Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction - Essay Example

It is exciting to find what others might say about our communication skills. Concerning this, the work at hand presents the actual analysis of the interviews that I initiated with five of the closest persons I know, my mom, my boyfriend and three of my roommates. Below is the analysis of the result of the interviews that seeks to reveal my communication practices and how I am perceived as a communicator. Using the relevant theories presented in class, I evaluated how I am perceived as a communicator together with the feedback generated from the transpired interviews. According to Goss (1991), skillful communicator needs speaking and listening skills. I wanted to evaluate if I have these speaking and listening skills. It was found that based on the responses from the questions I gave them majority of my respondents elaborated a positive thought about my actual manner in a conversation. I got this idea by understanding a remarkable theory. A personal conversation requires both listening and speaking activities (Spratt, 1994). After all, in a personal conversation, a two-way communication process must exist (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2008). After evaluating the responses, I found that the two-way communication process eventually existed, because the respondents believe that I have given them the chance to speak and to express their thoughts. This can be manifested through a reassuring gesture of nod, as they have noticed, which eventually might tell them “Go ahead, please continue. I’m ready to listen”. In addition to this, the respondents also revealed that I always find time to listen to them, and they notice that I continuously ask questions or clarify some points, if ever there is an area or issue that requires clarifications. This attitude according to the respondents is an essential idea about the kind of listening skills that a person must possess. Based on this response, I found that I have a good listening and speaking skills, and therefore this can be taken as a positive point on my part, especially when it comes to my skills in communication. When it comes to my skills in communication, I totally agree with what the respondents told me about. Most of them informed me that I am eager to listen to them as I encourage them to talk and even allow them to express themselves especially when I have to clarify points or issues. In other words, I have this basic idea about the ultimate foundation in an effective communication, and it is essential to ensure a good atmosphere between the sender of the message and its receiver. Vital to this communication process are the listening and speaking abilities of the subjects involved in the actual conversation. Based on this point, if one will based it on the idea of Goss, I could therefore label myself as one whom at some level is a skillful communicator based on the responses of my respondents. Also, as Goss added, competent communicator in interpersonal settings manages conversations effectively and is sensitive to the variables affecting interaction (Goss, 1991). There is a certain point in this concept that I wanted to expound more and even see if I have fully developed what is essential for this matter. There are variables that might affect interaction as clearly emphasized in this theoretical concept. For this reason, I chose to ask them concerning my communication performance not only in the actual or personal setting, but in the digital world. I chose this idea for me to evaluate especially on how I acted myself on Facebook and performed the actual communication process in this form of medium. To allow the proponent to evaluate my level of communication performance regarding in the aspect of how I manage to interact in settings where there are some variables affecting interaction, I managed to ask the respondents concerning how my words on Facebook might reflect on my communication skills. I have chosen this because Facebook as a social network is home to individuals with varying point of views and eventually cultural values. These I believe are variables that can potentially affect my interaction with other people. Based on the result of the actual interview concerning the above stated purpose, majority of the responses pointed out that I am consistent in providing words that are making sense and worthy for consideration to be called as insights. The respondents personally believe that those words did not bother them, but for them those substantially show not only my communication skills, but my character as well. In this case, I therefore found that I can be a competent communicator especially in cases or events that have important variables that might probably create an impact on the actual communication process under interpersonal settings. On the other hand, I also chose to evaluate how I might acted myself in social events and my potential to strike a conversation, by asking them pertaining to the use of my smile and eye contact. Based on the courtship behavior, which has relevant point on creating interpersonal relationship, a few nonverbal courtship behaviors such as smiling, making eye contact, and touching were reported as part of the rituals that surrounded greetings at social events (Moore, 2010). As I evaluated this concept, I found that greetings at social events are the primary steps to initiate a conversation. They are starting point of a good communication process, as they try to break the ice; they break the potential barriers that might be due to creation of impressions that are established through the actual observation of the nonverbal communication, especially in the context of social gatherings or any other relevant socialization events. The smile and eye contact must essentially encourage or start a conversation at some certain level. Concerning this point, I wanted to find out if my smile and eye contact can ignite a conversation rather than intimidate an individual. As found out, the smile and eye contact that I usually show with them in a prior or even in the midst of a conversation were considered as reassuring acts of kindness, politeness and eventually cues that motivate other people to be involved in a conversation with me. With this in view, it is therefore found that I must eventually have the capability to become effective conversationalist by trying to initiate a conversation especially in social events, which is an act that will essentially lead to building interpersonal relationship based on the concept or idea in line with courtship behavior as Moor explicated in detail. In addition, I also wanted to find out how I might have potentially revealed myself in the social setting or context. I wanted to find out my consistency in revealing myself as who I am especially in a conversation. I investigated how predictable I might appear from the point of view of the other individuals. According to Knapp and Hall (2009), while we are in the presence of another person, we are constantly giving signals about our attitudes, feelings, and personality. Concerning this, I was encouraged or eager to know if the respondents are able to detect my attitudes, feelings and personality in a conversation. Responses revealed that I was consistent in showing my attitudes, feelings and personality in a conversation. This therefore makes me sound predictable, which means people can eventually adjust with me, which specifically leads to the prevention of any potential conflict to prevail primarily in the context of interpersonal setting. The attitudes, feelings and personalities that I was able to showcase in a conversation, based on the responses of the respondents are positive, which means that it adds up to my potential to be more likely called as an effective conversationalist and somebody to look forward to in a conversation. Therefore, this potentially adds to the idea that I am indeed having good communication skills, not only because I am consistent in listening and speaking skills, but due to my ability to be consistent in showing my feelings or personalities. This therefore might allow individuals to determine what kind of communicator I am or might allow them to initiate certain perception of who I am as a person and a communicator. Now, another important point that must have to be taken account in my investigation is its reliability. I chose to consider the ability or credibility of my respondents based on their potential to evaluate my communication skills. Thus, to assess further if the responses of the respondents are making sense, I managed to evaluate their capacity to sense and interpret communication signals pertaining to the showcasing of attitudes, feelings and personalities. As Knapp and Hall added, others may become particularly adept at sensing and interpreting these signals. This therefore will lead to the idea that if the respondents are adept in doing this, then they are remarkably good at telling something about my communication skills. To test how adept the respondents are in sensing and interpreting these signals, I also managed to ask a question whether they can interpret my feelings clearly, especially during the actual communication process. The responses were positive on the ground that most of the respondents have the potential to understand the concept about facial expression, eye contact, and the tone of voice. This particularly means that the chosen respondents are eventually reliable primarily in giving evaluation concerning my communication skills. In a nutshell, the work at hand just presented the essential information or background of my communication capability as a communicator. The chosen respondents were found to be reliable to be as sources of the evaluation, because of their ability to detect and interpret signals concerning the actual communication process. It was found that I might be good at initiating or striking a conversation, by having a good listening and communication skills, in the first place. My communication skill is relevant to how I might have managed to interact in a conversation and encouraged the other party to communicate or express themselves. In addition, especially in situation where there are variables affecting interaction in communication, I also found myself to have this special understanding towards varying cultural values particularly within the context of the social networking platforms where there are various subjects who also have different point of views particularly on certain issues. I therefore find that initiating a conversation or questions like those I provided to my target respondents is an important means for me to be able to evaluate my communication skills and assess what I already have in terms of consideration of those factors in line with the communication process. Having an activity like this is effective, especially in aspect concerning how to improve one’s communication skills. References Goss, B. (1991). A Test of Conversational Listening. Communication Research Reports, 8, 19-22. Hellriegel, D., & Slocum, J. (2008). Organizational Behavior (12th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Knapp, M., & Hall, J. (2009). Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Moore, M. M. (2010). Human Nonverbal Courtship Behavior – A Brief Historical Review. Journal of Sex Research, 47(2-3), 171-180. Spratt, M. (1994). English for the Teacher: A Language Development Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Appendix A. Theories for consideration and interview questions Theories for consideration: 1.) Skillful communicator needs effective speaking and listening skills (Goss, 1991). 2.) Competent communicator in interpersonal settings manages conversations effectively and is sensitive to variables affecting interaction (Goss, 1991). 3.) A few nonverbal courtship behaviors such as smiling, making eye contact, and touching were reported as part of the rituals that surrounded greetings at social events (Moore, 2010). 4.) While we are in the presence of another person, we are constantly giving signals about our attitudes, feelings, and personality (Knapp & Hall, 2009). 5.) Others may become particularly adept at sensing and interpreting these signals (Knapp & Hall, 2009). Interview questions 1.) As you might have noticed, do you think I might have hurt someone with my words when I got to reply to them on Facebook or any other social networking site? Do you think the words I used are sensitive to the feelings of others? Either it’s a yes or a no, what makes you think so? (theory number 2) 2.) What personality do you see in me when we talk? What makes you think it so? (theory number 4) 3.) Do you find any hint of feelings from me when we talk? Either it’s a yes or a no, what makes you say that? (theory number 4) 4.) How do you think I act myself when we talk? What prominent gestures you find in me that might be annoying or substantially good? (theory number 4) 5.) Do you interpret things about me like my feelings when we communicate? What is your basis that you know my feelings when we talk? (theory number 5) 6.) What makes you think I am a good or not a good communicator? (theory number 1) 7.) What makes you think I am a good listener or not? (theory number 1) 8. How do you find my eye contact with you when we talk? What do you feel about it? Does it hinder you to communicate with me or not? Why? (theory number 3) 9. How do you feel when I smile in our conversation? Does it hinder you to communicate with me or not? Why? (theory number 3) 10. How good do you think are the words I used when I post on Facebook, Twitter or other social media networks? What makes you think it so? (theory number 2) Appendix B. Responses from interview questions Mom (53 years old) 1. I think you are careful with your words on your social networking accounts, and you seem to appear friendly because of your usage of emoticons. 2. You are a strong woman. I can see it in your gesture and facial expression. 3. Yes, your eye contact and facial expression reveal your emotion. 4. I find it good when you use your hand gestures. It seems for me you are putting your best food forward in the conversation. 5. You are predictable. Aside from the fact that you are my child and I know who you are, your eyes are really expressive, that they too communicate the real thing. 6. I think you are a good communicator, because you help organize the conversation by being able to manage to understand any unclear thoughts by asking questions or reinstating the point to make things clear. 7. I think you are a good communicator, because you nod most of the time and it makes me think that you are really involved or listening in our conversation. 8. Your eye contact is encouraging me to talk. It is reassuring. It seems it tells me to go ahead and talk. 9. You have a friendly smile and for me it can encourage others to communicate or strike a conversation with you. 10. Your words are good, because you deliver them in a friendly manner. Boyfriend (27 years old) 1. You can be predictable with your use of words on the social site. I know you don’t want to hurt the feelings of others. 2. I think you are a strong woman. The words you use can tell it all. There is something in them that I think that can help me to know the kind of personality you have. 3. You are expressive, and I see it how you deliver your point. Your eye contact and your hand gestures can tell how much you would like to be understood. 4. It is substantially good to see you having that friendly touch especially once you want to convince me on a certain issue. 5. Your touch says it all. It’s more than words can say. 6. I think you are a good communicator, because you manage to make me talk or express myself more. 7. I think you are a good listener, because you ask questions. 8. Your eye contact most of the time encourages me to talk, because I feel it is also capable of sending a message. 9. Your smile sends me a message that I have to keep on talking, because that seems to signal me that you like what I say. 10. Personally, I think they’re good. Those words you have for me are encouraging ones. Roommate 1 (20 years old) 1. I see no reason to tell you that your words are not appropriate, because as far as I know about your posts, you just want to express yourself at the expense of no one. 2. You are a friendly person, because of your friendly approach or manner. 3. Your expression, like facial expression is something that I can say as the ultimate source of what feelings you might have right now. 4. I think you are considerate of the feelings of others. That’s why you make it a habit to nod when we talk, and as for me it is a sign of respect and politeness. 5. I know your feelings, because I can simply look it in your eyes. It’s easy to know that in your case. I can see it in your eyes and facial expression and I can also hear it from the tone of your voice. 6. You are a good communicator for me, because you make me feel like I am important especially when we talk. You give me time to speak and you ask some questions too, to clarify any points. 7. For me, you are a good listener, because you always find time to listen. I know you are listening, because you eventually engage in a conversation. 8. Your eye contact is encouraging me to keep on talking. I’m sorry if that’s how the way I see it, but it’s something I considered positive on your part. 9. Your smile can indicate that we have already gone deep in our conversation. And I don’t see any negative things about it. You use it the right way, anyway. 10. I think you talk with sense on Facebook. That’s how I see how you use your freedom on this social networking site. Roommate 2 (20 years old) 1. I love most of your posts I see. But it does not mean I don’t like some of those you posted. It means that sometimes there are some views that we cannot just be in the same stand or position. But in any way, what you said there did not hurt me or so. 2. I can consider you a good friend, but with a strong personality at the right time. 3. I think you are emotional just like many other women. Just like me. We have many things in common so I can relate. I can see it in the way you express yourself. We have many things in common, indeed! 4. You find time to relax in a conversation. And that means we always have a smooth-flowing conversation. You make me feel relax too. 5. You can be predictable at some point as your tone of voice can say it all. 6. You are a good communicator, because you talk with sense. 7. I believe you always listen with intention. I can see it in your facial expression. 8. I just don’t know what actually the reason is, but all I can feel in your eye contact is that it is like trying to give me an assurance that you are there to listen, and so I have to be ready to talk. I think that’s your gift. 9. Your smile is a comforting act, allowing me to speak and be at ease in our conversation. It gives me the impression that I must have uttered good words, so I must continue doing the right thing. 10. Your words give me always the impression that you are a woman who uses her freedom the right way. Roommate 3 (20 years old) 1. For me, your posts are just perfectly fine. I think they do not bother me. 2. You can be a great woman. You are friendly and you will be able to meet a lot of friends in the future. You have friendly words in our conversation, words that I can relate with. 3. In most of the time, I think I can relate with your feelings. I see it in your eyes, and generally through your verbal and nonverbal expressions. 4. You act with confidence, the thing that I also like about you and I want to emulate, especially in a conversation. 5. Although not at all times, I can predict your feelings, because you give a hint of it through your words and actions. 6. For me, you are a good communicator, because I feel that you truly are involved in our conversation. 7. You are a good listener, because aside from the point that you listen well, you always find time to understand me. 8. Your eye contact does not bother me, but in fact, it motivates me to express my ideas or opinions in our conversation. 9. Your smile is something that I can consider an act of kindness and a friendly approach. 10. Your words on Facebook are perfectly fine. They provide insights that are worth for consideration. Read More