Nonverbal communication
For this assignment, you will need to sit and observe people in a natural setting. Then you are going to write a 1-2 page paper. You could observe people on campus, in a caf, or anywhere people are interacting through verbal and nonverbal communication. Find a place and expect to sit and observe people for 30-60 minutes. Watch the people you choose carefully. They may be in a dyad, small group, or other communication situation. Observe at least three different conversations. Each conversation must involve a different setting and a different group of people. For example, if you were first observed people at a caf on campus you would need to move to different locations for both the second and third observations.
You are not permitted to do this while you work, or where you work. You are not permitted to use family members. Using any family member or person related to you in any way or at your workplace earns a zero for this assignment with no opportunity to make it up.
Recall what you’ve learned in this module and incorporate, as much as appropriate into your paper, based on your observations. Below is a list of nonverbal forms of communication that we have studied.
Kinesics (body movement, gestures, postures)
Oculesics (eye contact and eye movement?)
Haptics (touchis someone touching another and how: hand on their arm, playful hitting, angry hitting, etc.)
Proxemics (how far or close are they standing or sitting? Physical proximity to one another)
If you can hear them, is there anything in their vocalics (tone, pitch, volume) that says something?
Artifact (messages relayed the way they are dressed or jewelry or other material things, such s a car they get into or other indicators) What story do these tell?
Chronemics (time)…were they speaking quickly to leave the situation? In anything you see, what is your interpretation?
Observe the body language and interpret each person’s nonverbal communication. Detail what unspoken messages are being sent and received by those involved. Share the emotions being displayed through nonverbal communication. You should be able to discern if they are excited, angry, happy, or feel something else.
You should be able to discern if the people you are observing are involved in a disagreement or are in a romantic relationship or displaying physical signs of affection. You should be able to detail the differences you observe between men and women in their body orientation and nonverbal communication.
