NCJ Number
35218
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 43 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 48-49
Date Published
1976
Length
2 pages
Annotation
THE MANY FUNCTIONS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE DESCRIBED, AND EXAMPLES OF HOW NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION MAY AFFECT THE POLICE OFFICER'S PERFORMANCE AND RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY ARE PROVIDED.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT NONVERBAL COMMUNICATIONS MAY SERVE MANY FUNCTIONS IN THE TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS PROCESS. FOR EXAMPLE, HE OBSERVES THAT NONVERBAL COMMUNICATIONS MAY CLARIFY VERBAL COMMUNICATION, AMPLIFY THE VERBAL MESSAGE, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTRADICT VERBAL INFORMATION, SIGNAL THE BEGINNING AND END OF A CONVERSATION, AND ACCENT IDEAS EXPRESSED VERBALLY. SEVERAL EXAMPLES ARE PROVIDED TO ILLUSTRATE THE APPLICATIONS OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. THESE INCLUDE: INTERROGATION SITUATIONS WHEN THE SUSPECT'S NONVERBAL COMMUNICATIONS CONTRADICT HIS STATEMENT; POLICE-CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS, IN WHICH THE OFFICER'S ACTIONS MAY CONTRADICT HIS STATEMENTS; AND SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE POLICE OFFICER USES NONVERBAL CLUES TO STATE HIS AUTHORITY OR INDICATE HIS ATTITUDES.