Assignment 2: Blog Assignment - EDUC 6165

 

 

Thus far in this course I have learned that communication is more than words. Communication can occur with body language as well. The television episode that I chose to watch was from a very old television show called The Jeffersons. The episode of The Jeffersons that I watched was from season 3 and it was episode 16 titled, George’s Guilt.

At the beginning of the episode a relationship that was determined early on was between George and Weezy. The scene began with George opening the door for Weezy and then helping her remove her coat. George was attentive and helpful to Weezy which leads me to understand that they have a close relationship. 

The next relationship that I observed with no sound was between Florence and George. Florence was George’s maid for his apartment. George and Florence’s body language towards each other demonstrated annoyance with each other. During the episode when they speak to each other they often put their hands on their hips and seem to be yelling. They appear to be yelling because their mouths are open wide, and they are leaning back a little bit when they talk.

Throughout the show other people came by the apartment to visit George and Weezy. The interactions that occurred with the visitors were friendly. I was able to determine that the relationships were friendly because the conversations demonstrated laughed and gently bodily movements

I observed based on George’s nonverbal behavior that he was a very bodily expressive individual. He spoke often with his arms, face, and bodily movements. George uses his facial expressions to communicate with people. He uses his eyebrows, eyes and mouth to express how he is feeling about something. He often raises his eyebrows up and opens his eyes wide when communicating with others.

 After watching the show with the sound turned on the assumptions I made about the characters and plot based on the ways in which I interpreted the communication I observed were correct. George was a very vocal character that was opinionated and very expressive. I believe my assumptions would have been more correct if I had been watching the show a show I knew well. A show that I know well I would have known the characters and the plot or theme of the episodes.

From this experience I have learned about the importance of being aware of how other people are perceiving my body language. I often forget that I am a tall person and that in most conversations I am looking down on people. Also, that I am a loud person and that may come across as yelling or aggressive to some people. I believe a “aha” moment that would be helpful to my colleagues is the importance of remembering that the body language and facial expressions can sometimes be louder than a voice.