Week 7- Discussion 3

Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that has not already been discussed this week, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

I found the section about Physical Appearance really interesting. The book points out that professional designers are trained in arranging elements to create a cohesive piece, and in a way we are all designers.

We use our image as a way to create an overall effect and send a message about ourselves. This section featured a quote by Mark Knapp, "Physical attractiveness may be influential in determining whether you are sought out; it may have a bearing on whether you are able to persuade or manipulate others; it is often an important factor in the selection of dates and marriage partners. (pg. 130)

Parts of physical appearance are body type and dress. No matter the culture, there are always strong reactions to people body types. But within different cultures, what is attractive and acceptable body types differ. What is fat in one culture is beautiful in another. In America most citizens are overweight, but we tend to dislike obesity. This leads to an increased number of anorexic and bulimic people.

Dress is also important. The three main factors of dress are comfort-protection, modesty and cultural display. Because dress is a nonverbal sign it serves as a sign of a persons character, whether they mean it to or not, and it often leads to peoples first impressions.

Best regards,
ImaginePeace

Week 7- Discussion 2

Although nonverbal messages are more universal than verbal messages, nonverbals do not always carry the same meanings in other cultures. Can you give examples of some of the nonverbal displays that take on different meanings in other countries? If you have moved around within this country, have you ever encountered regional differences in nonverbal meaning?

Different countries use different forms of nonverbal communication based on aspects of their culture.

I think a very obvious example of nonverbal communications are gestures. Signs that are rude in one culture, may not be rude in another. While signs that are not rude is a culture may actually be rude in another. On interesting example of this is "flipping the bird". My old teacher was British. She said the sign in the U.S. that we know as flipping someone off (I had an image of a middle finger here, but realized it could be appropriate), with the middle finger going up had no meaning in the UK when she was growing up. If you were to do this to someone from the UK, it would have had no meaning, unlike if you did that to someone in the U.S. (it is now more universally understood there then when she was growing up.)

The sign that they would give in the UK to give the same meaning us the American middle finger was this ---> Here we began identifying this as the peace sign in the 1960's. Two very different meanings, based on different cultures.

Studying in Italy I have also learned signs that have significant meaning there, but not to people here. Its actually pretty cool because I can non-verbally tell someone to go to hell, and they have no idea...not that I WOULD or anything :)

Regionally, different areas have their own nonverbal code. This is extremely prevalent for the bay area, especially with the "hyphy" movement. People can "thiz face", and you know they are using bay area facial gestures.

Happy blogging!
ImaginePeace

Week 7- Discussion 1

Because nonverbal messages can be ambiguous, they are open to misinterpretation. Have you ever been wrong about the meaning of someones nonverbal message? Describe what happened. How can people increase the accuracy with which they interpret nonverbal message?

Non-verbal communications can some times lead to messages being completely different then you originally thought it was. One thing that I continually get mixed up is when someone doesnt feel good and when they are mad.

When I get mad I don't talk, I cross, my arms and I tend to roll my eyes, slam doors, act disinterested, ect. But I tend to always assume this is the case for others. This actally happened to me just last weekend. My best friend and I always get together every week to hang out. Last week she was pretty stressed out from work and school, plus she was having problems with another friend. All of this was taking a weight on her.

She had her arms crossed most of the night when we were hanging out, and she was pretty quiet do to the fact she was thinking about all of her stresses. She also wasnt smiling as much as she normally does. By the end of the night I had t ask "Did I do something to make you mad?". She was confused as to why I would even ask her that. I told her all of my reasoning and this is when she explained her situation.

The best way to interpret non-verbal communications is to clarify before assuming the meaning. Because one persons non-verbal communication may have a different interpretation then another persons.

Have a great week!
ImaginePeace

Week 6- Discussion 3

Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

In chapter 3 of our textbook, on page 57, the concepts associated with "evaluating information on the web" are discussed. It is noted that although the World Wide Web is a really rich source of information, "it is a rich source of misinformation as well".

In Chapter 3 the book talks about the idea of misinformation that comes from the web. I found this interesting because I tend to trust everything that comes from the web, but then again, I am too trusting. I tend to think “why would anyone want to lie to people?”

I used to use Wikipedia.com for everything, including as a source for school assignments. I really never understood why professors would say not to use it as a reliable source because I thought it always gave me great information. That is until I watched an episode of the show “30 Rock”. On this episode one of the characters on the show wanted to search information on Janis Joplin, because she was going to play her in a movie; so she searched Wikipedia because her friends told her it was a great, reliable source (she was not too bright). As a prank her friends put tons of false info on Janis and she ended up portraying the character horribly.

As the book says, the internet is a great tool to use and is ful of useful information but we tend to forget that anything can be put on the internet, and anyone has access to putting information on there, even people that are less then truthful.

Have a great weekend,
ImaginePeace

Week 6- Discussion 2

Do you agree that men and women use language differently? In what areas?

I definitely agree that men and women use language differently. Especially when it comes to communicating emotions. Society tells us that men should suppress emotions. If you don’t believe me please to refer to the death of the Howard Dean campaign in 2004 via over expression of excitement.

Men and women are taught to express emotions differently. Women are taught to express vulnerability, fear, sadness, loneliness and embarrassment, where as men are taught to use aggression to express anger, fear and hurt pride.

I also believe that men use facts more and women go a lot on intuition…something you don’t see men do to more. Women also try to justify their ideas, and beliefs based on their intuition, while men go more strictly on their facts.

Also we use language differently in the way that we speak. Women are taught to be quiet and have a pleasant voice. Men are taught to have a deep masculine voice. Sometimes both sexes use this voice to get what they want. When girls are trying to sound cute and flirty they may use the high pitch girly voice, and men may use the low, masculine voice when they are trying to show they are “the man”.

Also growing us when I would use foul language my grandmother would tell me that I couldn’t talk so foul because I’m a lady. But my boy cousin would say the same things and she wouldn’t say anything to him. When I would ask her why she wouldn’t tell him not to talk so foul she would respond to me by saying he was a boy, its in their blood. This would anger me, but I know its what she was taught growing up, its up to me to break the cycle and teach my children (boys and girls) that talking foul is okay…JUST KIDDING! I will just not give them double standards.

Until next class,
ImaginePeace

Week 6- Discussion 1

Is it possible to perceive others without, in some way, judging or categorizing them? If so, how? If not, how can we make the judgments we do make, more fair?

If there is one thing I could change about myself, it would be not to judge or categorize someone without getting to know them. I don’t mean I necessarily think stereotypical things, but I do sometimes gain preconceived notions.

Do I believe that everyone is like me? Well, I’m not sure, but I really do think its hard to perceive anyone without coming to some conclusion about them. It may be someone lives in a certain area.

When I visit my grandmother in Illinois, I always have perceptions and judge the people who live there, before meeting them. I tend to think that they are “hicks”, but when I meet them and talk to them I find out they are not hicks at all.

Is there such a thing as “fair” judgments? I believe so, because I think that’s what I do (maybe I’m just saying that to make myself feel better). If we realize we are judging in the first place I think we can make our perceptions more fair and less stereotypical.

Have a good week,
ImaginePeace