened records, 60 met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 10 (17%) were conducted within the context of biosimilar switching, 7 of which specifically tested strategies to mitigate the nocebo effect. Among the remaining 50 studies conducted outside the biosimilar switching context, 46 tested mitigation strategies. Across the included studies, 13 distinct mitigation strategies were identified, which can be employed within the context of biosimilar switching: (i) open non-verbal communication, (ii) positive framing, (iii) empathic communication, (iv) validating communication, (v) shared decision making, (vi) self-affirmation, (vii) education of patients and health care professionals about the nocebo effect, (viii) education of patients and health care professionals about biosimilars, (ix) soft-skills training for health care professionals, (x) personalised information, (xi) supporting information, (xii) multidisciplinary approach, (xiii) organisation of the switch. This review has identified a set of strategies that have been tested to mitigate the nocebo effect, which can be applied by health care professionals in the context of biosimilar switching with the aim of mitigating the occurrence of a nocebo effect. We recommend implementing a combination of mitigation strategies for patients and health care professionals to utilise before, during, and after a switch. It should be noted that given the limited number of studies specifically testing nocebo mitigation strategies within the biosimilar switching context to date, it is not yet possible to draw definite conclusions about the effect size of each mitigation strategy individually or in combination.

Badiuzzaman Said Nursi's Approach to Effective Da'wah Management: The Role of Eye Contact, Facial Expressions and Body Gestures in Information Delivery

Effective communication information is essential today. In the field of da'wah management, the mastery and skills of non-verbal communication by the da’i, such as eye contact, facial expressions, and body language management, can enhance the effective delivery of da’wah messages. In the 21st century, among the successful da’i is Badiuzzaman Said Nursi, whose approach integrates both verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to ensure information reaches its intended audience effectively. This study focuses on the three elements of non-verbal communication contained in Badiuzzaman Said Nursi's kenesik communication, and their role in managing information flow within da’wah. Three elements are eye contact, facial expressions, and body language. The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing document analysis and content analysis to examine Said Nursi’s writings and da’wah strategies. The results reveal that Badiuzzaman Said Nursi’s effective da’wah management through non-verbal communication significantly contributed to the global acceptance of his message, demonstrating that managing non-verbal cues enhances message clarity and audience engagement. These findings provide valuable insights for preachers in both traditional and contemporary settings, emphasizing the importance of synchronizing verbal and non-verbal communication for effective da’wah management.

Peran Komunikasi Verbal dan Nonverbal Dalam Dukungan Sosial Teman Sebaya Terhadap Resiliensi Mahasiswa

This study examines the role of verbal and non-verbal communication in peer social support and its impact on student resilience, an area that is still rarely studied. Academic and social challenges during lectures demand high resilience, and peer support is believed to strengthen this resilience. This study uses a quantitative approach and survey method, data from 15-20 students of various study programs at the Balikpapan College of Economics was collected through an online questionnaire covering aspects of demography, communication, and resilience. The analysis of the research data was carried out in a descriptive manner. The results showed that verbal communication, such as motivation, as well as non-verbal communication, such as eye contact, were significant in supporting resilience. The combination of these two forms of communication helps students cope with academic stress. These findings propose a communication-based mentoring program in educational institutions to improve student resilience and psychological well-being

Enhancing Communication for People with Autism Through the Design of a Context-aware Mobile Application for PECS

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties with social skills and communication. Autistic individuals require different types of assistance to cope with these challenges. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a commonly used program for teaching nonverbal and symbolic communication skills, particularly for children with limited or no communication abilities. However, despite the development of various technology-based PECS systems, there is a lack of features that can simplify their use by children with autism. In our work, we are developing a design of a personalized and context-aware PECS system. Our system not only presents pictures as content but also adapts and enhances the content using contextual information.

Playing and its relation to psyche-soma. Origins of psychoanalytic apperception.

This essay was inspired by the experience of observing a newborn baby and the mother on a weekly basis for an entire year. I explore the receptive function of the maternal body whose mirroring acts created the intermediate area between her and her baby facilitating for what I call imitative playing. The concept of imitation came to mind because of its physicality. The reason for naming it 'playing' lies in its quality: I am trying to capture something about the perceptual and communicative capacity of the body. Born out of affective mutuality of the dyad, it is a corporeal elaboration of their union, the primary physical aliveness, that could be an observable element of personalization, a precursor in the journey to symbolism. The direct observation of infants is not sufficient to arrive at the ideas that I have suggested without psychoanalytic knowledge, the substance that I have imbued with what I perceived. In Winnicottian language this could be described as psychoanalytic apperception. I think it stems from an analyst's visceral self that gives life to psycho-analytic concepts as well as transforms an analysand's non-verbal expressions into communications.

Obsessive–Compulsive Traits and Problematic Internet Use Are Increased Among Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is There a Role of Obsessive Doubts and Communication Impairment?

Background: The link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and the complexity of their differential diagnosis has been vastly investigated. Growing attention has been paid to the presence of problematic Internet use (PIU) in autistic individuals. Studies assessing OCD traits in autistic individuals are scarce and even less take into account the role that this overlap may have on the development and maintenance of PIU. We aimed to investigate OCD features in ASD individuals and their association with autism severity and the prevalence of PIU, and the potential dimensions associated with a greater probability of PIU. Methods: a total of 46 participants with ASD and 53 controls were assessed with the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum questionnaire and the Obsessive–Compulsive Spectrum—Short Version. Results: There were significantly higher OCD features in ASD participants along with important correlations between OCD and ASD dimensions and a higher prevalence of PIU in the ASD group. Participants with putative PIU reported greater scores on some ASD and OCD dimensions, the with Doubt and Non-verbal communication domains emerging as significant predictors of the presence of putative PIU. Conclusions: These results support the three-way link between ASD, OCD, and PIU, contributing to the hypothesis of a neurodevelopmental basis for those conditions.