Consider the four primary uses of nonverbal behavior—expressingemotion, conveying attitudes, communicating personality traits, andfacilitating verbal communication. There are two parts to thisactivity. First, over the course of 2 days, pay close attention tothe amount of eye contact, types of voice changes, body positions,and movements others make with you in different situations. Thiscould include casual friends at work, family members in your home,strangers waiting for a bus, fellow bar patrons or churchattendees, etc. Second, for the next 2 days, again observe others’behaviors in a variety of situations. This time, however, tryminimizing your own use of nonverbal communication (hint: darksunglasses may help!).
Describe the patterns of nonverbal behavior you observed inothers for both parts of the activity. Why do you think differentpeople engaged in different types of nonverbal behavior? Whatemotions, attitudes, and personality traits did these nonverbalcues suggest? How did people respond to your lack of nonverbalcues?
