The practice includes both the process of sending communications and the manner in which they are received. It might also be used to describe the process of conveying ideas through language. It is a soft skill that is crucial for anyone who wants to give or receive instructions from another person. (Butterfield 48). The procedure can be carried out verbally or in writing. Face-to-face talks, discussions, interviews, television, memos, letters, notes, emails, reports, and counseling are all examples of verbal communication. Pandya claimed in a presentation that verbal contact could be used to describe someone. For example, Paul is a two glass man who never likes comments about his eyesight. Similarly, the concept is used in an investigation activity when seeking a response from the accused party. The investigators will demand some feedback during the interrogations in the form of writing or speech defending themselves.
Non-verbal Communication
The activity involves sending and receiving information using clueless words with the involvement of body language, proxemics, paralanguage, and haptics. Facial expression is the most common type of non-verbal communication with the involved parties using their interpretations to analyze a particular message. It is due to the fact that only a small percentage of the brain processes verbal communication. According to a description by Duck and McMahan (107), non-verbal communication is learned at the infant stage of life when making a face a dominant form of communication other than the voice. The different expressions are used in responding to a given activity that is being executed. In an investigation practice, the law enforcers will quickly determine the status of the case with the expression that the accused provides when being interrogated. In most cases, the accused will demonstrate an aspect of fear when asked about a particular concept in the case. These expressions are often sought by the investigators after making about an informed fact about their lives but have a direct link to the case being investigated.
Benefit of Non-verbal Communication in an Investigation
The majority of investigators are interested in the body language that the accused will make when responding to the questions. The body movements executed by the accused often lay a foundation for any investigation, providing an opportunity to know what questions suit the investigation process. Nevertheless, when an individual is conducting an investigation interview, there is a need to apply certain basic rules that will guide the process. Despite the fact that the investigation room must be comfortable facilitating clear communication. Such a concept further indicates that there should be no barriers between the interviewee and the subject matter that may block the process. Additionally, the interrogator should formulate a series of questions that will not make the accused suspect any leak of information from a third party. The signs demonstrated by the individual will provide an opportunity to tell whether he/she is directly or indirectly involved in a case. For example, the majority of the people that show any sign of being scared will quickly provide a conclusion that the accused has an influence in the case.
On the other hand, the interrogator should have a minimal object in the room, leaving the accused with no options of barriers to any movements. There is a need for the interrogators to keep the furniture away and have full body-view of the subject. Similarly, it will reduce the chances of the accused to make any false action during the interview. It is however considered as an important aspect of the assessments of an individual’s body language. These identifications can be realized when the accused is responding to the questions and providing details about the incident in question. There are a series of theories and signs that will help tell an individual if the accused is being deceitful. As long as the interrogator is skillful enough to understand these signs, they can then understand that one sign does not make the charged to be a liar (Miller 19). Nevertheless, these signs are often considered as part of the entire strategy that will help in assessing the credibility of the interrogation. These conclusions can be attained through the consideration of factors like illustrators, manipulators, full-body positioning. Fleeing the interrogation, covering the mouth, and reading of the clues.
In most cases, the people that offer conflicting signs may be deemed as liars forcing the integrator to move to the next stage of the case thus avoiding an instance of being misled by the respondent. Wrong interpretation of these clues will affect the final judgment that is being made regarding the prosecution of the case. The interrogator should also be offered some assistance from a third party as people from different regions in the world pass non-verbal communication in various ways. It will then offer an appropriate conclusion to the case that is being handled. According to a publication by Samovar, Porter, and McDaniel (118), non-verbal communication has often predated verbal communication as the majority of the people in the society relies on the concept from birth. The implementation of non-verbal communication during any interrogation has offered an estimated 95% accuracy in the conclusions of a case compared to the verbal communication. It is quite easy for an individual to create an aspect of innocence through speech and writing. The concept of credibility is derived from an individual’s culture and the model of response that is offered without the use of speech or writing.
Proving Innocence and Guilt using Non-Verbal Communication
The majority of the pieces of evidence that is being provided in the courts are not governed by the rule of admissibility and could be received without the consent of the counsel. The application of non-verbal communication in an investigation process plays a significant role in every kind of dialogue, and in professional clarification, it is also valued as a crucial concept. The accused’s brain is often put to task to identify its ability to offer accurate information with regards to non-verbal communication. Where precisely in the brain is the interpretation of non-verbal communication located. The interrogators will often use this method to create sanity in the investigation processes, creating an indirect link between the courtroom and the accused. The accused’s body language and facial expressions will help in the aspect of identifying the primary cause of the problem compared to the instance of using verbal portions of communication. The facial expressions provided by an individual in a courtroom will help the jury to identify the hidden emotions that often contradict with verbal statements. For example, the judge can quickly know that an individual is telling a lie about his knowledge of a particular incident, but the fearful expressions and the glance around guilt will formulate a conclusion to the case. Nevertheless, the other forms of body language, expressed by an individual will provide communication clues which include the postures and gestures. The application of gestures will help in adding levels of emphasis and improve an understanding when used sparingly.
During the process of litigation, impressions will always be formed even when no words have been spoken. However, instances of decoding the non-verbal leakage is a crucial skill for lawyers and the practices of litigants with the aim of gaining better insights into assessing what the jury and the counsel may feel. Studies have further elaborated that a significant portion of communication originates in the non-verbal traits. A publication by (Atre 240) also demonstrates that various cultural differences have an impact on non-verbal communication, with examples such as anger, sadness, enjoyment, and contempt helping in the formulation of judgments. In the long run, the jury will then have an ability to identify whether an individual is guilty or innocent. The timing of an individual’s reaction can also play a significant role in the aspect of determining the level of guilt. Nevertheless, there is a need to look and listen simultaneously for the first deceptive behavior to be executed within the first seconds after a stimulus is executed (Atre 245). When in the presence of a liar, there is a need to be more attentive to the very specific non-verbal cues. The interrogator will only have to sap the right questions and wait for the body language that will be offered by the respondent and later catch him in the act. The judge/arbiter will have the ability to identify the level of innocence or guilt in an individual based on the reactions that are being displayed.
Impact of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender on Non-verbal Communication
Different communities have an ideal model for expressing their messages through signs thus affecting the conclusion that is likely to be made by the receiver. The peoples from a similar community will often have a unique way of passing messages and offering responses of a given subject matter. The concept of race matters as there is a likelihood of preparing wrong judgments based on the actions that were displayed earlier. People from racial minority backgrounds report less trust in their peers and often have different conclusions about various concepts. It is also a similar response in the medical industry as this cluster of people has limited in their doctors, and they often have poor health outcomes.
This concept is further linked to the aspect of bias and discrimination as one community will often consider itself as the dominant figure. It then reflects on the mode of interpretation that is received from the other races. In the long run, it will form a basis of judgment if a lawsuit had been filed. Therefore, one community will dictate the rules of interpretation in relation to the signs that are being executed in the society. Before an individual makes a decision to communicate with a colleague interracially, they will have already formulated a perception of that individual based on race. Nevertheless, the perceptions that are being created in these communities affect the model of communication. In the long run, a different model of responses will be displayed as no positive bond has been created before the start of the conversation. However, very few agreements can be reaches in comparison to the responses that are being provided during these interactions.
Works Cited
Atre, Sandeep. Observing Nonverbal Behavior: An exhaustive guide to the essential skill of ‘Social Intelligence.' New York: Education Publishing, 2016. Print.
Butterfield, Jeff. Verbal Communication: Illustrated Course Guides. New York: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Duck, Steve and David T McMahan. Communication in everyday life: a survey of communication. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 2014. Print.
Miller, Katherine. Organizational Communication. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2014. Print.
Samovar, Larry A, et al. Intercultural communication: a reader. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2015. Print.
Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication (part 02). Dir. Rooshikumar Pandya. Perf. Rooshikumar Pandya. 2011. CD.
