MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8c Verbal Nonverbal Communication

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 8c Verbal Nonverbal Communication, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the facial feedback hypothesis?

Answer: Facial expressions can influence the emotional experience. Facial muscle activation can trigger corresponding emotions.

Flashcard 2: What is proxemics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Use of interpersonal distance and space to convey meaning. Physical distance communicates intimacy, dominance, or cultural norms.

Flashcard 3: Identify the gesture type: fidgeting with a pen during stress is which category?

Answer: Adaptor. Adaptors are self-directed actions that alleviate stress without communicative intent.

Flashcard 4: What is the definition of the facial feedback hypothesis?

Answer: Facial expressions can influence and intensify emotional experience. The hypothesis posits that muscular feedback from expressions can amplify corresponding emotions.

Flashcard 5: What are affect displays in nonverbal behavior?

Answer: Facial expressions that communicate emotion. Universal expressions reveal emotional states across cultures.

Flashcard 6: Identify the nonverbal concept: rapid speech with high pitch primarily reflects what channel?

Answer: Paralanguage (vocalics). Paralanguage conveys emotional states through vocal qualities independent of words.

Flashcard 7: What is the definition of the looking-glass self?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by perceived judgments of others. The looking-glass self develops through internalized reflections of others' evaluations.

Flashcard 8: What is haptics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Communication through touch. Physical contact conveys emotions and relationships.

Flashcard 9: What is an adaptor (self-adaptor) behavior in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Self-touching or fidgeting that often reflects arousal or discomfort. These unconscious behaviors manage internal states.

Flashcard 10: Identify the term for adjusting speech style to match a conversation partner.

Answer: Communication accommodation (convergence). Speakers adapt style to build rapport or show solidarity.

Flashcard 11: What is the definition of the fundamental attribution error?

Answer: Overattributing others' behavior to traits and underweighting situation. We tend to ignore situational factors when judging others.

Flashcard 12: What is proxemics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Use and interpretation of interpersonal space. Distance between people conveys relationship and comfort levels.

Flashcard 13: What is oculesics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Communication through eye contact and gaze patterns. Eye behavior signals attention, interest, and social dynamics.

Flashcard 14: What is the definition of the self-serving bias in communication about outcomes?

Answer: Attributing success internally and failure externally. This bias protects self-esteem by internalizing positive outcomes and externalizing negative ones.

Flashcard 15: What is the difference between a gesture and an emblem in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Emblem has a specific verbal translation; gesture may not. Emblems like thumbs-up have direct word equivalents.

Flashcard 16: What is the difference between a "duchenne" smile and a non-duchenne smile?

Answer: Duchenne includes eye muscle activation; non-duchenne does not. Duchenne smiles indicate genuine happiness by engaging orbicularis oculi muscles, unlike forced smiles.

Flashcard 17: What is the definition of the actor-observer bias?

Answer: Self: situational attributions; others: dispositional attributions. This bias arises from differing perspectives: actors see their situations, observers see traits.

Flashcard 18: What is metacommunication?

Answer: Communication about how to interpret messages (often nonverbal). Context cues that frame how to interpret the main message.

Flashcard 19: What is chronemics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Use of time (punctuality, pacing, waiting) to convey meaning. Chronemics communicates status, urgency, or respect via temporal patterns in interactions.

Flashcard 20: What is kinesics as a channel of nonverbal communication?

Answer: Body movement cues, including gestures, posture, and gait. Kinesics provides insights into emotions and intentions via observable physical movements.

Flashcard 21: What is the definition of nonverbal communication in interpersonal interactions?

Answer: Communication conveyed without words (e.g., cues, behaviors, signals). Encompasses all non-linguistic channels of human interaction.

Flashcard 22: What is haptics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Communication through touch (type, duration, intensity). Touch conveys emotions, relationships, and cultural meanings.

Flashcard 23: What is the main function of illustrators in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Gestures that accompany and reinforce spoken content. Illustrators visually emphasize or clarify verbal messages during communication.

Flashcard 24: Identify the term: a speaker pauses longer than usual before answering a sensitive question.

Answer: Chronemics (response latency as a time cue). Extended pauses communicate hesitation or discomfort.

Flashcard 25: What is haptics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Communication through touch (for example, handshakes or hugs). Haptics conveys affection, power, or comfort through tactile interactions in social contexts.

Flashcard 26: Which concept best explains: a clinician interprets a patient's lack of eye contact as disrespect, ignoring cultural norms?

Answer: Cultural mismatch in nonverbal norms (display rule differences). Eye contact norms vary significantly across cultures.

Flashcard 27: What is the definition of nonverbal communication in social interaction?

Answer: Communication via behaviors and cues other than words. Nonverbal communication transmits implicit information through actions and signals beyond language.

Flashcard 28: What is paralanguage (vocalics) in communication?

Answer: Vocal cues beyond words (tone, pitch, volume, rate, pauses). How something is said often matters more than what is said.

Flashcard 29: What is the definition of verbal communication in social interaction?

Answer: Communication using spoken or written words and language. Verbal communication relies on linguistic elements to convey explicit messages in social exchanges.

Flashcard 30: What are adaptors in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Often unconscious self-touch or fidgeting that relieves tension. Adaptors help manage anxiety or discomfort, often without conscious awareness.

Flashcard 31: What is paralanguage (vocalics) in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Vocal features such as tone, pitch, volume, rate, and pauses. Paralanguage enhances verbal messages by adding emotional nuance through vocal variations.

Flashcard 32: What is the difference between a closed-ended and open-ended question?

Answer: Closed-ended limits responses; open-ended invites elaboration. Closed gets yes/no; open encourages detailed responses.

Flashcard 33: What is chronemics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Communication through time use (punctuality, pauses, response latency). Timing behaviors communicate attitudes and cultural values.

Flashcard 34: Identify the nonverbal concept: standing closer to signal intimacy is an example of what?

Answer: Proxemics. Proxemics governs how spatial proximity communicates relational closeness or boundaries.

Flashcard 35: What is the definition of verbal communication in a social interaction context?

Answer: Communication conveyed through spoken or written words. Includes all linguistic elements that convey meaning through language.

Flashcard 36: What is an illustrator gesture in relation to speech?

Answer: A gesture that complements or emphasizes spoken content. These movements visually support verbal messages.

Flashcard 37: What is chronemics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Use and interpretation of time (punctuality, pacing, waiting). Time usage reflects cultural values and relationship dynamics.

Flashcard 38: What is oculesics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Communication through eye contact and gaze behavior. Eye movements and patterns reveal attention and emotions.

Flashcard 39: What are regulators in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Cues that manage conversational flow (turn-taking, feedback). Regulators maintain smooth interaction by controlling the pace and direction of dialogue.

Flashcard 40: What is the main function of emblems in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Gestures with a direct verbal translation in a given culture. Emblems serve as symbolic substitutes for words, facilitating quick cultural understanding.

Flashcard 41: Which concept explains how expectations can shape another person's behavior?

Answer: Self-fulfilling prophecy. Expectations influence behavior, creating their own reality.

Flashcard 42: What is active listening?

Answer: Attending and reflecting to confirm understanding (paraphrase, clarify). Shows engagement through feedback and verification techniques.

Flashcard 43: What are affect displays in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Nonverbal cues (often facial) that express emotion. Affect displays reveal internal emotional states, aiding in empathy and social bonding.

Flashcard 44: Which option best describes a regulator cue during conversation: nodding, leaning forward, or smiling?

Answer: Nodding. Regulators control conversational flow and turn-taking.

Flashcard 45: Which option best describes the function of a backchannel cue like "mm-hmm"?

Answer: Regulator that signals attention and encourages the speaker to continue. Minimal responses that maintain conversation flow.

Flashcard 46: What is oculesics as a form of nonverbal communication?

Answer: Eye behavior, especially eye contact, gaze, and pupil changes. Oculesics signals interest, dominance, or deception through variations in eye-related behaviors.

Flashcard 47: What is the definition of impression management in social interaction?

Answer: Strategic control of behaviors to influence others' perceptions. Impression management allows individuals to shape social identities and achieve desired outcomes.

Flashcard 48: Identify the most likely interpretation when verbal content conflicts with facial affect.

Answer: Nonverbal cues are typically weighted more heavily than words. People trust body language over words when they contradict.

Flashcard 49: Identify the concept: words say "I am fine," but tone and slumped posture suggest distress.

Answer: Mixed messages (incongruent verbal and nonverbal cues). Verbal content contradicts nonverbal signals.

Flashcard 50: What is the difference between denotation and connotation?

Answer: Denotation is literal meaning; connotation is implied/emotional meaning. Dictionary definition vs. cultural/emotional associations.

Flashcard 51: Identify the gesture type: a "thumbs-up" with a clear word meaning is which category?

Answer: Emblem. Emblems are culture-specific gestures that directly correspond to verbal equivalents.

Flashcard 52: What is kinesics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Body movements (posture, gestures, facial expressions) as signals. Body language conveys emotions and attitudes nonverbally.

Flashcard 53: What are display rules in the context of emotional expression?

Answer: Culture-specific norms for when and how emotions are expressed. These learned rules vary by culture and context.

Flashcard 54: What is paralanguage (paralinguistics) in spoken communication?

Answer: Vocal features other than words (tone, pitch, volume, rate). These vocal qualities modify meaning beyond word choice.

Flashcard 55: What is the primary claim of the universality hypothesis for basic emotions?

Answer: Basic emotions have facial expressions recognized across cultures. Ekman identified six universal facial expressions.

Flashcard 56: What is proxemics in the study of nonverbal communication?

Answer: Use of interpersonal distance and personal space to convey meaning. Proxemics reflects relational dynamics and cultural norms by regulating spatial interactions.

Flashcard 57: What are adaptors in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Often unconscious self-touching/movements linked to arousal or stress. These behaviors reveal anxiety or discomfort unconsciously.

Flashcard 58: What is kinesics in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Body movement cues (gestures, posture, facial expressions). Studies how body movements communicate meaning.

Flashcard 59: What are regulators in nonverbal communication?

Answer: Cues that manage conversational flow (nodding, turn-taking signals). These behaviors coordinate smooth conversational exchanges.

Flashcard 60: What is the Duchenne smile, and what does it typically signal?

Answer: Genuine smile with eye crinkling; typically signals true enjoyment. Involves both mouth corners raised and orbicularis oculi contraction.

Flashcard 61: What is the definition of the Pygmalion effect in interpersonal contexts?

Answer: Higher expectations lead to improved performance (self-fulfilling). The Pygmalion effect demonstrates how positive expectations create self-fulfilling prophecies in performance.

Flashcard 62: What is the fundamental attribution error in interpreting others' behavior?

Answer: Overattributing behavior to traits and underattributing to situation. We blame personality over circumstances for others' actions.

Flashcard 63: What is the fundamental attribution error in interpreting others' behavior?

Answer: Overemphasis on dispositional causes and underemphasis on situation. The error occurs because observers overlook situational factors when judging behavior.