Observing Nonverbal Communications in College

Many students attend colleges and universities where they seek to find diversity and relationships with others. These schools have various settings where students can interact with one another or either be alone. In a school setting like colleges or universities, you will see lots of verbal and nonverbal communication among the students. Verbal communication is oral communication where a message is spread through verbal words. Nonverbal communication is a message that is to be determined without verbal words. Movements, postures, facial expressions are all examples of nonverbal communication.

Recently, there was an observation made with different groups of college students on one of Georgia State campuses where nonverbal communications are exercised. There were two different types of groups that were observed. On campus one, the first group of students was either studying alone, napping, or musically occupied. These students seemed content and very focused along with being relaxed. The environment is very relaxing and private. As I was observing these students, they were more honest from their actions by being alone and relaxing in their atmosphere. These actions are describing a term known as “Distance Zones.” The set of students exercised the intimate distance meaning it is informal language; total intimacy and personal distance meaning informal language; partial intimacy. All their senses were used. The five senses are hearing, taste, touch, feel, and see. Hearing and seeing was the main sense that was being observed. The students heard different students interacting along with when another person approach the area they looked and observed. Most of their actions flowed continuously until they left. Some students had a lack of precision meaning it was an uncertain meaning from their behaviors. Overall, the nonverbal communication observation went well for group one.

The second group was students who are in group dynamics. Their interactions with one another were done respectfully and in a student manner. As I was paying attention, I became more sensitive to the messages. The interaction patterns were decent along with seeing how the students are being received by one another. They were interacting, and there was a diversity present. This made communication culturally bound. These observations make me want to focus more on how we communicate nonverbally. Group settings are essential because you can teach each other and show how you can communicate effectively by movements and expressions. In group dynamics, you do not always have to converse verbally. For instance, games such as charades are played with big groups. You must use expressions, movements, and several different postures for your team to figure out what you are trying to represent.

The students worked and showed how you could work in group dynamics both verbally and nonverbally. Both types of communication were effective. Their actions exercised social distance meaning informal and formal language and some intimacy possible and public distance indicating formal language and no intimacy at all. The effects shown could be less honest, but it involves us to see and hear along with it beginning and ending.

These observations tell us quite a bit about our social behavior. The first important factor would be our physical environment. The physical appeal of our surroundings determines our mood. The comfort of the chairs, d©cor, color, and temperature all have connections to the physical attractiveness. Proxemics is how we use the space. This shows how we need to be close, socialize or even associate. The need for discretion and to ration control over your space. Our eye contact plays a major role also. It lets us use our cognitive memory, monitoring the areas, regulating and expressing. Our social behavior changes in numerous ways. We gain knowledge, better attitudes, and learn the norms of our culture and other behavior.               

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