Reflection of Gender Differences in Non-Verbal Communication - Essay Example

Reflection of Gender Differences in Non-Verbal Communication Though human beings are not concerned much with non-verbal communication, it actually constitutes a larger part of communication process in day-to-day activities. In instances where the interaction is between people of the opposite sex, non-verbal communication helps in communicating the level of intimacy among the people as well as defining the kind of relationship that exist (Goman 55). A male who is attracted to a certain female will always try to reduce as much as possible the distance between them when they are interacting (Goman 74).

On the contrary, if the two are just friends or people of the same sex then the personal distance is increased into what can be referred to as social distance. On top of that, the visual contact between two people of the opposite sex varies depending on the kind of relationship that prevails. People who are intimate tend to look at each other frequently and for longer periods especially, if they are of the opposite sex as compared to people of the same sex (Goman 89). It should however be noted that, friends of the same sex can keep close eye contact during their interaction but the same does not apply for casual friends of the opposite sex.

Unlike men, women feel comfortable toughing each other when interacting but when interaction is between people of the opposite sex, touching is present in instances where the relationship is close. Men like touching the women they are close to when interacting but they are uncomfortable touching other men even if they are really close. Additionally, hand shaking between men and women is mostly soft and gentle while it is the opposite when it involves people of the same gender especially among men (Goman 134).

On the same note, smiling is highly depicted in instances where people of opposite sex are interacting as compared to people of the same sex though this depends on the kind of relationship between the people. Work CitedGoman, Carol Kinsley. The Non-Verbal Advantage: Secrets and Science of Body Language at work. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2008. Print.