NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

The body talks. Sometimes, your body will give off signals - as a police officer it is important to be aware, not only of your non-verbal behaviour/communication but that of the people you deal with as well.

• Context is how we define a situation in which interaction occurs.
• The context structures communication and behaviour which are permitted.
• Unwritten rules (and sometimes written ones) prescribe what are considered appropriate transactions in various settings. The actual area or location and circumstances will affect your body language.

Examples

1. How you present yourself in a place of worship - may sit erect, kneel in reverence, speak quietly and listen respectfully.
2. How you communicate with others at the grocery store. You would be friendly, nonchalant and less rigid in your body language.
3. What we say is generally less important than how we say it.

Example

1. When someone is told that they cannot have their planned vacation, they may reply "that's great" - the tone and pitch of voice would indicate disappointment though the words convey delight.

B. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES

• Temperature, size and shape of room
• Furniture arrangement
• Accessories

Everyday Examples

1. Going into a Victorian decorated home, you may feel reserved and restrained. You likely would not put your feet on the chesterfield or coffee table.
2. A cold small office with no windows may make you feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable, making it difficult to do your work.

Policing Examples

1. Police Interview Room: small, uncluttered, no pictures and no windows.
2. Detachment front counter with protection windows.
3. Under both the above circumstances, communications will be perceived as being less personal and cooler.

C. APPEARANCE AND DRESS

• Clothing suggests the wearer's: Age, Race or ethnic background, Occupation, Sex, Status, Personality

Erroneous assumptions may be made based on a person's appearance and dress.

Everyday Example

1. Someone dressed neatly in a business fashion would be more likely to get a loan than some poorly dressed.

Policing Examples

1. Police Uniform: authority, safety, security, punishment.
2. Judge, Clergy: influence, recognition, authority, services.
3. General Public: people will likely follow a well dressed person who jay walks.

D. TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

• KINESICS

1. Gestures

Everyday Examples

1. Extremities of our bodies e.g. hitchhiker's outstretched thumb, thumb-index finger circle for "OK", use of middle finger.
2. Directly tied to speech - Mother in the window moving her hand to her mouth, pretending to eat, to indicate to her child outside that he/she has to come in for dinner.

Policing Examples

1. Undercover investigators may give themselves away by looking into the window in a door or across the front of a bar before entering.
2. Possible indicators of guilt by a suspect:

• Sweating (armpits, temples, forehead, palms)
• Observable pulse - neck/heart
• Avoiding eye contact
• Dry mouth - bite/lick lips
• Hand tapper, lint picker
• Folded arms - elbows/arms tight against body
• Legs/feet - folded - tapping - tucked under chair

These may or may not be indicators of guilt, but in combination with other indicators they help the investigator define the situation at hand.

2. Facial Expressions

These are similar across all cultures. Facial expressions readily reflect different feelings: happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, anger, disgust and interest. In fact, within the first minutes of contact, the emotional status of a person can be established by taking a good look at the face.

Everyday Examples

1. A child opening a present. You can observe the joy and delight in his/her eyes and facial expression.
2. Adults receiving news that they owe Revenue Canada a large sum of money. Facial muscles would become tight and rigid indicating anger and disbelief.

Policing Examples

1. Notification of next of kin of a death. Facial expression should show sympathy and genuine concern.
2. A smile and joyful eyes when receiving expression of gratitude from someone.

3. Eye Gaze or Eye Contact

• This is an important means of giving social recognition. In some cultures, people of lower status tend not to look into the eyes of people of higher status or authority. When an individual of lower status does directly look at someone of authority, that directness may indicate hostility or confrontation. Avoiding eye contact may accompany emotions such as anxiety, shame and embarrassment.

Everyday Examples

1. Romeo lovingly gazing into the eyes of Juliet. His eyes will express warmth, passion and affection.
2. A teenager having purchased his first car. His eyes will express pride and satisfaction.

Policing Examples

1. During a suspect interview, an accused may avoid direct eye contact with the police officers in the denial of his/her actions.
2. During a sexual assault interview, the victim's eyes may express shame and embarrassment as she describes the events which took place.

4. Body Posture or Body Movement

• This kinetic factor can communicate attitude, self-image and relationship.

Everyday Examples

1. The body movements of a potential employee in a job-related interview. Palms may be sweaty, maybe biting his nails.
2. A father confronting his child about his wrongdoing. The child will fidget on the edge of the chair as he looks for a way out of the situation.

Policing Examples

1. An experiences police officer can usually identify prostitutes and pimps simply from their posture.
2. Posture, during an interview may indicate that someone is open or closed to communication, the level of their interest in what the interviewer is saying. Furthermore, the level of emotionality and comfort are demonstrated by changes of posture.

• PROXEMICS

Interpersonal distance or "space bubble" that surrounds each person. Interpersonal Distances:

1. Intimate Distance - up to 18 inches
2. Personal Distance - 1 1/2 feet to 4 feet
3. Social Distance - 1 foot to about 12 feet
4. Public Distance - 12 feet or over

Canadians communicate at an arm's distance from each other. Narrowing the gap and actually touching the person being spoken to identifies the communication and establishes power. Restricting and invading another's personal space creates tension for him or her.

Everyday Examples

1. In the observation of an argument, you will notice one of the parties involved moving in close to the other one while trying to make the point.
2. When you meet someone for the first time, you leave them a polite distance and if the person moves within this distance, you become uncomfortable and uneasy (perhaps move away).

Policing Examples

1. Interaction with surroundings and cultural differences (space bubble).
2. Police officer places hand on someone?
3. Police officer putting hands on somebody - confrontation. "The strong hand of the law."
4. Police officer in police car or on the beat - foot patrol.
5. Domestic dispute - separation of parties - decreases tension/stress.

• PARALANGUAGE

Factors

• Tone of voice indicating attitude, authority, empathy
• pitch of voice indicating emotions and tensions and stress;
• volume indicating the importance of certain words or phrases as well as emotions.

Policing Examples

1. Arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle accident, the police officer has to take charge of the situation. The voice will be strong and firm expressing authority.
2. When a police officer is giving evidence in court, the voice will be steady and confident, showing impartiality.

© GRC-RCMP
ecdp0021.doc
February 18, 1997