Table of ContentsWhat is nonverbal communication and why is it important?Eye contact and gazeTechnology and nonverbal communicationConclusionA big ball of nervousness is weighing you down l stomach as you approach the door anxiously. You have a date tonight, and as your sweaty fist bangs on the door to let your date know you're there, a series of thoughts run through your head: did you pick the right flowers, did you you chose the right restaurant. , have you dressed appropriately, are you about to say the right things, etc. While all of these are important, what's probably most important to focus on during the night is your nonverbal communication with your partner. Nonverbal communication is essential in our interactions with others, and consists of a variety of different things that all play a major role in communication. Nonverbal communication, especially when it comes to romantic relationships and dating, plays a huge role in determining how we perceive others and greatly influences communication with others. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an original essay What is nonverbal communication and why is it important? Nonverbal communication, or "the behaviors and characteristics that convey meaning without the use of words,” makes up a large part of our communication with others, with research indicating that it makes up almost 70 percent of our communication with others. So much goes into nonverbal communication, ranging from your facial expressions, posture, vocal characteristics, eye contact and much more. It's so important, and it's often very overlooked in terms of the importance and the overall makeup of what communication is. So when you say, “You look lovely tonight!” » for your date, how you say it will probably be much more important than whether you choose to compliment your date. At its core, nonverbal communication creates so much meaning. This is seen in our shared assumptions about reflexes and the emotions present during those reflexes. From childhood, we begin to develop common associations between certain emotions and the reflexes that usually accompany them, as evidenced by “a clear association between pleasant feelings and zygomatic activity (smiling)… [however] happiness does not is neither necessary nor sufficient. to smile” (Russell, Bachorowski and Fernandez-Dols, 337). This shows several important things, one of the most important being that pleasant feelings such as happiness are commonly associated with smiling. Although research indicates that happiness does not need to be present for smiling to occur, there is a clear association between certain emotions and expressions. These results parallel the results obtained by examining vocal characteristics and the different reactions present with different emotions. Similar to facial expressions, research posits that "facial and vocal changes are more closely related to what have been considered components of emotion and thus only indirectly to emotion" (Russell, Bachorowski, and Fernandez-Dols, 341). Although the exact cause of frowning when sad or voice cracking when upset has not yet been found, we, as humans, tend to associate certain emotions and expressions,especially when it comes to our own specific cultures. These actions increase in the presence of other people doing them, which is essential for establishing synergy between you and a potential partner. Our perceptions of these actions, whether something as small as a smile or a larger smile, convey our feelings about the other person. Eye Contact and Gaze Of course, there are several other very important elements of nonverbal communication, including eye contact and gaze. look. These two elements constitute very important facets of nonverbal communication, with both often present in intimate interactions between two potential partners. Studies on the subject indicate several things, among which higher levels of staring indicate greater sexual interest, staring increases attraction and liking between others, and staring shows, among other things , more attention. Gaze and continuous eye contact have positive associations linked to them, and this set of findings highlights not only the power of gaze, but also its importance in social contexts. These research findings will differ across different cultures, which is evident from the strong dichotomy between the meaning of eye contact and gaze observed when examining different cultures. Key differences in the overall meaning and use of eye contact between two potential partners can be found in the exploration of North American culture and other cultures such as Asian cultures, where "avoiding eye contact is considered as a sign of respect” in Asian cultures. However, while things may be different in other cultures, gaze and eye contact are important in North American culture and the presence of both is correlated with expressions of intimacy and affection. For this reason, it is important to know and understand the state of affairs between you and your potential partner. Although elements of this type may be present in someone you are close friends with, looking at and making intimate eye contact with someone you are at a personal distance with may indicate that you and the other person could be much more than ordinary friends. The importance and presence of non-verbal language Communication differs significantly depending on the type of relationship two people are in. Although research indicates that watching increases sexual interest and attraction, which is often correlated with intimate relationships, this is not necessarily true because nonverbal communication differs between two people. come out casually against those who are more serious. In casual relationships, there is a significant under-importance of several things and of non-verbal communication in general, observed in "involved dates [valuing] non-verbal communication more than casual dates" (McGinty, Knox and Zusman, para. Additionally, research has indicated that “being sensitive to and concerned about the nuances of nonverbal communication is an extension of a more serious awareness of relationship issues” (McGinty, Knox, & Zusman, para. 5). This research highlights a shift in priorities when moving from casual to more serious relationships; both partners tend to care about nonverbal elements because the seriousness of the relationship runs much deeper. McGinty and company's research also clearly shows that casual relationships ultimately mean less commitment and, therefore,.