What books are good for the study of non-verbal communication?

Question

I am currently studying non-verbal communication. have read a few books including "the Definitive Book of Body Language" and "Body Language for Dummies". I wanted a few other good books to help further my studies.

One unanswered question that I have is what the differences in perception of someone who uses open body language and someone who uses dominant and controlling gestures. I know that both are useable during certain social settings. A book that discusses this would be great.

Answer 1

Book of Tells

Instant Analysis

Answer 2

It sounds to me like you're looking for more of a psychology textbook or an academic database. I know that public libraries and even post-secondary colleges, if you have a library card at these places, pay to subscribe to academic databases. Contact your library and find out how to log onto their academic sites. I did that with my local library. You could pay to have access to many well-known academic databases yourself, but why do that if you can get the same info for free? Call your local college or university as well. They may subscribe to different ones than the library.

That's my answer. You can research all kinds of psychology journals, and look for your answer in one of those.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Sign Language for Dummies

Answer 4

Harry Potter

Answer 5

"Communicational structure: Analysis of a psychotherapy transaction" by Albert Scheflen, MD. Bloomington, Indiana: 1973.

In 378 pages the author examines the communications structures in a 30 minute family therapy session. Almost all the commentary is on non-verbals, and almost nothing about words spoken. One of the co-therapists conducting the session is Dr. Carl Whitaker, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, one of the GREAT family therapists of our time! You will find this book fascinating if you can find a copy of it...

"Pragmatics of Human Communication" by Paul Watzlawick, Don Jackson, and Janet Beavin (based on the work of Greg Bateson, one of the great family theorists of our time and once the husband of Margaret Mead, anthropologist, who wrote "Coming of Age in Samoa"). An absolutely important book (again if you can find it).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Watzla...

In case you don't get around to the Wiki article, here's something really important from it:

"Watzlawick defines five (5) basic axioms in his theory on communication that are necessary to have a functioning communication between two individuals:

" (1) One Cannot Not Communicate

" (2) Every communication has a content and relationship aspect such that the latter classifies the former and is therefore a metacommunication.

" (3) The nature of a relationship is dependent on the punctuation of the partners communication procedures.

" (4) Both the talker and the receiver of information structure the communication flow differently and therefore interpret their own behaviour during communicating as merely a reaction on the other's behaviour.

"(5) Human communication involves both digital and analog modalities: Communication [involves] non-verbal and analog-verbal communication.

" (6) Inter-human communication procedures are either symmetric or complementary, depending on whether the relationship of the partners is based on differences or parity."

(Hmmmm...that's six, but Wiki says five...oh well.)

This book had the greatest effect of any in the mid-century on the entire field of communications theory and practice.

Interestingly, although Watzlawick studied Jung and the others were of various theoretical backgrounds...much of what is said or implied in this book is reflected in the writings and psychological concepts of Dr. Alfred Adler (1870-1937). http://www.lifecourseinstitute.com

-- Dr. Bob, Adlerian Psychologist