DigitalCommons@Linfield

Nonverbal Cues in the Communication of Attraction

Jereld R. Nicholson Library

Using Deborah Tannen’s genderlect theory as a basic framework, this essay examines the nonverbal cues that indicate attraction within a social interaction. Observing four contemporary movies, the research looks at nonverbal cues in specific scenes of two heterosexual individuals who are perceived to be attracted to one another. After recording the data, the genderlect theory was employed to explain the reasons behind the use of specific nonverbal cues. Overall, the gender roles created by society affect the expression of nonverbal cues by both genders. The results of the study have found that men exert nonverbal cues to establish power and dominance, while they avoid showing emotions and vulnerability. Women express nonverbal cues to initiate closeness within a relationship by explicitly displaying emotions, while actively submitting to the male dominance within the conversation. The need to be perceived as attractive pushes individuals towards following the social gender norms, including the nonverbal behaviors discussed in this study.