< Return to "Mediation Training Seminars" page

Non Verbal Communication Seminar

General Overview

Nonverbal communication involves the nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by both behavioral, cultural, and environmental factors. This seminar is designed to acquaint individuals with nonverbal communication techniques in relation to the alternative dispute resolution process. A great deal of nonverbal communication is culture bound, therefore this seminar will focus on general and specific nonverbal communication in relation to human interactions.

This course will further delve into both the intentional and unintentional nonverbal communication that occurs in alternative dispute resolutions.

Learning Objectives

Nonverbal communication training will provide skills to help:

Reveal unspoken thoughts through body movement analysis and understanding
Identify and understand the difference between signs of openness and closure, and signs of aggression
Understand speaker behavior in contexts such as mediations, alternative dispute resolutions, de-escalation, and restorative justice practices, etc.
Perform a comprehensive analysis of nonverbal behavior’s in individuals within the mediation process

Program Specific Outcomes

By the end of this seminar, individuals who successfully complete this seminar will be able to:

Better understand what others are expressing beyond their words during conflict.
Develop an awareness of their communication behaviors and the behaviors of others.
Assess the uses of nonverbal communication in conflict settings.
Understand the elements that affect communication.
Improve your usage of nonverbal communication to de-escalate conflict

Comparative Culture Outcomes

Ability to apply general definitions of culture.
Identify how culture influences nonverbal communication.
Recognize cultural influences and social values in reference to communication.

Course Content Outline

Classifications of Nonverbal Communication and how those perspectives affect communication will be examined.
Effects of Environment on Human Communication.
Examined elements include: space, sound, color, lighting, noise, arrangement of objects, and time.
Effects of Physical Appearance and Odor on Human Communication. Areas for study include: body types and shapes, body odor, clothing and artifacts and their significance in human communication. Cross-cultural perspectives will be explored.
Territoriality and Proxemics. Space claim and perspectives of personal space. Density and crowding, and territorial encroachment (violation/protection) will be topics examined. Cultural and behavioral aspects of territory and personal space.
Effects of Gestures, Posture, Walk and Body Orientation with associated meanings will be explored.
Effects of the Face and Eyes. Face and expression of emotion, judgments made on basis of facial features, cultural behaviors associated with eye gaze.
Effects of Touch; significance of touch in communication, cultural differences in touch behaviors.
Effects of Vocal Cues-Paralanguage (quality, pitch, rate, audibility, etc.); emotional state, and deception. Conversation regulation-turn talking and silence.
Specific Applications of Nonverbal Communication: intimacy, dominance/status, deceiving, managing interactions.