Question

Choose one of the following activities and record your observations in the space provided.

Watch a television drama or comedy and write down all of the instances of nonverbal communication that you see. After watching the program, list each instance, classify it based on the list of types below, and place a plus sign (+) next to any example that contributed to the message and a minus sign (-) next to any that detracted from the message.
Go to a park or shopping mall and sit in one spot where you can view different groups of people. Observe moods, body stance, hand gestures, eye movement, and voice pitch. Notice the different types of nonverbal communication exhibited by people of different ages (e.g., between two teenagers, two children, a teenager and a parent, a child and a parent, two adults). Note any nonverbal communication that suggests that people may be making decisions or resolving conflicts. Observe carefully and take good notes.
For both activities, refer to the list of the eight types of nonverbal communication as needed.

body movements
facial expressions and eye movements
self-presentation
distance
touch
time
voice

Answer 1

In this activity, you have the option to either watch a television drama or comedy and record instances of nonverbal communication, or go to a park or shopping mall and observe people's nonverbal communication.

In my response, I chose to observe people at a park. Here are the details of my observations:

1. Two teenagers sitting on a bench, talking:

- Type: Body movements

- One teenager leaned in, nodded, and used hand gestures. These actions contribute to the message being conveyed between them.

2. A child running to their parent, excited:

- Type: Facial expressions and eye movements

- The child had wide eyes, a smile, and made direct eye contact with their parent. These nonverbal cues show the child's excitement and positive mood.

3. A couple walking hand in hand:

- Type: Self-presentation, touch

- Both individuals were dressed casually and comfortably. They were also holding hands and occasionally brushing shoulders. These actions contribute to their display of affection and connection.

4. Two adults having a discussion on a bench:

- Type: Distance, body movements

- The adults were sitting close to each other but not touching. They leaned in to speak and used hand gestures. These nonverbal cues indicate their engagement in the conversation.

5. A parent scolding their child:

- Type: Voice, facial expressions and eye movements

- The parent used a stern tone, raised eyebrows, and direct eye contact. These nonverbal cues convey the parent's disapproval or frustration. In contrast, the child looked down, avoided eye contact, and frowned, which suggests their acknowledgment of the scolding.

6. A group of children playing:

- Type: Time, body movements

- The children took turns running and chasing each other, laughing. They also used exaggerated movements like waving arms and stomping feet. These actions show their enjoyment and involvement in the game.

7. A teenager and a parent having a disagreement:

- Type: Voice, facial expressions and eye movements

- The teenager raised their voice, rolled their eyes, and crossed their arms. These nonverbal cues indicate frustration or defiance. On the other hand, the parent maintained a calm tone, maintained eye contact, and used open body language. These actions suggest an attempt to resolve the conflict calmly.

These observations demonstrate different types of nonverbal communication, such as body movements, facial expressions, self-presentation, distance, touch, time, and voice. Most of these instances contribute positively to the message being conveyed, but there are a few instances where nonverbal cues detract from the message, such as the child avoiding eye contact during the scolding and the teenager rolling their eyes during the disagreement with their parent.

Answer 2

I chose to observe people at a park, where I could view different groups of people interacting. Here are my observations:

1. Two teenagers sitting on a bench, talking
- Type: Body movements
- One teenager leaning in, nodding, and using hand gestures (+)
- The other teenager occasionally shrugging and crossing arms (+)

2. A child running to their parent, excited
- Type: Facial expressions and eye movements
- The child's eyes wide, smiling, and looking at their parent (+)

3. A couple walking hand in hand
- Type: Self-presentation, touch
- Both dressed casually, comfortably (+)
- Holding hands, occasionally brushing shoulders (+)

4. Two adults having a discussion on a bench
- Type: Distance, body movements
- Sitting close, but not touching, leaning in to speak (+)
- One adult using hand gestures, other nodding in agreement (+)

5. A parent scolding their child
- Type: Voice, facial expressions and eye movements
- Parent using a stern tone, raised eyebrows, and direct eye contact (+)
- Child looking down, avoiding eye contact, and frowning (-)

6. A group of children playing
- Type: Time, body movements
- Taking turns running and chasing each other, laughing (+)
- Using exaggerated movements, like waving arms and stomping feet (+)

7. A teenager and a parent having a disagreement
- Type: Voice, facial expressions and eye movements
- Teenager raising voice, rolling eyes, and crossing arms (-)
- Parent using a calm tone, maintaining eye contact, and using open body language (+)

These observations highlight various types of nonverbal communication, such as body movements, facial expressions, self-presentation, distance, touch, time, and voice. Most of these instances contributed positively to the message, while some detracted from it, such as the child avoiding eye contact while being scolded and the teenager rolling their eyes during a disagreement with their parent.