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The role of the unconscious in nonverbal information processing

The role of the unconscious in nonverbal information processing DALE HAMPLE The intent of this paper is to show that the unconscious is the main source of control for nonverbal behavior, and to indicate some of the implications of that hypothesis. The unconscious is often mentioned in passing in our literature on nonverbal behavior, but readers are rarely given much detail; this leads to the suspicion that the writers have little detail to communicate. Let me begin this paper by commenting briefly on a standard -- and otherwise fine -- text in the area (Knapp 1980). A quick survey of Knapp's book finds him explaining that conversational distances are regulated unconsciously (1980: 81), that facial displays are usually done unconsciously (1980: 164), and that people may well learn their nonverbal skills unconsciously (1980: 232). All this is probably true, and Knapp's claims are not controversial. The striking thing about these discussions, however, is that they tend to stop after the assertion about unconscious control. How is distance regulated unconsciously? How does the unconscious control facial display? What is unconscious learning, and how does it take place? These are the sorts of questions that a full treatment of nonverbal behavior ought to answer, and they have rarely been http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Semiotica - Journal of the International Association for Semiotic Studies / Revue de l'Association Internationale de Sémiotique de Gruyter

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Publisher
de Gruyter
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Walter de Gruyter
ISSN
0037-1998
eISSN
1613-3692
DOI
10.1515/semi.1987.67.3-4.211
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

DALE HAMPLE The intent of this paper is to show that the unconscious is the main source of control for nonverbal behavior, and to indicate some of the implications of that hypothesis. The unconscious is often mentioned in passing in our literature on nonverbal behavior, but readers are rarely given much detail; this leads to the suspicion that the writers have little detail to communicate. Let me begin this paper by commenting briefly on a standard -- and otherwise fine -- text in the area (Knapp 1980). A quick survey of Knapp's book finds him explaining that conversational distances are regulated unconsciously (1980: 81), that facial displays are usually done unconsciously (1980: 164), and that people may well learn their nonverbal skills unconsciously (1980: 232). All this is probably true, and Knapp's claims are not controversial. The striking thing about these discussions, however, is that they tend to stop after the assertion about unconscious control. How is distance regulated unconsciously? How does the unconscious control facial display? What is unconscious learning, and how does it take place? These are the sorts of questions that a full treatment of nonverbal behavior ought to answer, and they have rarely been

Journal

Semiotica - Journal of the International Association for Semiotic Studies / Revue de l'Association Internationale de Sémiotiquede Gruyter

Published: Jan 1, 1987

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