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1. Reinforcing Verbal Messages:
• Repeating: mirrors the verbal message through a clear nonverbal cue that represents the exact
same idea (O'Hair, Wiemann, Mullin, & Teven, 2017). For example, when you are telling
someone where an address is, you show the direction with your hand.
• Complementing: is consistent with the verbal message and often enhances it (O'Hair et al.,
2017). For example, when your kid plays piano very well and you’re cheering and say “you are
amazing”.
• Accenting: clarifying and emphasizing specific information — in a verbal message (O'Hair et al.,
2017). For example, when you sent an email to your friend and highlight an important sentence
such as a date or time.
2. Substituting for Verbal Messages: Nonverbal cues can substitute for words. For example, a traffic
officer’s outstretched palm substitutes for the word stop (O'Hair et al., 2017).
3. Contradicting Verbal Messages: Nonverbal communication functions to contradict the verbal when
the behavioral cues convey the opposite of the verbal message (O'Hair et al., 2017). For example, a
person may say, “You can’t do anything right!” in a mean tone but follow that up with a wink, which
could indicate the person is teasing or joking.
4. Managing and Regulating Interactions: Nonverbal cues are used to manage impressions and regulate
interactions of communicators in a variety of relationships and situations (Cappella & Schreiber, 2006).
For example, you dress professionally for a job interview; your smile, firm handshake, and friendly tone
convey your sincerity as you say, “This sounds like a wonderful organization to work for” (O'Hair et al.,
2017).
5. Creating Immediacy: Nonverbal communication can also create immediacy, a feeling of closeness,
involvement, and warmth between people (Andersen, Guerrero, & Jones, 2006; Prager, 2000). For
instance, when you want to tell someone an emotional sentence, you take her or his hands.
6. Deceiving Others: Deception is the attempt to convince others of something that is false (O’Hair &
Cody, 1994). If we are being honest, we might all admit to occasionally engaging in forms of deception
(O'Hair et al., 2017). There are two different ways in which someone may be deceived. As the first
example, it is possible that a car dealer deceives a buyer by selling him a car which has a defective
O’Hair, D., & Cody, M. (1994). Deception. In W. R. Cupach & B. H. Spitzberg (Eds.), The dark side of
interpersonal communication (pp. 181–213). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M. O., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2017). Real communication: An introduction
(Fourth edition.). Boston: Bedford/St. Martins.
