In my opinion, verbal and nonverbal behavior allow the receiver to indirectly/directly understand what you are trying to convey to the person. Verbal behaviors is to express yourself through word while Nonverbal behavior is to express through your body language, gesture and facial expression, in some cases, it could have been done subconscious by the individual. Many believe that they are able to interpret someone's thoughts or feelings by observing their tone of word and their body language. However, even experts can't interpret body language effectively.
For example would be unconscious habits. I have the tendency to look at my watch a lot. Most people would say that I send message that "I don't like being with this person" But, truthfully, I am a time-conscious person, so I have a weird habit of always checking my watch because I have a strong need to know what time it is. Therefore, body language is very ambiguous. I didn't even know I checked my watch all the time until someone pointed it out to me.
Another example would be that different cultures misunderstanding. In Korea, you bow to express appreciation and respect to the person, usually to someone of a higher position than you at work or someone who is older than you. It would be consider rude if you do not bow. Hence, It is important to study on the culture of the country if you were to visit the country or work in at any of the company.
One observation of a nonverbal interaction between this two stranger in a bus. It happened in a crowded train at around peak hour timing and I was standing. I notices a office lady sitting on the reserved seat and her eyes glued to her smart phone. When the train reaches the next station, an elderly lady walked in and no one was willing to give up the seat for her. There were people, who were seating down, notices her but pretended to not notice her. With minimal space in the train, the elderly woman stood in front of the reserved seat and glared at the office lady, who was sitting at the reserved seat.
After the next station, which is where I was to alight, the working lady looked up and noticed the elderly lady, her eyes looked at the elderly woman direction. She scanned left and right, notices that no one was willing to give up the seat. Without saying a word and with a expressionless face, the office lady let out a heavy sigh and stood out of her seat. The elderly lady glared at the office lady and sat at the reserved seat.
As a third party, I think this nonverbal interaction could have ended quite badly if there were words exchange between the elderly and office lady. Maybe, majority of you think that the office lady was being arrogant. However, I do think that she could have her reasons for her attitude. She could have a bad day at work which led to her attitude, or she could be not feeling well and needed to rest and other possible reasons. Eventually, she did gave up her seat to the elderly lady while others passengers didn't in a crowded train.
Edited 10/2/2016, 8pm.
Commented on:
Angela -> 7Cs
Kok Zheng
