Week 3: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said. —Peter F. Drucker, pioneer of soc

Week 3: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said. —Peter F. Drucker, pioneer of social and management theory The next time you watch TV or a movie at home, turn off the sound for a moment. Without sound to guide you, can you figure out through physical gestures what is going on in the storyline and how the characters are interacting with each other? Most likely you will have some idea of what is taking place. This demonstrates the impact of nonverbal communication, and it is just one of the ways in which you communicate with others. You probably use nonverbal cues in almost every message you convey. Have you ever used a firm tone of voice or straightened your posture to warn someone about his or her behavior? Conversely, have you ever softened your voice or reached out and touched someone’s arm as a sign of empathy? At a meeting, have you ever sat forward and given direct eye contact to the speaker to let him or her know you are paying attention and are interested in what he or she has to say? This week’s content focuses on the ways in which people communicate with both verbal and nonverbal signals. Not only will observing your own communication habits be helpful in improving your communication effectiveness, it can also be useful to watch how others react to your verbal and nonverbal cues in different contexts. This week, you will also submit the first draft of your Final Project. Learning Objectives Students will: Distinguish the differences between verbal and nonverbal communication Identify concepts and theories regarding verbal and nonverbal communication Explain how various verbal or nonverbal communications might elicit different behaviors from different people Apply interpersonal communication theories and concepts to the analysis of authentic situations Assess outcomes of interpersonal communication events Discussion: Are Actions Louder Than Words? How often have you heard a comment that angered you because of its apparent insensitivity to your own cultural or social orientation? How often have you unknowingly perhaps done the same thing? How often have you watched someone’s facial expression or body language and made a quick judgment as to what he or she might be thinking, and then reacted accordingly? The words we choose to say and how we frame our verbal communications reflect perspectives and values of culture and social groups that may not be shared by those with whom we are communicating. Nonverbal communication is reflective of those values as well, and is also highly revealing about personal identity and feelings toward others. It is often easier to manage verbal communications than nonverbal communications—which may be continually and unintentionally in play long before and after any words are spoken. In this Discussion, you will examine concepts and theories regarding verbal and nonverbal communication and apply them to your own interpersonal communication. To prepare: Read Chapter 3 of the textbook Survey of Communication Study found in the Week 3 Resources. Consider some of the nonverbal ways in which you communicate your emotions. View the media located in this week’s Learning Resources. Think about how Sandra was able to relate interpersonal communication principles she was learning in class to issues taking place in her own life. Find a picture of two people that are engaged in an interpersonal situation. This picture should show more than one of the types of nonverbal communication (from Chapter 3 of the textbook Survey of Communication Study) taking place. With these thoughts in mind: Post by Day 3 a 1 to 2 paragraph discussion. In this post you should: Insert the picture you choose in your initial post. Describe what types of nonverbal communication you see displayed in the picture (refer to those found in the section titled “Types of Nonverbal Communication” in Chapter 3 of the Survey of Communication Study textbook) and explain how you see it displayed in the picture. Be sure to use your course resources when answering this. Based on the nonverbal cues you see, explain your interpretation of the conversation: what do you think the conversation could be about? For example, is this a conflict of a friendly conversation? Be sure to support your ideas by connecting them to the week’s Learning Resources, or to something you have read, heard, seen, or experienced. Learning Resources REQUIRED READINGS Hahn, Laura K and Paynton, Scott T. (2016, June 12). Survey of Communication Study. Retrieved from https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Survey_of_Communicat… REQUIRED MEDIA Laureate Education. (Producer). (2016c). Verbal and nonverbal communication [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes. Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript