Kinesic Communication

Kinesic communication is communicating by body movement and is perhaps the most well-known non-verbal form of communication, although it is not the only way to talk with others without words.

Gestures

Gesture is communicating through the movement of body and arms.

Ekman and Friesen (1969) identified five types of gesture:

Emblems: Direct replacements for words.

Illustrators: Shaping what is being said.

Affect displays: shows of emotion.

Regulators: for controlling the flow of conversation.

Adaptors: Self-oriented tension relievers and other forms.

Facial signals

When we communicate with others, we look mostly at their face. This is not a coincidence as many signals are sent with the 90-odd muscles in the face. The way the head tilts also changes the message.

The eyes are particularly important, and when communicating we first seek to make eye contact. We then break and re-establish contact many times during the discussion.

Eyebrows and forehead also add significant signals, from surprise to fear to anger.

The mouth, when not talking can be pursed, downturned or turned up in a smile.

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Kinesic Communication

Body posture

Gestures

Facial signals

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