Nonverbal behavior is influenced by gender, culture, and media cues, which can cause confusion with each other. We rely on nonverbal cues when communicating with others because it helps decrease confusion and increase understanding within another. This helps us become successful in our relationships at home, work, school, and socially. What people say could often be very different from what they’re thinking or feeling. Words can be misleading and it’s very easy for a person to say something untrue or insincere, so we cant rely on words alone.
I like to see things that aren’t being shown. The tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures, and mannerisms say a lot of things. I think nonverbal behavior is influenced by gender. Men are less comfortable with making eye contact than women. It has something to do with power and status because direct eye contact shows a sign of emotion and men don’t like to show emotion like women do.
Women tend to use facial expressions more then men do. Men seem more relaxed in posture while women appear tenser. I am very big with facial expressions. I love to smile even when they are to random people walking by. I love it even more when they smile back. Facial expressions and gestures can make a bigger statement than actual words. It reminds me of silent black and white movies. There was no color and no sound. These movies were able to captures peoples’ hearts with only their gestures and facial expressions alone. If only we could appreciate these simple things again.
Men also tend to be more uncomfortable with close proximity. Women are more comfortable with sharing their personal space especially between another female. Both men and women are able to show their interest and affection towards a person they are willing to open and share their personal spaces. The ability to interpret nonverbal communication between people who are attracted to each other often disappears if one or both are trying to hide it. A common situation is when a man and a woman are attracted to each other but aren’t comfortable to tell the other of the feelings they have. By not being able to tell each other of such feeling, you tend to be blinded by the other person’s cues and signals as clear.
In general, our own body language signals can influence what others may think or feel about you.
Women and men are different in the way they show their emotions but I do not believe that emotions are reserved to a single sex. Although, there are some emotions that appear more acceptable/ normal for a certain gender, both sexes exhibit these non-verbal cues. In your point about eye-contact I agree men are not ones for eye-contact, in certain situations. When men are speaking to females who they are attracted to, they make little eye-contact. When men are being reprimanded by someone in a higher position, they once again make little eye-contact. But I find that women in similar situations do almost exactly the same thing. But I mostly believe that non-verbal cues are causation from our personality. If an individual has more confidence then they can make more eye-contact than someone with less confidence. A look has tremendous meaning and many people get uncomfortable by them. I also feel personal space is also dependent on the comfort level of the individual. Previous experience or inexperience contributes much to the exhibition of emotion in that department. But I agree wholeheartedly with your closing statement body language affects others. I compare it to that first impression because it sticks with us for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in the differences you express between men and women. The different types of gesture we portray are noticeably distinct. Women do tend to give more facial gestures than men do in my opinion as well. For example, depending on how I feel is how my facial gesture will change, and while doing so I am very aware but it just happens. Men seem to be more calm about what they are talking about. If we run into an interesting conversation or find out some exciting news, we might jump with joy, even scream with the biggest smiles, but men will take everything more seriously. The difference in genders is a big factor on the behavior of our gestures and out behavior while doing certain things. I also agree with you when you say that our body language can influence the way people think of you. To me this is very true. Body language sets off a certain vibe to the people you are around. Some people tend to come off as being more serious than others because they don’t show their expressions very often, but they might just be this way. I am this type of person. I might be happy or excited about something but I wont show it in my gestures and I simply don’t know why.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about how nonverbal behaviors are influenced by gender, culture, and media because from what I have seen throughout my life is that those are usually the three key traits of the defining of one's nonverbal behavior. However there are some things in here I would like to point out, such as men not making eye contact. Where I am from if a man does not make eye contact it means two things: he either has zero confidence within himself, or he is disinterested in what the other person is saying. Although you do make a valid point in regards to men not making eye contact. In the case of myself when I am speaking to someone I always maintain eye contact if and only if I am interested in what that other person is saying, but if that person is putting me too sleep I will either openly sigh and turn my head slightly or tune them out completely. There are also men that do show emotion, even more emotion than socially acceptable standards proving that men can/do show emotions, however whether they like to or not can vary down to each individual male and there is too many to account for as well.
ReplyDeleteNon-Verbal communication can sometimes help convey a message. However if not used correctly, it can sometimes be misleading. I think that the assumptions we commonly make can really make a mess of non verbal communication. I have often times experienced just the opposite of what you are saying. I have seen a lot of mis cues and misinterpretations when non verbal communication is present. I have even been guilty of simply being tired and allowing my body language to show that however others sometimes take that as I am not approachable or in a bad mood. But there is however truth to what you are saying because I too am a visualizer. And when verbal communication coincides with the non verbal communication I think the collaboration of both really conveys a strong and clear message hands down. I have really recognized this lately with my boyfriend. A lot of the times I might say the same thing in 100 different ways because I think he doesn’t understand because he doesn’t verbally respond. However when her verbally responds while expressing non verbal communication I no longer feel the need to explain it any longer. lol Men and women are about as opposite as they come but learning how to adapt to one another is key!
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