As expressed in the book, nonverbal communication is defined as expressing “when we convey messages and create meaning without the use of spoken words” (Beauchamp & Baran, 2015, p. 72 ). Being able to read and understand another person's nonverbal messages not only enriches your experiences in the ability to communicate with others, but can also give you insight into your own nonverbal messages and the messages it sends to other people . It is not just the “action” of nonverbal communication, but the purpose behind it that gives it meaning and is essential for connecting with others. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayAcademic study: In a study conducted by Sherer and Rogers (1980) they studied the correlation between psychotherapists' verbal communication with patients and then how much the patients liked them. A total of 118 students were used in the study, 58 males and the remaining 60 females. What was measured included high immediacy versus low immediacy, high power versus low power, and high responsiveness versus low responsiveness. Participants were asked to watch a short video clip of a written therapy session between the therapist and the client. There was a separate videotape for each scenario above, and participants were asked to rate the therapist's nonverbal behavior toward the client in relation to the specific measurement area. Each participant watched the videos and then completed a questionnaire for each separate interaction. The results of the study found that, regarding immediacy, participants thought the therapist liked the client if they showed eye contact and close distance, compared to if they did not. . Regarding power, it was found that a relaxed posture on the part of the therapist did not have much impact on how the client viewed the therapist. It was speculated that perhaps behaviors such as head nods and relaxation signals were too subtle to be noticed. However, in the high immediacy condition, clients found the therapist more supportive. Finally, the last area examined, responsiveness, if the therapist showed more head nods and was more explicit, he seemed to be more receptive towards the client than if he did not communicate this. In the conclusion of this study, the researchers found that the immediacy category was the most important when it came to nonverbal communication. This category was strongly related to empathy, warmth, and genuineness. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Personal Example: When I competed in martial arts tournaments there were many things said about how people would behave towards me. I knew people thought less of me because I was a girl, even if no one told me this directly. For example, everyone's faces became softer, their tone of voice became higher, they smiled sympathetically, or they simply smiled and said nothing as they turned away from me and started talking to other contestants. People stood against the walls with their hands crossed, as if saying "hurry up, let's get this over with." As soon as I was done fighting, doing a self defense demo or training their body language towards me would change. It was worth watching and most people's behavior has completely changed. Even if you don't say something directly, share what you think indirectly. Nonverbals speak for themselves.