Nonverbal communication Quiz

Did you know that your nonverbal cues can communicate your mood and personality? Learn more about the different types of nonverbal cues from examples and test your knowledge with a quiz.

Definition and Example

Sally and Pam are best friends who are competing for a spot in the school play. Sally gets the role that Pam wants, but the two vow to still remain close friends. In the following days, Sally notices that Pam won't look her in the eye when she speaks, Pam won't stand close to Sally, and Pam's voice is much lower than it used to be. Though Pam's words are friendly and she says that everything is fine, Sally can tell that Pam is hurt due to Pam's nonverbal cues. As a response, Sally decides to give Pam a tight hug and tell her that she loves her no matter what, and that Pam too is special.

Every time we communicate with other individuals, we are sending them messages. While part of the message is in the words that we speak, there are also other ways we communicate. We also communicate by sending nonverbal cues, which refers to the process of sending information through ways that do not require the use of language. For example, we might communicate support by giving someone a high five or by hugging them.

We might use hand gestures to communicate direction (e.g., pointing to the left or right) or position our body in such a way that it communicates dominance. Our nonverbal behaviors, such as the way we sit, our tone of voice, or how fast we talk, communicate messages to other people.

Let's take the example above. Pam's words did not indicate that she was sad about losing the part in the play. However, by refusing to give Sally eye contact, speaking at a lower tone, and not standing near Sally, Pam was communicating her sadness.

Nonverbal cues may be intentional or unintentional. For example, Pam was not purposefully trying to communicate her sadness. On the contrary, she wanted Sally to think that she was okay. However, Sally gave Pam a hug with the purpose of cheering Sally up and showing support.

Why Do Nonverbal Cues Matter?

Nonverbal cues are an important part of communication. Nonverbal cues can provide information about a person's feelings and attitude, intelligence, mental and physical state, and roles, among other things. They allow us to send signals without the use of language. All of our nonverbal cues, such as the way we stand and our tone of voice, send information that can help the person we are communicating with interpret the information we are sending.