Have you ever wondered why you sometimes take an almost immediate liking to a person you have just met? We often get the first impression of the person based on the color of the person's skin or the manner in which he or she dresses. Meaning is conveyed not only by words or verbal languages but also by nonverbal communication systems, such as body behaviour.
Nonverbal communication is important because we use the actions of others to learn about their emotional states. Our emotions are reflected in our posture, face and eyes—be it fear, joy, anger, or sadness—so we can express them without ever saying a word. For this reason, most of us rely heavily on what we learn through our eyes.
Nonverbal communication is significant in human interaction because it is usually responsible for the first impressions. More importantly, those first messages usually influence the perception(感知) of everything else that follows. Even how we select friends and partners is grounded in first impressions with nonverbal communication.
Nonverbal communication is important because it is culture-related. It is based on different beliefs, values and customs in different cultures. When, where, how, and to whom people display their specific nonverbal behaviour is greatly affected by cultures and contexts. Culture determines what the appropriate nonverbal behaviour is. For example, feelings of friendship exist everywhere but their expression varies. It may be appropriate in some countries for men to embrace each other and for women to hold hands; in other countries these displays of affection may be shocking. Each culture has its own specific interpretation on nonverbal communication. What is acceptable in one culture may be completely unacceptable in another. One culture may determine that snapping one's fingers to call a waiter is acceptable; another may consider this gesture rude.
