PS360-15 Nonverbal Behaviour
Introductory description
The focus of this course is on gestures that spontaneously accompany speech
Module aims
The course will cover a wide range of theoretical issues. Thus, students will be expected to read extensively in a wide range of disciplines, including developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, psycholinguistics, primatology, neuroscience and anthropology. The course will cover the following general theoretical questions.
The first question is how inter- and intra-personal factors shape gestural behaviours. The interplay between the two types of factors explains, for example, the puzzle of why people produce gestures in situations where the addressee cannot see the gestures (e.g., in telephone conversation). The second question is what aspects of gestures are universal and culture specific. The third question is how gestures emerge in the course of development. The fourth question is how gestures of humans and non-human primates differ from each other. The fifth question is how the brain processes gesture and speech. The sixth question is how gestures are used adaptively in populations that cannot readily use speech to communicate.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
- Introduction to gesture
- Self-oriented (cognitive) functions of gestures
- Communicative functions of gestures
- Gesture and culture
- Development of gesture in children I
- Development of gesture in children II
- Gesturing by non-human primates
- Brain and gesture
- Gestural communication without speech (e.g., a deaf child in a hearing family)
- Gesture in developmental disorder of communication (e.g., autism)
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- concisely describe empirical facts regarding gestural communication, and critically evaluate how these facts contributes to theories
- flexibly apply theories to new empirical results
- discuss how gestural communication differ (or is similar) between adults and children, between humans and non-human primates, and among various disorder groups, in terms of empirical facts and theories,
- conduct basic observational studies on gestural communication and effectively report the results
Indicative reading list
McNeill, D. (1992). Hand and mind. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Knapp, M. L. & Hall, J. A. (2002). Nonverbal communication in human interaction (5th Ed.).
Wadsworth.
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Subject specific skills
analyse, present, and evaluate data and evaluate research findings
critically evaluate the relationship between empirical facts regarding gestural communication and relevant theories
conduct basic observational studies and effectively report results
Transferable skills
effective communication skills to develop a cogent argument supported by relevant evidence and being sensitive to the needs and expectations of an audience;
computer literacy
critically evaluating primary and secondary sources
recognition of what is required for effective teamwork
effective personal planning skills
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 14 sessions of 1 hour (9%) |
| Seminars | 12 sessions of 1 hour (8%) |
| Practical classes | 6 sessions of 1 hour (4%) |
| Private study | 118 hours (79%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
118 hours guided student study
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group D2
| Weighting | Study time | |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Report 1 | 11% | |
|
practical reports on observation of gestures. For these reports, video clips to be analysed will be provided, and students will work in a group of three or four, and each report is submitted as a group. |
||
| Practical Report 2 | 11% | |
|
practical reports on observation of gestures. For these reports, video clips to be analysed will be provided, and students will work in a group of three or four, and each report is submitted as a group. |
||
| Practical Report 3 | 11% | |
|
practical reports on observation of gestures. For these reports, video clips to be analysed will be provided, and students will work in a group of three or four, and each report is submitted as a group. |
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| Online Examination | 67% | |
|
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Feedback on assessment
Academic guidance form for assessed work; exam results online.
Courses
This module is Optional for:
- Year 3 of UPSA-C800 Undergraduate Psychology
- Year 4 of UPSA-C801 Undergraduate Psychology (with Intercalated year)
- Year 3 of UPSA-C804 Undergraduate Psychology with Education Studies
This module is Core option list B for:
- Year 3 of UPSA-C802 Undergraduate Psychology with Linguistics
This module is Option list A for:
- Year 3 of UPSA-C804 Undergraduate Psychology with Education Studies
This module is Option list B for:
- Year 3 of UPHA-VL78 BA in Philosophy with Psychology
- Year 4 of UPHA-VL79 BA in Philosophy with Psychology (with Intercalated year)
- Year 1 of TPSS-C8P9 Postgraduate Taught Psychological Research