Non-Verbal Communication

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A prime example of this principle in action would be when I was training my Rottweiler, Cocoa. While technically, this is not an ‘interpersonal’ interaction, I believe it illustrates the metacommunicative function of nonverbal communication very well. Cocoa had difficulty following some verbal commands such as ‘sit’. Though, she knew the command and what it meant, she would ignore it for whatever reason. When she would not sit. I would deepen my voice and stare her down to convey anger, this would often prompt a response of obedience from her.

Question #2

Non-verbal communication expresses who we are as people to the outside world. Since they can be difficult to suppress, nonverbal cues are more accessible to the people who observe them than to the people who produce them (DePaulo 1992). The non-verbal messages that I send about myself may be somewhat removed from how I would like to be perceived after further examination. For example, I want to send the messages that I am a fully functioning adult. However, I feel that I am becoming more aware of some of the immature, or boyish nonverbal signals I may unconsciously be communicating.

Looking around my apartment, there are many nonverbal indicators of who I am by observing the environment. The walls are littered with sports memorabilia and pictures of the USC Trojans, Los Angeles Kings, and Los Angeles Clippers. Also, is a massive poster of the Manhattan Beach pier, which is the city I grew up in. looking around, the room it definitely appears to indicate how big of a part sports play in my life. Also, it may help people infer where I am from, since all of the inspiration of the designs are from Los Angeles area landmarks or sports teams. Basically, my room is littered with decorations one would expect to find in a teenage boy’s room. This is not the mature and, image, I want my room to elicit. Therefore, I may redecorate soon to make my environment communicate that I am mature and clean. In addition to the boyish decorations, I also have not been particularly vigilant in picking up my clothes recently. So the room also conveys a message of uncleanliness. This would further make one infer that this is the room of a boy. I think that if I want to make my room appear more sophisticated, I will need to keep it cleanlier, and revaluate the decorations, and design.

References

Buck, R. (1980). Nonverbal behavior and the theory of emotion: The facial feedback hypothesis. Journal of Personality and social Psychology, 38(5), 811.

Darwin, C., Cummings, M. M., Duchenne, G.-B., & John Murray (Firm),. (1872). The expression of the emotions in man and animals. London: John Murray.

Depaulo, B. M. (1992). Nonverbal behavior and self-presentation. Psychological Bulletin, 111(2), 203-243. doi:10.1037//0033-2909.111.2.203

Schmitz, A. (2012, December 29). Chapter 4 Nonverbal Communication. Retrieved February 03, 2017, from http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/a-primer-on-communication-studies/s03-verbal-communication.htm

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