User:AmeliaLeeAnnJoy/Nonverbal Political Communication sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nonverbal political communication is the combination of nonverbal communication and political communication. Nonverbal communication consists of every aspect of communication besides the choice of words.[1] Political communication involves the communication between politicians, government employees, and the general public.[2] By combining these two fields of study, communication researchers are able to observe and evaluate how political figures use nonverbal cues to persuade audiences to vote for them in elections, as well as why certain nonverbal habits are used in political situations such as "the handshake."
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Gerald_R._Ford%2C_Carl_Albert_and_others_at_the_State_of_the_Union_Address._1976.jpg/640px-Gerald_R._Ford%2C_Carl_Albert_and_others_at_the_State_of_the_Union_Address._1976.jpg)
Nonverbal political communication has been described as important in modern media. Politicians typically have about 30 seconds during a media appearance to make an impression, and their nonverbal communication is oftentimes just as important, if not more important, than their verbal communication.[3]
Though a relatively new concept of communication studies, studies in political nonverbal communication has proved to be increasingly beneficial. Many hold that less than 10% of communication is actually verbal,[4] leaving the other 90% to be consisted of different forms of nonverbal communication. This means that 90% or more of political communication is nonverbal. Because politicians' actions are so often aired on television and social media for the world to see, the role of communications directors and press secretaries has become exponentially more important. The role of a communications director includes developing communication strategies, projecting a positive image to the public, and crisis management,[5] all of which involve coaching the politician in his or her nonverbal communication skills.