Nonverbal Communication in Everyday Life
SAGE Journal Articles
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In text Find Out more boxes provide a brief, easy-to-read synopsis of a recently published SAGE Journal Article studies and research. For further research and exploration, each journal article is reprinted in full, below.
Research 1.1
Abstract: There has been an increase in the numbers of women getting tattoos. The purpose of this study was to better understand tattooed women focusing on how having a tattoo influenced both self perceptions and subsequent behaviors. Our study was guided by three research questions: (1) What meaning do women assign to their tattoos and to what extent were these meanings dynamic? (2) What changes in self perception did women attribute to their being tattooed? (3) What changes in behavior did women attribute to their being tattooed? In-depth interviews of thirty tattooed women served as our data. Tattoos held several meanings for participants including connection to self, life events, relationships, and spirituality. Tattoos were closely related to some aspect of the self (82%). For some participants the meaning changed over time (61%). The act of obtaining tattoos resulted in a change in how participants viewed themselves and their behavior.
Research 1.2
Abstract: Many nonhuman animals produce facial expressions which sometimes bear clear resemblance to the facial expressions seen in humans. An understanding of this evolutionary continuity between species, and how this relates to social and ecological variables, can help elucidate the meaning, function, and evolution of facial expression. This aim, however, requires researchers to overcome the theoretical and methodological differences in how human and nonhuman facial expressions are approached. Here, we review the literature relating to nonhuman facial expressions and suggest future directions that could facilitate a better understanding of facial expression within an evolutionary context.