Week 7: Post #1

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?

Because nonverbal messages are open to interpretation for the most part, I have unfortunately been a victim of misinterpreting nonverbal messages before.  One specific time was very hostile with some old friends of mine.  I was sitting with a couple of my friends at a party.  We were laughing a lot about some silly house decorations that were there at for party across the room from where my group was huddled.  We kept on turning towards them, saying another silly joke and then burst into laughter again.  What we didn't realize was that another one of our friends was near those decorations and had been that entire time.  When she came over to us and was really upset we were all so confused.  She had to explain to us what she saw until we were able to figure out the mix up.  She thought that we were all making fun of her when we were all laughing.  She saw us all turning around staring and laughing in her direction, and thought it was aimed at her.  Once we were able to explain, everything was okay, but with the misinterpretation of nonverbal communication, we can see why this happened.  In the future, I think I need to remember to be very aware of all of my surroundings.  If I am on the receiving end I also need to remember to not jump to conclusions.  With those ideas in mind, maybe the interpretation of nonverbal communication can be more accurate.