ABSTRACT
From the moment we enter the world as babies, we are dependent on others. This dependence changes as we grow, but constantly we are reliant on others to fulfil our survival needs; from being fed and held for physical and mental warmth when we are born, to the need to be understood and connected to others as we get older. At the outset, a caregiver’s ability to understand what the baby needs, and later wants, is crucial for survival and for development. For human societies (as well as for other animals) effective communication is the basis for any form of social living, and although humans have a unique ability to communicate using words, much of our communication is not verbal (Knapp, Hall, & Horgan, 2013). We express ourselves using facial expressions, body gestures, and tone of voicewhat we feel, what our true intentions are, what we desire and what we would like to avoid. Much more outstanding is our ability to understand all these subtle cues automatically and almost effortlessly. Not only survival but also well-being is largely dependent on the ability to communicate with others.
