What are your main take away lessons from the assigned reading this week? Describe and explain.

This week’s reading has delved on nonverbal communication. This is the form of communication where messages are passed without the use of language. Sometimes nonverbal communication even happens when people are not intending. Most of the times people will stammer, frown or blush without the intention of doing so. Such aspects make it possible for communicating parties to understand how the other person is feeling even when they are trying to hide their feelings. Nonverbal communication tends to be relational. The social functions that are involved aid in identity management, definition of relationships and conveying emotions that people are not willing to let out (Adler et al., 2014). Nonverbal communication has come out as being ambiguous. There are times when people will misinterpret the message that was intended. For this reason, it is important for individuals to consider the context of communication while trying to make interpretation of nonverbal communication.

Just like verbal communication, people use nonverbal communication for varied reasons. Among them is to repeat, regulate, complement, deceive, substitute or contradict. Appearance, body movements, touch, space and voice can be regarded as favorable examples of types of nonverbal communication.

Gender and culture come out as aspects that are likely to influence nonverbal communication. People understand and perceive a set of nonverbal communication differently based on the environment they have been subjected to. While using gestures, there is a culture where a certain gesture is perceived in a given way, while the very same gesture is perceived differently in another culture. These differences are likely to bring conflicts in a relationship if the parties involved use the nonverbal communication at play to imply different things. Nonverbal communication also varies between men and women. According to Adler et al., (2014), “it’s easy to identify stereotypical differences in masculine and feminine styles of nonverbal communication.” Women have the tendency of using nonverbal communication more compared to men. As a result, they are better at deducing nonverbal communication when it is being used by another person.

How will they affect the way you communicate?

After reading the chapter, I have realized that nonverbal communication should be used with caution. This is because people are likely to interpret them differently and I do not want to send the wrong message. The reason why this aspect has captured my attention is because I tend to use nonverbal communication a lot. There are times I have received unexpected responses, but now I understand why. I always had the assumption that the way I perceive nonverbal communication is the same as everyone else does. The reading has made me understand that it is always important to consider the context of communication on these occasions.

In what ways do the concepts in the videos and readings relate to your professional life in education?

The video “Do you find me Attractive?” shows how people communicate one thing yet their feelings are quite different. The lady insists that she does not find the guy to be attractive, but everything else including her facial expression tells a different story. These are the things that I should have the ability to deduce as a professional as they will help me to understand other people better even when they do not want to express themselves fully.

“The hidden power of smiling” shows that a smile can be contagious. It has the ability to change the attitudes and dynamics of the people around. This is something that I have to practice at my workplace to help lighten the mood of the people around me at all times.

In the video “How to Spot a Liar”, Pamela Meyer has given tips on how people can detect liars. The techniques that have been suggested revolve around nonverbal communication. These techniques can be applied in any professional. They will be helpful as they will help people to deter others from taking advantage of them by use of deception. People are prone to lying hence it is good when one has an idea of how to protect themselves.

Cameron Russell uses the video “Looks aren’t everything” to show how appearances can be deceiving. Through appearance, people are able to assume a personality that they want others to see about them as opposed to who they actually are. This why you will see people dressed in a stunning manner and they are all smiles while in the real sense they are depressed due to one thing or another.

The video “the human face” on its part shows that people perceive beauty by merely looking at the face. The physical features of the face lead people in deciding whether an individual is beautiful or not. This can be said that it is what the face tends to portray.

“Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s was affected by Alcoholism” on the other hand demonstrates Sonia as a good reader of nonverbal communication. Based on the way she viewed his alcoholic father, she was aware that at some point it would destabilize and affect the family. This is a good trait and would be very helpful for a professional as it would help in assessing whether a situation might turn out bad before it does.  It would be a good way of mitigating unwanted occurrences at the workplace.

Reference

Adler, R., Rodman, G., & DuPré, A. (2014). Understanding human communication (12th ed.). Oxford University Press.

 
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