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MODULE 10: PERSONAL APPEARANCE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 Define personal appearance
 To understand how people perceive physical appearance as a form of nonverbal

communication
 Describe the importance of personal appearance

 To understand the role that clothing and artifacts play in nonverbal
communication
 To know the connection between personal appearance and first impression

OVERVIEW

Aspects of physical appearance, such as body shape, size or weight, height, skin colour,

fragrance, hair, clothing and artifacts, have a tremendous impact on people. The amount of time
and effort we put into maintaining our physical attractiveness demonstrates how important
personal appearance is in our lives. Many of us are concerned about our physical appearance

for several reasons. The way a person is groomed and dressed influences how others perceive
him or her.

3.2 PERSONAL APPEARANCE

Communication without words called nonverbal communication and physical
appearance is one of the most important parts of it. Personal appearance, or the way we dress,

groom, and present ourselves physically, goes a long way in influencing peoples‟ perception of
us. Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles, and other factors affecting appearance are also
considered a means of nonverbal communication. In an age when our society gives lip service

to the cliché that beauty is only skin deep, one might surmise that personal appearance
represents a secondary and superficial value, one to which few people devote attention or time.

How a person is groomed and dressed has an impact on how others see him or her.
Personal appearance is typically described as a person‟s external appearance. As a result, it

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