Kinesics and Culture

In order to study a specific culture one must first learn the language; but verbal fluency is only one component of communication. In many cultures, non-verbal communication plays a large role in individual expression and often replaces their verbal forms in specific situations. Kinesics is the study of non-verbal communication such as gestures, body movement, facial expressions, and certain actions, that relay information from one person to another. This component of anthropological research is vital in documentation of culture elements. If the researcher overlooks this aspect of communication, the conclusion could be incorrect or not fully understood. In addition, a researcher must distinguish variations in non-verbal communication in relationship to sex, age, income level, familial status, ethnicity, or personal preferences. An example of non-verbal variations between men and women is illustrated in the documentary film of a family in Cortile Cascino.
In gathering information from the Documentary film, one would realize that an abundance of information is discovered in an extremely miniscule amount of time. This documentary centered on a family in a small Sicilian town called Cortile Cascino, located in the heart of Palermo. The environment of Cortile Cascino was relaxed while also being hectic at the same time. The women in the household performed most of the chores including laundry, childcare, cleaning, and cooking. The men of the house appeared to relax more while they were home. They were seen playing cards and socializing with other men. Italian was the only language observed throughout Cortile Cascino; however, communication was performed not only in spoken language but also in gestures with the hands, face, and body.
Physical contact was observed to play an important role in an individual’s form of communication. This contact varied in severity from male to female members. This was illustrated when the father reprimanded his daughter for not eating. Within a short span of time, the father found it necessary to reprimand his son for the same infraction. The daughter received a glare of disapproval while the son received a slap on the head. Variations also occurred when members who were in the same age range spoke to each other. Women appeared to speak to each other with fewer instances of physical contact while men exhibited physical contact in most conversations with other men. In conversations between men and women, physical contact was not exhibited; men appeared to refrain from physical contact with women. Both men and women expressed themselves using their hands and shoulders. In some cases it appeared as if they were dancing when they described events of the past. These expressions reminded me of stereotypes some Americans put on certain ethnic groups such as Italians.
Culture teaches us which style of communication we should employ. Children learn how to express themselves or how to respond from others around them. In North America, non-verbal communication varies dramatically from male to female. Women in the United States tend to be more expressive when they convey thoughts, feelings, or emotions to another person; men tend to be more conservative in their non-verbal communication. An example of this would be hand gestures of males and females. Women tend to be more animated by utilizing more body parts to express themselves. Many men in the U.S. are taught at a young age to inhibit their expressions. This is accomplished with the use of comments like “you’re acting like a girl” or “Don’t be a sissy.” Many women are also taught at a young age how to act and what forms of expression are preferred. Girls are often forbidden to demonstrate physical prowess.
Dominant communicative styles are generally not considered a positive feminine trait. The non-verbal communication here would be in the form of: eye contact, eyebrows raised, a straight back, or folded arms. If a woman were to communicate aggressively she could receive a negative reaction. In some American communities, this type of woman might find it difficult to communicating with others. Yet a man demonstrating this same aggressive behavior would be complimented for being assertive. On the other hand, if a man were to demonstrate recessive expressions of non-verbal communication, he would be perceived as inadequate. Examples of this would be lowering of the eyes, little to no eye contact, a lowered head, or poor posture. A woman displaying these same characteristics would be considered feminine or ladylike. Sexual mannerisms play an important role in personal sexual identity. Men in North American society adopt masculine characteristics while females acquire feminine qualities. These differences are observed not only in establishing identities but also in forms of communication. These characteristics of non-verbal communication transfer information to others without permission. Our minds are constantly evaluating information from both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication.
One of the goals of an Anthropologist is the ability to acquire information simply through the use of observation. If an anthropologist has the ability to collect visual symbols of communication, he or she might be able to better evaluate their environment. A subject could say one thing but mean the exact opposite. Without understanding subtle clues in non-verbal communication, the researcher could have the wrong conclusion. Parents are well known to have this ability. When asked, “who ate al the cookies in the cookie jar?” the child would answer “no.” The mother is able to interpret the differences between the truth and a lie. Even though the child said “no”, the mother knows he is lying and is the culprit. She translates his subtle clues of non-verbal communication. He might look down as he answers or he hesitates before giving an answer. Teachers acquire this ability when they ask questions in class. Teachers are able to identify the students who did not complete the reading assignment simply by observing the student’s body language. Subtle clues appear in the student’s actions. The student might hide behind another student or might be pretending he is writing something. Students sometimes wonder how the teacher knows who did not complete the assignment.
Profiling is another form of non-verbal observation. Police officers learn how to detect certain clues that warn of potential criminal behavior. When a person is pulled over, the officer must observe all forms of communication. Certain actions by the subject could be used as evidence for a search. Drivers would appear to be intoxicated, but when asked if they had been drinking, they would answer “no.” The officer could arrest an individual due to non-verbal evidence.
In conclusion, communication is very complicated. Language is only part of this intricate puzzle. Observation of people and cultures must include non-verbal communication in order to convey the information properly. An anthropologist could have an inadequate observation if he or she were to miss this element of culture. Kinesics is a vital part of Anthropological research that is always changing. Kinesics is also visible in other careers enabling people to develop a greater understanding.