ANTH A105: Anthropology of Nonverbal Behavior
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 02/23/2022 |
| Top Code | 220800 - Sociology |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
An analysis and individual awareness of nonverbal behavior in human interaction with emphasis on Western cultural patterns. Attention is given to the various levels of segments of nonverbal human interaction, including gesture, spatiality, body positions, and expression laughter. Foundations and developmental patterns of nonverbal dimensions are explored. Formerly SOC A105. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Identify, describe, and give examples of Western as well as cross-cultural nonverbal behaviors and their functions.
- Summarize and categorize nonverbal messages.
- Illustrate and differentiate the affects and effects of personal and shared cultural perception, gender, class, age, culture, and the environment on the use of nonverbal behaviors
Course Objectives
- 1. Explain basic perspectives, concepts and definitions relating to nonverbal behavior.
- 2. Describe individual perceptions of the communication environment.
- 3. Differentiate cultural perspectives of time.
- 4. Give examples of the presentation of self in everyday life.
- 5. Analyze the concepts of personal space and territoriality.
- 6. Contrast multicultural behaviors relating to conversational distances.
- 7. Describe cultural differences in perceived responses to density and crowding.
- 8. Describe how gestures and posturing display personal attitudes and values.
- 9. Differentiate and give examples of the meanings of interpersonal touch.
- 10. Explain the "affect blends" of multiple emotions in body language facial expression.
- 11. Give examples of gazing behaviors that relate to gender and cultural differences.
- 12. Describe and give examples of multisignal messages.
- 13. Evaluate and give examples of the importance of understanding nonverbal behavior pathologies.
- 14. Analyze what we have learned about nonverbal behavior from primate studies.
- 15. Compare the findings from neonate studies with those of older children.
Lecture Content
Use an Anthropological approach to understanding culture and nonverbal behavior Use of evolutionary theory to understand the emergence of nonverbal behavior Use of the comparative method to analyze nonverbal behavior across cultures Concepts and Definitions relating to nonverbal behavior Effects of the Communication Environment Individual Perceptions of Surroundings Cultural Perceptions of Time The Individual Environmental Relationships Public places - proxemics of parks, crowds, etc. Architectural design, color, and personal space Physical Aspects of the Presentation of Self The effects of physical appearance on nonverbal behavior Cultural concepts of general attractiveness American cultures perception of bodily odors in comparison to other cultures perceptions A cross-cultural analysis of clothes and gender; clothes and personality A Cross-Cultural approach to Personal Space and Territoriality Concepts of Territoriality Defining personal invasions of ones space Nonverbal defenses of ones space Conversational distance Spatial Arrangements in Groups Seating behaviors Perceptual responses of density and crowding Gestures and Posturing in Nonverbal Behavior Speech-Independent Gestures Posturing Listening vs. avoidance postures Speaking postures Body language interactive synchronization Cultural Differences in Gestures and Posturing Expression Laughter, Embarrassment, Glances Touching Behaviors used in Various Cultures Touching and Human Development Appropriate time and people to touch Meanings of Self-Touching Cultural Differences in Touching Behaviors Communicating Intimacy Dominance/Status Deception Cultural perspectives of Facial Expressions in the Presentation of Self Personality Judgments Expressions of Emotion Facial Emblems and Interaction Management The "Affect Blends" of Multiple Emotions Universal and Cultural Differences in Eye Behavior Universal Aspects of Pupil Dilation Conditions Influencing Gazing Patterns Cultural differences Gender meanings in gazing patterns Perspectives on respect/disrespect Distance as a factor in gazing Eye Expression as a Window to Emotions Some Multisignal Messages Communicating Intimacy Nonverbal Behaviors in Dominance/Status Deceiving Others Pathologies and their Relationship to Nonverbal Behaviors Obsessive/Compulsive Responses Hand-washing behaviors Clothes-changing behaviors Physical Limitations Blindness and Methods of Behavioral Adaptations Limb and Facial Limitations Limitations associated with sexual appearance Body image obsession and image fixation Personality and image fixation Cultural views on body image and fixation Reflecting on Acquisition of Nonverbal Behavior What Weve Learned From Primate Studies Sensory Deprivation and Behavioral Responses Studies of Neonates and Young Children Evidence from Multicultural Studies Developing Observational Skills in Nonverbal Behavior
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
1. Lecture and explanation of topic concepts 2. Verbal, written, chalkboard, and overhead feedback to highlight concepts. 3. Small-group discussions and exercises. 4. Handouts highlighting nonverbal communication. 5. Evaluation of written papers. 6. Films that accentuate the nonverbal behavioral patterns in our society.
Reading Assignments
Students will spend 2-3 hours per week reading assigned chapters and/or articles pertaining to the course material.
Writing Assignments
Students will spend 2-3 hours per week preparing a personal analysis paper, describing their perceptions of self regarding their nonverbal behavior, i.e., their own presentation of self in everyday life.
Out-of-class Assignments
Students will spend 2 hours conducting field observations of nonverbal behavior by people in varying cultures.
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Students will participate in small-group, in-class discussions and exercises. Students will write papers in which they are required to analyze various nonverbal behaviors. In written responses and verbal discussions, students will compare and contrast behaviors presented in class.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Working in small groups, students will devise techniques to promote an understanding of nonverbal behavior (spatiality, eye contact, posturing, expression laughter, gender, cultural differences, etc..) to improve social relations when people from diverse cultural backgrounds interact.
Eligible Disciplines
Anthropology: Masters degree in anthropology or archaeology OR bachelors degree in either of the above AND masters degree in sociology, biological sciences, forensic sciences, genetics or paleontology OR the equivalent. Masters degree required. Anthropology: Masters degree in anthropology or archaeology OR bachelors degree in either of the above AND masters degree in sociology, biological sciences, forensic sciences, genetics or paleontology OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Remland, M. Nonverbal Communication in Everyday Life, 4 ed. Sage Publishing, 2016 Rationale: . 2. Required Richmond,V.P., McCroskey, J.C., and Hickson, M.L. Nonverbal Behavior in Interpersonal Relations, ed. Pearson Publishing, 2012 Rationale: latest 3. Required Bowman,J.M. Nonverbal Communication: An Applied Approach, ed. Sage, 2020 4. Required Knapp, M.,Hall, J., Horgan, T. Nonverbal Communication in Human Interactions, 9 ed. Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2021
Other Resources
1. Additional reading materials on selected topics to be provided and distributed by the instructor. 2. Films/videos