Verbal and Nonverbal Characteristics in the Students’ Oral Narrative about Happiness

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of Russian and American students’ narrative of happiness. Verbal and nonverbal representations of the phenomenon of happiness were analyzed on a sample of Russian and American students. The general and specific features were determined. It was found, that happiness is connected with involving in activities for both samples of students. At the same time, Russian students are more result-oriented, and American students are more focused on the process, associated with the experience of a state of happiness. The overall trends in gestures’ description were found: for signification of happiness both groups of students put the palms backside up, the character of the movement is circular or convex, the peak of gesture movement is located in the center in regard to a speaker.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s5p233