Speechless Attraction:�

An Investigation of

Nonverbal Genderlects

Cameron Howser Department of Theatre & Communication Arts

Linfield College Student Collaborative Research & Creative Projects Symposium

May 2012

In addition to the initial stages of social attraction, nonverbal communication plays a vital role in maintaining romantic relationships. A basic component for keeping a relationship is the sustained mutual attraction between the two individuals within that relationship. To accomplish this one must find ways to keep his or her partner engaged and interested in maintaining the relationship. The study of the role of nonverbal cues in sustaining romantic relationships will contribute to the development of communication signals that may be used to achieve this goal.

  Many fail to recognize nonverbal cues that convey messages to their communicative partners.

  Nonverbal cues are often unintentionally sent and received.

  Failure to recognize these nonverbal cues can be detrimental to an individual’s relationships.

  Provide the basic understanding of nonverbal cues within attraction.   Identify and interpret nonverbal cues within attraction specific to a

particular gender.   Determine the reasoning and influence behind the gender specific

cues.   Majority of the population of people are attracted to another person,

therefore this study examines one the many components within attraction.

  Are there gender specific nonverbal cues that indicate attraction, if so what are they?

  Are there specific cues that men exert more than women to indicate attraction and vice versa?

  What are the intended goals and reasoning behind these gender specific cues?

Deborah Tannen’s Genderlect Styles Theory The examination of a variety of speech or sociolect that is associated with a particular gender.

Cooperative (support) vs. Competitive (status) Rapport vs. Report Instead on focusing on speech, we focused on nonverbal cues associated with a particular gender.

-Rapport- Indicate that women communicate with the intention to build and maintain relationships with others hoping to link and interweave thoughts with their communicative partners.

-Report- Suggest that men communicate with the intent to look good, strong, competitive, or independent to contribute to their power or status. (2) Cooperative vs Competitive

-Cooperative (support)- Examines the tendency of exerting explicit emotions and communicating with higher vulnerability usually associated with female communicators. This indicates that women view both parties within a communicative act as equals.

-Competitive (status)- Dictates that men communicate by utilizing a dominant presence and exerting assertive speech control, that determine the direction of the communicative act.

 Artifacts: Contemporary romance movies 1.  Two Can Play That Game (2001) 2. He’s Just Not That Into You (2009) 3. Play The Game (2009) 4. Valentine’s Day (2010)  Movies are reflective images of reality. They are hypothetical situations that are

used for entertainment.

Same Eye:

Consistent Gaze Staring

Physical/Visual: Proximity Isolation

Oral/Vocal: None

Men Eye:

Body Gaze Periodic Gaze

Physical/Visual: Deep Sighs

Initiate Interactions

Oral/Vocal: More Talkative

Assertive Speech

Women Eye:

Face Gaze Gaze Aversions

Physical/Visual: Excessive Touching

Forward Lean Self-Adaptors

Excessive Smiling Head Tilts

Attentive Listener

Oral/Vocal: Lowered Voice

Nervous Laughter

*Recorded nonverbal cues presented by each gender concerning the beginnings of a heterosexual romantic relationship. *The data was then categorized by gender and behavioral groups.

Males avoided eye contact to maintain power and status in the relationship (competitive).

Females initiated eye contact more often, which made them more attentive when the male was speaking (cooperative).

Males often initiated the social interactions with their female counterparts (rapport).

Females were much more prone to show facial expressions displaying her vulnerability (report).

Men used an assertive tone when speaking to his counterpart (competitive).

Women engaged in nervous laughter more than men (report).

Nonverbal cues within both genders communicate two very different goals.

Women intend to initiate and maintain closeness when communicating with their partners.

Men communicate with the to establish power and dominance within the interaction.

Gender roles influence the expression of nonverbal cues within a specific gender.

Women are expected to be overt and expressive. Males are to be strong and dominant.

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