Nonverbal Observation Assignment
For this exercise, you are going to sit and observe speakers in a natural setting. What you will do is find a place and sit for 30-45 minutes and watch. You will observe three different conversations.
Even if you do not hear what the speakers say, observe their bodies and attempt to interpret what their bodies are saying. Are their bodies complimenting? Are they excited (this can be seen when our bodies become more excited by showing more animation)? Is someone angry? Is there an argument occurring? Can you see if people are attracted to each other or possibly in a romantic relationship? Can you see the difference between men and women in their body orientation (men tend to stand at angles while women tend to speak straight on to each other.consider feminine and masculine behaviors here as well)? Can you possible tell if there is any other emotion in their body language (happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, contempt)? What do you see?
In your observations, think of what we discussed in this module. Look at their:
Kinesics (body movement, gestures, postures),
Oculesics (facial expressions…are emotions seen here?),
Haptics (touch…is someone touching another and how: hand on their arm, playful hitting, angry hitting, etc.),
Proxemics (how far or close are they standing or sitting)?
If you can hear them, is there anything in their vocalics (tone, pitch, volume) that says something?
Is their physical attractiveness (message relayed the way they are dressed) a part of their posture or gestures?
Even chronemics (time)…were they speaking quickly to leave the situation? In anything you see, what is your interpretation?
You can sit in the food court of a mall, go to a restaurant or busy store, or if you have a lot of people at your workplace you can observe there. Anywhere you can find people.
Take your time and watch (It will be obvious in your summary if you slapped words on a page, so do not do that), but try not to be too “stalker-y”! You may do your observations with a friend and you may discuss what you see with each other; but you must do your assignment separately.