1). Because nonverbal messages can be ambiguous, they are open to misinterpretation. Have you ever been wrong about the meaning of someones nonverbal message? Describe what happened. How can people increase the accuracy with which they interpret nonverbal message?
There have been many times that I have been wrong about the meaning of someone's non-verbal, in fact, it probably happens to me everyday. I think a situation that perpetually repeats itself as a misinterpretation of nonverbal messages is communications I have with my boyfriend. After four years of dating, I like to think that we can read each other pretty well but that is not always the case. For example, sometimes he will sleep facing away from me and oftentimes I will interpret this as his being bothered by something when in reality it is just that it is more comfortable for him. I'm sure this happens all the time in all sorts of different relationships, but it is something that can be improved upon. To help increase the accuracy on nonverbal interpretation, it's important to not rely completely on the nonverbal message. Sometimes it is just impossible to tell, so if you base all your assumptions on one nonverbal action, you really can decrease the accuracy of your perception. Also, just being more familiar with nonverbal concepts can help you to understand situations with more objective clarity.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI think nonverbal communication is so hard to decipher because we are all raised differently and all learn that what one nonverbal action means to one of us means something completely different to another person. I don't know if you ever saw the movie the Beverly Hillbillies but at one point when they were driving someone flipped them off. They interpreted that to be the California hello so they then went around flipping everyone off because they thought it was a friendly gesture when it really was a rude one. My husband ususally sleeps with his back to me as well because he is more comfortable facing the other direction and I am not willing to trade sides of the bed so we can stare at each other when we sleep. Your post was good and fun to read.
Capone's Mom
Hello Nicciri! Do you also have misinterpretations with other people everyday? Or is it just with your boyfriend? If it is just with your boyfriend, what are some other examples that you have experienced? :)
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