This article offers a brief, selective review of some important trends and issues in nonverbal research over the last 50 years. Although the volume and range of research have increased dramatically over that period, an adequate integration of this extensive body of work is lacking. In response to this concern, the article proposes that nonverbal communication might be framed in terms of an adaptive and efficient system of managing our social worlds. Several basic characteristics of this system are outlined and their utility in organizing and facilitating research is discussed.