A study of 60 university students supported the hypothesis that Black culture and White culture have specific and conflicting meanings attached to eye contact. Blacks who do not recognize the White dominant culture's rule regarding eye contact could find themselves at a disadvantage in social, educational, and employment situations. (Author/GC)

A comparison of good and poor decoders revealed no significant differences between groups on multivariate sets of ratings for clients and observers in the areas of nonverbal communication and perceived interviewer effectiveness. (Author/BEF)

Suggests the use of audiovisual aids in the place of discursive language to teach poetry appreciation. Examples are provided for use with French poetry. (AM)

Discusses the importance of the nonverbal component in second language learning, and describes research on the role of kinesics in language. (AM)

Assesses the ability of four-year-old children to judge certain social situations from the facial expressions of peers. The children were presented with soundless videotapes of the face and upper torso of classmates and unknown peers interacting with peers and adults who were strange or familiar. (JMB)

An analysis was made of the correspondence between intonation and the larger and smaller movements accompanying two-syllable and longer utterances. Synchrony between peaks of intonation and movement pattern was found and is used to argue for a performative basis for early two-word productions. (Author/EJS)

Urges the conscious study of personal and professional gestures in elementary school so that children can become fully effective communicators and interpreters of communication. (DD)

Argues that nonverbal cues act much like other behaviors in triggering attribution-making in couples' interactions. Finds that negative behaviors were more likely than positive nonverbal cues to be noticed; satisfaction was related to attributions for positive behaviors; mutual attributions for the same behaviors differed significantly; and…

Assessment of an adolescent's social skills using the Child and Adolescent Social Perception measure provided information about the client's use of nonverbal cues. The Social Interaction Model was used as the framework for determining why his social interactions were unsuccessful and identified areas for intervention. (SK)

Focuses on applications of a widely cited empirical study in the communication field--A. Mehrabian and S. Ferris' 1967 study that inferred that communication is 7% verbal, 38% vocal, and 55% facial. Notes that these applications overlook important limitations which do not warrant formulation of a precise numerical formula. Discusses lessons…

Collects data to determine the effects of communication apprehension and nonverbal immediacy upon students' expectations of themselves as learners and to examine relationships among students' traitlike communication apprehension, self-perceived immediacy and instructors' evaluations. Finds that, as apprehension increased, immediacy decreased. (PA)

Discussion of text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) focuses on a study that explored CMC in communication misunderstandings. Considers the lack of nonverbal cues, language and cultural barriers, and differences from face-to-face communication, and includes a copy of the questionnaire used in the study. (LRW)

Explores the effects of nonverbal reactions of a talk show host and studio audience members to arguments presented by a talk show guest on a low-involvement topic. Suggests that positive audience or host reactions can enhance persuasive influence; however, if those cues are incongruent, persuasive influence may be negated. Addresses implications…

Two studies examined the viability of emotional creativity as a theoretical construct. In both studies, participants (about 1700 college students in introductory psychology) who scored higher on the trait measure of emotional creativity showed greater creativity in expressing emotions, both verbally and nonverbally. (Author/DB)

Argues nonverbal communication (NVC) forms an important part of everyday speech transmission and should occupy a more central position in second and foreign language teaching than it currently does. Examines the role played by NVC in a three-turn conversational exchange and the literature supporting the notion that speech-related gestures have a…