nonverbal cues
Unspoken social signals
Nonverbal cues are signals communicated without words—facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye contact, tone of voice, physical distance.
They often reveal emotions or intentions more reliably than speech: Her words said she was fine, but her nonverbal cues told a different story.
Reading nonverbal cues is central to social intelligence.
- frownDisapproving facial expression
- body languageUnspoken physical expression
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- crossed armsLimbs interlocked at chest
- shoulder shrugRaised-shoulders gesture of uncertainty
gesture · smile · microexpressions · posture · personal space · tone · raised eyebrows · stance · vocal fry · mirroring · squinting · head tilt · facial expressions · grimace · pauses · public space · smirk · territoriality
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- social skillssocial skills, conversation, sharing, helping, listening
- body languagegestures, facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, nodding
- communication skillspersuasion, active listening, empathy, body language, storytelling
- expression of emotionsfacial expressions, body language, crying, laughing, smiling
- first impressionsfirst impression, first impressions, initial reaction, snap judgment, snap judgments
communication modality
nonverbal cuesverbal communication
Exchange through spoken language
spoken language · speech · verbal cues · spoken words · words