Non-Verbal Communication
When A Smile Is Not A Smile
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Non-verbal communication can be divided into several categories:
- facial expressions
- head movements
- hand and arm gestures
- personal space, touching
- eye contact
- physical postures
The most important thing to keep in mind is that non-verbal behaviors do not translate across cultures easily and can lead to serious misunderstanding.
Tips to Remember
- Follow the patient’s lead. If the patient moves closer or touches you in a casual manner, you may do the same.
- Use hand and arm gestures with great caution. Gestures can mean very different things in different cultures. (Examples)
- Be careful in interpreting facial expressions. They may lead you to misinterpret the patient’s feelings or to over- or underestimate the patient’s level of pain. A smile in Asian cultures may suggest embarassment or anger rather than happiness or humor. This is also true of the presence or absence crying and other expressions of pain, which are closely tied to a person’s culture.
- Don’t force a patient to make eye contact with you. He/she may be treating you with greater respect by not making eye contact.
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