On the principles of nonverbal communication I feel number six is very important on the sending and receiving end.
6.) The things we notice lead to interpretation and the assignment of meaning.
What caught my attention the most was the things we "notice." Not everyone can pick up on nonverbal communication, they may be preoccupied with the vibe they're trying to send out or what they're taking in from all of their surroundings. In order for the nonverbal communication to be received, the person on the receiving end must notice it to begin the interpretation process. An example would be when you are at a bar with friends and someone approaches you that does not catch your interest. Body language is key in this position because if you do not want to give your attention to this person the direction you are facing can reveal a lot. Facing them directly opens the space for further communication but if you are facing your friends or the opposite direction it can be easier to say "have a great night" and turn away, ending the conversation. If a person does not pick up on the body language or nonverbal communication they could try to reengage or if they do notice they will most likely move on.
The second principle I found interesting is number one.
1.) Our nonverbal communication affects the quality of our relationships.
This is a really important principle and can make or break a relationship. Especially in a group setting with various people, if you like all of your group members the nonverbal communication comes naturally. If you don't like some or one of your group members there are a few key nonverbal communication tools many people engage in. For example, eye contact. If I don't want to speak with or sit with someone I usually avoid eye contact first. This really only works from a distance but acting preoccupied or talking to someone else may stall the interaction with someone you don't want to be around. These actions may emit uneasy feelings to the person you are sending them too and can lead to confrontation but if that is the vibe you are sending, the nonverbal communication was successful.
Hey Phoenix!
ReplyDeleteI think your example about body language at bars is right on. When I go out to bars with friends, it's kind of fun to see the interactions between people that don't know each other and whether or not their nonverbal cues are getting across haha. I've seen people do what you talked about, where they either look down at their phones or keep their back turned so that they either face their own group of friends or at least keep direct contact to a minimum. Unfortunately, there's always people that either have trouble picking up on those nonverbal cues, or they notice them and chose to persist.
The same goes for two people that do like each other or show interest. Whenever my friends and I go out and one of us is getting along well with someone, there's always a lot of positive nonverbal language going on, like constant eye contact and leaning forward during the conversation. Good blog!
Cheers!
I agree with your view on principle 6 but did you know you could also add on environmental signs to the idea as well? Imagine you are in a dark alley and a person is coming up to you, nonverbal communication could have you instantly assume that he or she is going to do something vindictive to you don't you agree? Its the setting that can also affect the interpretation of body language such as walking calmly in the direction you are going toward.
ReplyDeleteAs for your view on principle 1 I agree that eye contact does affect our relationships as well. I'm sure that romantic relationships could not exist if you never looked at your significant other in the eyes the whole time.