Kinesics: Nonverbal Communication

Everyone knows about verbal communication because it is something that we actively acknowledge and address in everyday life. However verbal communication only makes up a fraction of the entire communication ability and process. Nonverbal communication is defined as “the transfer and exchange of messages in any and all modalities that do not involve words.” (pg. 4) There are numerous nonverbal communications, such as kinesics, proxemics, and chronemics that influence how people respond and react to not only other people but the world around them.
Kinesics is the study of body motion and language. From the set of the mouth to how the arms are situated body language can tell a lot about a person and leads to initial reactions to strangers. This can be seen in the way one feels about strangers given facial expressions and body language. People are more likely to trust a person if they have an open facial expression and relaxed shoulders. On the other hand if the stranger has a tensed or drawn facial expression coupled with tensed shoulders or crossed arms people are more likely to be wary and
Aesthetics involves communication through color or music. Olfactics involves the study of smell, such as body odor. Gustorics is the study of how taste communicates. Numerous restaurants, from fine dining to fast food, use aesthetics to some extent in order to influence customers. Reds and yellows encourage a family area good for kids, though the food may not be, while more subdued and darker colors encourage a dining experience with a higher degree of mannerisms. Olfactics can also be seen in restaurants as the smell of the foods can encourage or discourage a person or group from eating there given their impressions. The same can be said for gustorics as if the food does not taste good then assumptions may be made about the restaurant which may cause a decrease in