BODY LANGUAGE
Megabites and Prince were pups from the same litter. They grew up in the same compound and got along very well with each other. Prince, being the larger dog, assumed the dominant role between the two; a fact anyone could tell by looking at the way Megabites would lower his head and tail whenever he passed in front of Prince. Dogs have their own distinct code of behaviour which distinguishes social ranks within their group. For example, the dominant dog may circle and smell any other member of the group but none other would dare perform this ritual to him. There are many other gestures that dogs use to communicate with each other, and through this communication a certain order is maintained.
One day Megabites grew ill and in the space of a week she was completely blind. Eventually she recovered from the illness, but the blindness was permanent. Dogs are amazing animals. One would have hardly noticed her handicap as she walked about the yard using only her keen senses of smell and hearing. Unfortunately, Prince also was unaware of Megabites' blindness. One day the little dog drifted in front of Prince. Unaware of her closeness to the dominant dog she kept her head and tail high in what Prince construed as a challenge to his social position. Megabites was startled as Prince snapped at her. More out of instinct than thought she snapped back in Prince's general direction, a fatal mistake!
Do people use gestures to communicate with each other?
How do people communicate their social or professional standing? Would a company worker raise his chin and look down on his supervisor when speaking?
What could be the subtle messages related to the following: folded arms, putting one's arms behind one's back, standing with legs apart, sitting with legs apart, slightly lowering one's head in the presence of another.
How can you tell when your best friend is excited, angry, tired, or irritated? Does he or she have to explain their feelings to you, or can you tell just by looking at him or her?
Have you ever been misunderstood not because of anything you said but because of your mannerisms?
Have you used nonverbal signs (for example, facial expressions or body postures or even silence) to express displeasure or disrespect to anyone in authority?
Can people learn the subtleties of body language as they learn any other language?
How can you make a person feel more at ease without using verbal language?
How can you make someone feel that his or her presence is not wanted?
What are the various things a smile could indicate?
Are you aware of the signals you give by the way you stand or speak or dress?
If you were angry with your best friend, you might speak in a certain tone and turn your head and body in a particular way to show your displeasure. Would you use those same gestures to a teacher or parent if you were angry with either of them? What would happen if you did?
Which do you find more effective in showing emotions, speech or gestures?
Is our use of gestures more conscious and controlled or unconscious and uncontrolled?
How easy is it to get into arguments when nonverbal signals like our body language gets misunderstood?
How can we avoid misunderstandings?
How important is good communication in keeping good relations?
How good is body language in expressing intent? If a friend told you that he really wanted an 'A' in history, but he hardly makes the effort to study, would you believe him?
Consider what you do on a daily basis and see what your actions say about you. What do they say about: your aspirations in life, your passions, your fears? Do your actions reflect the truth about yourself?
Activity: Create a small "dictionary" (about 25 entries) of bodily postures and common gestures stating their possible meanings.