Question

Please help!!

1. Describe the nonverbal communication you observed among the six people you chose to focus on. Be sure to include elements of both kinesics and proxemics in your description. How do the nonverbal behaviors differ among people from the two cultural groups you observed? How large a role do you think individual variation plays in explaining differences?
2. Describe the anthropological experiment you did by altering your nonverbal behaviors with people you know. What elements of kinesics or proxemics did you alter in your interactions, and how did your friends or relatives react?
3. The chapter states that differences in nonverbal communication can be a source of miscommunication in cross-cultural interactions. Based on your experience doing this activity, how would you evaluate the role of nonverbal communication in causing such misunderstandings?

Answer 1

1. The nonverbal communication I observed among the six people I chose to focus on included elements of kinesics and proxemics. In terms of kinesics, I noticed that people from both cultural groups used a variety of gestures and facial expressions to communicate their thoughts and feelings. For example, people from both groups smiled, nodded, and used hand gestures to emphasize their points. In terms of proxemics, I noticed that people from both groups stood close to each other when conversing, but there were subtle differences in the amount of space they maintained. People from one group tended to stand a bit farther apart from each other than people from the other group. I think individual variation plays a large role in explaining the differences in nonverbal behaviors between the two cultural groups. Each person has their own unique set of nonverbal cues and behaviors, and these can vary from person to person, even within the same cultural group.

2. For my anthropological experiment, I altered my nonverbal behaviors with people I know by changing my facial expressions, gestures, and posture. For example, instead of smiling and nodding, I would frown and shake my head. I also changed the amount of space I maintained when talking to them. I noticed that my friends and relatives reacted differently to my altered nonverbal behaviors. Some of them seemed confused or even uncomfortable, while others seemed to understand my intentions and responded accordingly.

3. Based on my experience doing this activity, I would evaluate the role of nonverbal communication in causing misunderstandings in cross-cultural interactions as being very important. Nonverbal cues can often convey different meanings across different cultures, and if these cues are not interpreted correctly, it can lead to confusion and miscommunication. Additionally, individual variation in nonverbal behavior can also lead to misunderstandings, as people may interpret the same gesture or expression differently depending on their own experiences and background.

Step-by-step explanation: