How We Communicate
All of us communicate nonverbally as well as verbally. To Westerners, a firm handshake immediately conveys an outgoing, expressive personality. With a gaze, an averted glance, or a stare we can communicate intimacy, submission, or dominance. Among these passionately in love, gazing into each other’s eyes is typically prolonged and mutual. Most of us are good enough reading nonverbal cues to decipher the emotions in an old silent film. We are especially good at detecting threats. Even when hearing emotions conveyed in another language, people most readily detect anger.
People also communicate their emotions. First, the person perceives that something great has happened-her lottery ticket number was just announced on TV! She might smile, laugh, and literally “jump for joy”. Then she might begin to consider ways to expand on or share her happiness, such as calling her parents.
Read more about this topic: Human Communication
Famous quotes containing the word communicate:
“The beauty of the internal nature cannot be so far concealed by its accidental vesture, but that the spirit of its form shall communicate itself to the very disguise and indicate the shape it hides from the manner in which it is worn. A majestic form and graceful motions will express themselves through the most barbarous and tasteless costume.”
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)