Actions+or+Words;+Do+they+Really+Make+a+Difference

 February 18, 2009 Workshop 3. Functions of Nonverbal behavior-Actions and words; do they really make a difference? Facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language are all forms of communication. People are communicating all day without saying anything. This workshop will focus on the four functions of nonverbal behavior and how they affect our lives. The goal of this workshop is to examine nonverbal communication in four aspects; Emotional expression, Impression Formation/Identity Management, Conversation Management and Relational Messages. We will engage in different activities, one of which will examine how the class views different people in a photo, watch a clip from the new hit television series, Lie to Me//, and finally look at a clip from a Rider Network show. At the end of the workshop, I hope to have given the class a clear summary of the material and have them decide which is more important if any, Actions or Words. Emotional expression is thought to be universal. When a person has a lowered head and tears are flowing down their face, the normal response is to assume that they are sad. When a person is gazing off in the distance, one my assume that that individual is in deep thought. Even though it is human nature to assume the feelings of others due to their emotional expressions, do you think all of the assumptions are correct? Identity management refers to the first impression. Some believe that branding is everything. A person’s appearance is the first thing that is always judged before saying anything. The text describes facial features and expressions to determine if a person is genuine. Conversation Management refers to the beginning and the ending of a conversation. How do we communicate that we are done speaking and it is the other person’s turn? Some gestures to indicate this are to stop taking, to look at the other person or to point. Finally, Relational Messages are the signs a person gives when they want to indicate a change in a relationship, whether good or bad. If you want to become serious with a person, you would most likely sit closer to them, smile at them more and give more eye contact. Daniel J. Canary, Michael J. Cody and Valerie L. Mansuov are the authors of Functions of Nonverbal Behavior in John Stewart’s Bridges Not Walls textbook. The material can be found on page 183. Please review before February 18, 2009.